Collectivisation (part 2)

Collectivisation

1. Peasants

   • Asked to grow flax (not grain) which couldn't feed them
   • Forced to abandon way of life
   • Unfamiliar with new methods
   • Most wanted Kulaks to stay

2. Kulaks

   • Refused to hand over land + produce
     • Communists declared war on Kulaks
   • Shot or arrested and sent to labour camps or to poor-quality land
   • Burnt crops and slaughtered animals so gov. could not have them
   • 1934: No Kulaks left
   • 3% of peasants = Kulaks
   • 3 million killed
   • 1/3 sent to labour camps
   • 1937: 93% of remaining Kulaks in prison

3. Ukraine famine

   • 1932-33: 4/5 million died
   • Deaths concentrated in richest farming regions as food was exploited there
   • Ukrainians not happy to give food to Russians despite being USSR

4. Food production fell

   • 1928-33: Grain harvest lost 5 million tonnes
   • X6 more exports
     • less food in Russia
   • 1933: 17 million tonnes of food less than 1928 (62-45)
   • Cattle 1928-33: 70--> 38 million. = 30 million less
   • Horses 1929-33: population halved. 34--> 17 million

Images and files in the map