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Stalin announced new theory of Socialism
Stalin announced that he wanted to pursue a new theory of Socialism in one country. Stalin removed Trotsky from government and also from his position as head of the Red Army. Stalin knew that Trotsky was his main rival and did not want him able to influence either policy making or the army. Indeed Stalin feared that Trotsky could use the army to remove Stalin and make himself head of the government. (Leon Trotsky: a leader of the Bolshevik revolution and early architect of the Soviet state. -
Stalin visited the agricultural regions
Stalin visited the agricultural regions of Siberia and the Urals. To alleviate the grain crisis he imposed grain requisitioning quotas. The peasants responded by decreasing grain production. -
Stalin began removing Bukharin’s followers and supporters from the party.
Together, Bukharin and Stalin ousted Trotsky, Grigory Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev from the party at the XVth Communist Party Congress in December 1927. From 1926 to 1929, Bukharin enjoyed great power as General Secretary of the Comintern's executive committee. However, Stalin's decision to proceed with collectivisation drove the two men apart and Bukharin was expelled from the Politburo in 1929. -
Stalin introduced his first five year plan
Stalin knew that Russia needed to modernise to become more efficient and also self-sufficient. Steel and iron production was to be increased considerably as was the production of energy and tools. To achieve his aims factories were to name and shame those that did not meet required production quotas. Any worker that was absent due to illness or who did not output quotas required was deemed to be working against the state and could be imprisoned or executed. -
Stalin published the “Year of the Great Turn”
Stalin published the “Year of the Great Turn” which outlined his move towards greater industrialisation and collectivisation. It signalled the end of Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) -
50th birthday Stalin
On his 50th birthday Stalin made a speech highlighting mistakes made by Lenin. The speech was designed to give the message that Lenin’s Russia was gone and that his, Stalin’s Russia was just beginning. -
Twenty-five thousanders
The first of the twenty-five thousanders were sent to the countryside where they were supposed to be the chairmen of collective farms. Many were not well received by local officials and peasants and were given inadequate food. Those that succeeded in their tasks were given awards by the Party. -
“On Measures for the Elimination of Kulak Households in Districts of Comprehensive Collectivisation”.
The Politburo approved “On Measures for the Elimination of Kulak Households in Districts of Comprehensive Collectivisation”. This document divided Kulaks into three categories:
1. Those that should be shot or imprisoned
2. Those that should be deported (this included families of group 1)
3. Those that should be expelled from the Kolkhoz and given areas of poor land. -
The GULAG was officially established
The GULAG was officially established. Correctional forced labour camps had been used previously but were now named. They were to be used to house those individuals that were a threat to or disrupted the functioning of the Soviet State. They began housing kulaks immediately -
Stalin announced that his first Five Year Plan had been a success
An increase in the production of materials, iron, steel etc. The economy had grown by around 14% per year. The urban population trebled as peasants moved to cities to work in factories. Members of the working class became managers or retrained as engineers. Work conditions worsened with the introduction of a 7 day working week and unsafe conditions Many local administrators falsifying production figures. Those that failed to meet targets being sacked, and even executed as enemies of the state -
This year saw the beginning of Stalin’s second Five Year plan
This year saw the beginning of Stalin’s second Five Year plan. The plan proposed to:
continue to increase industrial production in raw materials, iron, steel etc
improve communications and infrastructure
increase production of electricity
introduce new industries
increase production of consumer goods
Stalin also stated that socialism did not mean wage equality and that incentives for hard work were essential in the new Russia. -
Stalin appointed Yagoda People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs
Stalin appointed Yagoda People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs, a role that put him in charge of the regular police and the secret police NKVD. -
Sergei Kirov was assassinated/Great terror
Sergei Kirov was assassinated at his office. Kirov was a member of the Politburo who had disagreed with some of Stalin’s policy. It is likely that the assassination was carried out on Stalin’s orders. Stalin had become increasingly distrustful of those close to him. This event marked the beginning of the Great Terror -
Stalin announced his General Plan for the Reconstruction of Moscow.
A Union of Soviet Architects were commissioned to draw up plans for the reconstruction. Stalin’s aim was to show the World that the Soviet Union was a great country. -
Stalin, concerned by the fact that the Red Army
Stalin, concerned by the fact that the Red Army had been established by Trotsky and that many Generals had been appointed by Trotsky, purged the army. Eight Generals confessed to treason following torture and were executed. 34,000 soldiers were executed over the following eighteen months. -
The Trial of the Twenty-One
The Trial of the Twenty-One was the third ‘show trial’ that accused rightists and Trotskyists of attempting to overthrow Socialism and complicity in the murder of Kirov. Among those accused were former head of the NKVD, Yagoda, Bukharin and Krestinsky. Bukharin was also charged with attempting to assassinate Lenin. They were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. All those that had been close to Lenin during the years of Lenin’s Communism were now dead. -
Stalin ordered a purge
Stalin ordered a purge of military intelligence personnel to find those responsible for not discovering Hitler’s plans to invade Russia. The Soviet army was in a very difficult position. It was facing war with Germany while at the same time facing purges and poor supplies. -
Stalin died
Stalin died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 73 years.
