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Precision Software Appli…tions Silver Collection 1
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Precision Software Applications Silver Collection Volume One (PSM) (1993).iso
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E2LIVEST.DOC
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Collectivization and Industrialization
In November 1927, Joseph Stalin launched his "revolution
from above" by setting two extraordinary goals for Soviet
domestic policy: rapid industrialization and collectivization of
agriculture. His aims were to erase all traces of the capitalism
that had entered under the New Economic Policy and to transform
the Soviet Union as quickly as possible, without regard to cost,
into an industrialized and completely socialist state.
Stalin's First Five-Year Plan, adopted by the party in 1928,
called for rapid industrialization of the economy, with an
emphasis on heavy industry. It set goals that were unrealistic--
a 250 percent increase in overall industrial development and a
330 percent expansion in heavy industry alone. All industry and
services were nationalized, managers were given predetermined
output quotas by central planners, and trade unions were
converted into mechanisms for increasing worker productivity.
Many new industrial centers were developed, particularly in the
Ural Mountains, and thousands of new plants were built throughout
the country. But because Stalin insisted on unrealistic
production targets, serious problems soon arose. With the
greatest share of investment put into heavy industry, widespread
shortages of consumer goods occurred.
The First Five-Year Plan also called for transforming Soviet
agriculture from predominantly individual farms into a system of
large state collective farms. The Communist regime believed that
collectivization would improve agricultural productivity and
would produce grain reserves sufficiently large to feed the
growing urban labor force. The anticipated surplus was to pay
for industrialization. Collectivization was further expected to
free many peasants for industrial work in the cities and to
enable the party to extend its political dominance over the
remaining peasantry.
Stalin focused particular hostility on the wealthier
peasants, or kulaks. About one million kulak households (some
five million people) were deported and never heard from again.
Forced collectivization of the remaining peasants, which was
often fiercely resisted, resulted in a disastrous disruption of
agricultural productivity and a catastrophic famine in 1932-33.
Although the First Five-Year Plan called for the collectivization
of only twenty percent of peasant households, by 1940
approximately ninety-seven percent of all peasant households had
been collectivized and private ownership of property almost
entirely eliminated. Forced collectivization helped achieve
Stalin's goal of rapid industrialization, but the human costs
were incalculable.
Addendum to point 20, Politburo minutes no. 94
of April 20, 1931
ON FORCED COLLECTIVIZATION OF LIVESTOCK
[Handwritten line:] Resolution of the Central Committee [TsK] of
the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) [VKP(b)], Mar 26, 1932
In many regions of our country we can observe the
collectivization of cattle and smaller livestock by forcible
means. This practice is a flagrant violation of repeatedly
issued directives by the party's TsK, as well as of the
provisions contained in the statute of the agricultural artel.
The TsK VKP(b) stresses that only enemies of the kolkhozes
would permit forced collectivization of livestock from individual
kolkhozniks. The TsK emphasizes that forced requisition of
kolkhozniks' cattle and smaller livestock is contrary to the
party's political program. The goal of the party is that every
member of the kolkhoz have a cow, some smaller livestock and
poultry.....
The TsK of the VKP(b) proposes to all party, Soviet and
kolkhoz organizations:
1. Cease all attempts of forced collectivization of cattle
and small livestock belonging to the kolkhozniks and
expel from the party those guilty of violating TsK
directives;
2. Organize aid for the members of the kolkhozes who have
no cattle nor small livestock to purchase and raise
young animals for their own personal needs.
Signed: TsK VKP(b)