Stalinism and Collectivisation
The early stages of the Soviet Planned Economy were significantly challenged by the collectivisation of agriculture initiated by Stalin. By 1927-1928, urban areas in Soviet Russia faced critical grain shortages. Despite the government's price controls for grain, peasants resisted these fixed prices and refused to sell their crops. To counter this, Stalin, who rose to power after Lenin's death, enacted strict measures, believing that wealthier peasants (the 'kulaks') were hoarding grain.
In 1928, the Communist Party deployed members to grain-producing regions to enforce grain collections, targeting kulaks for confiscation of their stocks. Realizing that the small sizes of peasant holdings inhibited modernization, Stalin decided to collectivise agriculture, arguing that large, state-controlled farms operated industrially were necessary for efficiency.
Beginning in 1929, peasants were compelled to join collective farms, where the means of production were shared, and profits distributed among members. However, many peasants fiercely resisted these changes, resulting in the destruction of livestock and significant drops in cattle numbers. The government's harsh response included deportations and imprisonments of those who resisted.
Despite collectivisation efforts, agricultural production failed to improve initially. The catastrophic harvests between 1930 and 1933 led to one of the most tragic famines in Soviet history, with over four million people perishing. The State Police Reports indicated widespread peasant uprisings and severe crackdowns on dissenting voices within the Communist Party, culminating in massive arrests and executions. Ultimately, Stalin's collectivisation policies had dire consequences, reflecting the complexities and challenges of implementing a Planned Economy.