The main task facing the country's economy was the need for industrialization, which would guarantee the transformation of an agricultural country into an industrial power and capable of ensuring its economic independence and defense capability.

In conditions of complete devastation, the search for funds and the development of a plan to create basic sectors of the national economy began.

When choosing the concept of industrial development, disagreements arose between various party groups.

A group of members of the Politburo (Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky, Dzerzhinsky) proposed to rely on supporting the individual farming of the poor and middle peasants, who made up the majority of the country's population, and only after the rise of agriculture should they begin industrialization.

Kamenev and Zinoviev proposed industrialization by increasing taxes on the peasantry.

Trotsky, Pyatakov and Kuibyshev spoke in favor of the same measures of super-industrialization and the use of military-command methods in economic management.

Supporters of the rapid development of heavy industry were supported by Stalin. He spoke out for the redistribution of funds from agriculture, light and food industries in favor of heavy industry.

In December 1925, the 14th Congress of the CPSU (b) proclaimed a course towards industrialization and strengthening the planned and directive development of industry. This program was based on the ideas of Stalin.

This course was legislatively approved by the 4th Congress of Soviets of the USSR in 1927. The goal of this program was to revive mechanical engineering, carry out mechanization of the national economy, and accelerate the pace of production.

All efforts were directed towards the development of the public sector of the economy, which was recognized as the basis of the socialist economy.

Planned management of the national economy, new relationships between city and countryside, and a reduction in unproductive consumption gave hope for quick positive results.

In the absence of funds for industrialization, the government took unpopular measures. In fact, the plunder of the village began, the confiscation of personal funds from the population (loans, forced sale of bonds), the production and sale of alcoholic beverages, the export of natural resources, and the release of money supply not confirmed by gold reserves and goods increased.

The first five-year plan (1929-1933) was developed with the involvement of prominent scientists (A.N. Bakh, I.G. Aleksandrov, A.V. Winter, D.N. Pryanishnikov, etc.).

The Second Five-Year Plan (1933-1937), adopted at the 17th Party Congress, put forward the task of completing the transition period from capitalism to socialism and building the material and technical base of socialism. The struggle to increase labor productivity and train personnel began.

During the years of the first five-year plans, more than 5 thousand enterprises were built in the country. The most significant are DneproGES, automobile factories in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, tractor factories in Stalingrad, Rostov-on-Don, Chelyabinsk, Kharkov, metallurgy enterprises in Magnitogorsk and Kuznetsk. In terms of industrial production in the late 30s. The USSR came in second place in the world after the USA. The country's dependence on imported cars was overcome.

Industrialization significantly stimulated an increase in the number of workers due to the outflow of population from villages. The cheap labor force that appeared in abundance made it possible to implement many economic projects in a short time and at the lowest cost.

The government pursued a policy of saving on social programs and applied the practice of moral incentives for labor and socialist competition.

Thanks to the labor heroism and moral upsurge that reigned in society, the task of industrialization was solved.

This article describes in some detail the beginning of the industrialization process in the USSR and the first five-year plan (1928 - 1932), examines the causes, course and features of these social phenomena, which played a key role in the development of the Soviet Union as a world state.

Industrialization and its necessity in the USSR

To build socialism, industrialization was a primary task. It was the development of the industrial sector of the national economy that provided the necessary independence of the Soviet system from “capitalist predators.” In addition, industrialization was the first source of the state's military potential. Also, according to the deep conviction of the Soviet party leadership, only developed industry will make it possible to organize and develop agriculture. For the above reasons, the first five-year plan arose in the USSR.

Industrialization was planned as a complex and diverse process of development of the industrial economy. New means of production (“Group A”) were to emerge at an incredibly high rate.

The fact is that the inefficiency of the Soviet national economic system presented the country's leadership with a choice: either continue the NEP policy (in fact, give in to the capitalists), or begin to build a socialist economy, and in this way make a huge industrial leap towards a planned, centralized and impact economic system.

Course towards industrialization

The question of industrialization as a possible national course was first raised by I. Stalin at the party congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in early December 1925. The main task of this process was understood to be the transformation of the Soviet Union from a state importing equipment and machinery into a state that could produce them itself. Some party members categorically did not support such a course, but such “opposition” was suppressed due to the interest in industrialization of Stalin himself, who dreamed of making the USSR one of the world leaders in production during the First Five-Year Plan.

In the spring of 1926, problems of industrial policy were discussed at a special internal party Plenum. Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR A. Rykov made a report on the relevance of industrialization, and all members almost unanimously supported him. The first five-year plan was outlined as the most optimal plan for the future of the country.

Industrialization plans in the USSR

It should be noted that the political discussions about industrialization, which took place so vividly in the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of Labor and Defense, had no practical benefit and only slowed down the inevitable process.

However, the plans according to which industrialization should proceed and the first five-year plan (1928 - 1932) were already being developed. Thus, the Chairman of the State Plan G. Krzhizhanovsky assumed that the industrialization process should take place in four stages:

• Reconstruction of transport infrastructure.
• Expansion of the extractive sector of the economy and the development of industrial crops in the agricultural industry.
• Proper placement of state-owned enterprises.
• Active development of the energy complex.

These processes did not have a clear sequence, but were intertwined with each other, but nevertheless were a single whole. With the help of such actions, according to the chairman, the USSR should move to a new qualitative phase of socialism, with all highly developed sectors of industry. The first five-year plan for industrialization must justify this plan.

Party directives

In mid-December 1927, the next congress of the CPSU(b) took place. It adopted directives for the further drawing up of a state five-year plan for industrial development. The congress noted that the results of the first five-year plan should ensure a developed socialist future for the entire country.

Based on the directives of the Congress of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, government organizations began a more precise and specific industrialization plan, which provided for colossal industrial growth rates (from 130 to 140%).

However, plans are plans; the surrounding reality quite often gets in their way. So, in 1928, an economic crisis broke out in the USSR. Even a significant harvest in the countryside could not provide the country with the required bread quota. Grain exports were disrupted and deprived industrialization of the necessary foreign exchange support. Famine began to threaten large cities. Joseph Stalin, fearing riots, decided to take measures on surplus appropriation, propaganda of a “bright socialist future” and sending Bolshevik propaganda brigades to the villages.

In April 1929, the first five-year plan was finally formalized at the XVI Party Conference and confirmed by the Extraordinary Congress of Soviets the following month. The process of transformation of the USSR was launched. Construction of the first five-year plan was supposed to begin on October 1, 1929. Priority, naturally, was given to heavy industry, and the largest amount of capital was invested in it (78%). Large industry was supposed to increase more than 2 times, and the industries of group “A” - more than 3 times. The Soviet Union was supposed to transform from an agricultural country into an industrial one in 5 years. The main burden of the five-year plan fell on the peasants (the majority of the population); they not only had to fulfill the plan, but also provide industrial cities with food.

From its very beginning, the first Soviet five-year plan significantly revived the country's industrial sector, food became available to the population, and the standard of living increased slightly. But at the same time, urbanization broke out in the country, many peasants moved to the cities, thereby exacerbating the housing problem. The enterprises lacked specialists, but the first five-year plan in the USSR went according to plan.

Cultivating self-sacrifice and love of work

It was the intensive work of all segments of the population that was the main guarantee of successful industrialization. Therefore, the next party congress called for rationalizing production, maintaining discipline and initiative among workers and civil servants, and increasing labor consciousness.

Trade unions also played a role in raising labor morale. In December 1928, they issued a decree to increase labor productivity. In mid-January 1929, Rabochaya Gazeta urgently proposed organizing a kind of roll call between enterprises on the achievements of the plan.

Pace is everything

At the next XVI Party Congress, which took place in the summer of 1930, V. Kuibyshev decisively stated that capital investments should be increased by 50% every year. And at the same time increase the pace of production itself by 30%. In this report, Kuibyshev threw out the legendary phrase “Pace is everything!” All the years of the first five-year plan passed under this slogan.

Thus, propaganda and agitation, which was actively supported by the party, became a kind of mass “disease”. But all these measures yielded a huge result - labor productivity literally soared compared to the previous year.

During the construction years of the first five-year plan, the number of students at workers' faculties increased significantly (from 60 thousand to 285 thousand). About 150 thousand ordinary workers were promoted to leadership positions. By the end of the Five Year Plan the country had become very rich in skilled workers.

Without any doubt, representatives of the Soviet intelligentsia were the support for specialist workers, both in enterprises and in government institutions. People of science were far from political struggle and assessed the situation not from philistine, but from objective positions, for which they often became opponents of the state apparatus. Many party officials blamed their mistakes on “bourgeois” specialists. Thus, in 1929, “class purges” of personnel began in the ranks of engineers, scientists and cultural figures.

Increased repression

Many valuable specialists came under repression. But I. Stalin understood the negativity of such a process. At a meeting of national economy workers on June 24, 1931, he ambiguously stated that such a policy would discredit the state and the party, so it should be immediately curtailed.

To record the work path and length of service of an employee, work books were introduced in the USSR in 1932, which became mandatory. To reduce staff turnover in production, an innovative system of home registration was introduced. New labor laws were actively adopted, according to which, for failure to show up to work, a person was immediately fired or evicted from the apartment. The First Five-Year Plan significantly strengthened the role of government regulation in the Soviet Union.

Perhaps the most important source of industrialization was taxes and borrowing, as well as inflated prices, which often caused heated debate in society. But disputes were disputes, and all finances and enterprises were under state control, and it was officials who controlled prices for all Soviet products. The inner-party opposition repeatedly demanded price stabilization, but such proposals were unconditionally rejected. Only the positive results of the first five-year plan improved the current situation.

During the first year of the Five-Year Plan, direct taxation almost doubled in all sectors of the national economy. At the same time, loans began to be actively issued, which were signed not only voluntarily, but forcibly in the full sense of the word. Which once again illustrates the fact that all social processes of industrialization were led not by the working people, but by party-state structures.

Therefore, the accelerated development of industry, which consisted in the production of means of production, and not directly goods and services, became a heavy burden that fell on the shoulders of industrial workers and peasants.

Construction of socialism

In 1933, the leadership of the USSR announced that the first five-year plan, which envisaged the development of the national economy in the Soviet Union, had been completed in four years and three months. According to official statistics, the total national income of the USSR increased by 60%, and the output of industrial means of production by 102%. The production of steel, oil, various equipment and other important types of industry has increased significantly. Production of light industry products increased by more than 73%. The total volume of capital investments in industrial production during the construction of the first five-year plan increased by 3.5 times.

All these indicators clearly indicate that the beginning of industrialization in the USSR, despite many difficulties, was carried out successfully.

Achievements of the first five-year plan in the USSR

Joseph Stalin summed up all the efforts at the 17th Party Congress, which took place in January 1933, and highlighted the colossal achievements of the first five-year plan, which became possible only thanks to the patience and efforts of the Soviet people.

Without a doubt, the industrialization of the USSR brought the state in the economic ranking of countries in the world from fifth place to second (after the USA) and to first in Europe, which is very significant for such a short period of time. The construction of the first five-year plan in the USSR brought the country many enterprises that still exist today.

Industrialization for such a young state as the Soviet Union was a necessary phenomenon. Its relevance was explained by the economic constraints of the USSR. Therefore, the main achievement of the first five-year plan is the economic independence of the country. The state became planned, centralized and focused on national labor. There were both positive and negative sides to this.

The further course of economic processes has repeatedly led to an imbalance in social life. Workers at enterprises constantly had to storm something, and, on the contrary, lose something. Meanwhile, unjustified labor resources were lost.

And indeed the feat of the Soviet man of that era was very great. He gave everything for the future of his country and himself, endured cruelty, hunger and the illiterate actions of his self-confident leadership.

A natural consequence of industrialization in the USSR was the growth in the number (about 23 million people) and role of the working class. But this did not give him the promised privileges. Wages were uneven, general equalization gave rise to passivity and lack of initiative.

Simultaneously with the rapid growth of the industrial complex, the military power of the Soviet Union also developed. During the years of the first five-year plan, huge factories were created where all modern types of weapons were produced. Tanks, artillery pieces and airplanes allowed the USSR to take its own position on all international issues.

Thus, the start of industrialization in the USSR was successful, just like the first five-year plan. It is quite difficult to briefly review such a complex social process, but its main features have been mentioned. It should only be noted that such phenomena, when an agricultural country becomes industrial in a few years, have no analogues in world history.

Results:

9 thousand large industrial enterprises equipped with the most advanced technology were put into operation,

new industries have been created: tractor, automobile, aviation, tank, chemical, machine tool,

gross industrial output increased 6.5 times, including group A 10 times; in terms of industrial output, the USSR took first place in Europe and second place in the world,

industrial construction has spread to remote areas and national outskirts, the social structure and demographic situation in the country has changed (40% of the urban population in the country),

The number of workers and engineering and technical intelligentsia increased sharply, industrialization significantly influenced the well-being of the Soviet people.

Meaning: industrialization ensured the technical and economic independence of the country and the defense power of the country, industrialization transformed the USSR from an agrarian-industrial country into an industrial one, industrialization demonstrated the mobilization capabilities of socialism and the inexhaustible capabilities of Russia.

Stages of industrialization.

Stage 1 - from the beginning to November 1929.

Stage 2 - from the end of 1929 to 1932.

Stage 3 - II, III five-year plans (1933-1941 (42)).

At the XIV Congress, in December 1925, a course was taken towards “socialist industrialization”, towards strengthening the planning and directive principles in the construction of socialism. In Soviet historiography, this congress was called the “congress of industrialization.”

In December 1927, the XV Congress of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks adopted a resolution “On directives for drawing up a five-year plan for the national economy.” Two versions of the plan were prepared: minimum and maximum. The maximum plan indicators were approximately 20% higher than the minimum plan indicators.

The plan was based on -

high rates of industrialization,

an attack on the private capitalist elements of the city and countryside through a significant increase in tax rates,

incentive measures for the poor peasantry and strengthening rural cooperation.

The policy of “socialist industrialization” was aimed at:

Worldwide development of the public sector as the basis of a socialist economy,

Introducing planning into the management of the national economy,

Establishing new relationships between city and countryside, taking into account the expansion of peasant demand not only for consumer products, but also for means of production,

Reducing unproductive consumption so that the saved funds can be used for the construction of plants and factories.

At the same time, it was argued that “socialist industrialization” could only be achieved through internal sources of accumulation, since the USSR could not count on foreign loans.

In April 1929, the XVI Party Conference took place. Of the two versions of the five-year plan developed by the USSR State Planning Committee, she selected the first one, the targets for which in industry were 20% higher.

Sources of funds for the construction of enterprises were identified:

From the income of light industry and mainly agriculture, redistributed in favor of industrial sectors,

From income from the monopoly of foreign trade in collective and state farm grain, gold, timber, furs, and partly other goods; the latest technological equipment for factories under construction was imported into the country with the foreign currency raised,

From the significantly increased taxes on NEPmen; The direct consequence of this essentially confiscatory taxation, supplemented by direct administrative pressure, was the complete curtailment by 1933. private sector in industry and trade,

From funds received by limiting the consumption of the urban and rural population (through an increase in retail prices for goods, through the card system for their distribution that existed from 1920 to 1934, mandatory subscriptions to “industrialization loans,” etc.); As a result, the standard of living of workers and employees fell by 2-3 times.

At the congress, Kuibyshev stated that it is necessary to double the volume of capital investments every year and increase production by 30% - “Pace is everything!” Consequently, this found clear expression in mass “socialist competition”, in the shock movement and the Stakhanov movement.

It was established that the first five-year plans were not fulfilled for most of the most important indicators.

First Five-Year Plan.

II five-year plan.

The Second Five-Year Plan differed from the first in the broader scale of construction:

the first - 1500 enterprises, and the second - 4500 enterprises.

It also featured a wider range of industries.

The slogans of the first five-year plans were:

I “Technique decides everything!”

II “Personnel decides everything!”

During the first five-year plans, much attention was paid to personnel training. At the beginning of the five-year plans, the national economy had only 90,000 specialists with higher education and 56,000 with secondary education. Over the course of four years, more than 198,000 new specialists with higher education and more than 319,000 with secondary education joined the national economy.

1934 - 1935 Some liberalization of the free exchange rate was determined.

It was assumed:

Incentives for labor rates,

An attempt to transition to self-financing,

An attempt to refuse a subsidy.

Stalin said that market mechanisms need to be developed, we need to return to free trade, to the price mechanism. This led to the use of cards, to the transition to free market trade between city and countryside, to a change in pricing policy (state prices were lowered). This had a temporary positive effect. This system is usually called neonep .

The labor activity of the masses was of great importance. On September 2, 1935, the “Stakhanov record” was set. At the end of 1935, this fact was given a political aspect. The Stakhanov movement was used to increase labor productivity.

In 1938, the Third Five-Year Plan began. It was not completed and was part of the last stage of industrialization. Industrial growth during the Five-Year Plan fell by 91%. The average annual rate was 14%. Indicators for group A - 15.7%, group B - 11.5%. The Stakhanov movement faded into the background.

General results of industrialization : The plans were gigantic, but they were not implemented. But a huge array of new industrial enterprises was created. The average annual growth of industrial enterprises is 600 units.

Acceleration of the growth rate of heavy engineering by 2 times. Decrease in unemployment. However, little attention was paid to light industry.

Industrialization was of a political nature, solving socio-political problems, and industrial problems themselves faded into the background.

3. Collectivization in the USSR.

Definition of the term “collectivization”. Lenin's plan for agricultural cooperation as the ideological basis of the collectivization policy.

Economic and political prerequisites for collectivization.

XV Congress of the CPSU(b) collectivization plan.

The year of the great turning point 1929 (reasons for forced collectivization and measures against the “kulaks”). Famine 1932 – 1933

Completion, results and significance of collectivization.

Comparing the past and present is necessary to improve the future, while it is advisable not to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. The USSR was a once mighty superpower that at one time made a significant contribution to the development of society. One of the cornerstones of the life of Soviet citizens was the five-year plan. Based on their results, historians can judge the industrialization of the country, compare the achievements of the past and present, find out how far our generation has come technologically and what else is worth striving for. So, the topic of this article is the five-year plan in the USSR. The table below will help structure the knowledge gained in a logical order.

First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932)

So, it began in the name of building socialism. After the revolution, the country needed industrialization in order to keep up with the leading European powers. In addition, only with the help of an accelerated increase in industrial potential was it possible to unite the country and bring the USSR to a new military level, as well as increase the level of agriculture throughout the vast territory. According to the government, a strict and flawless plan was needed.

Thus, the main goal was to build up military power as quickly as possible.

Main tasks of the first five-year plan

At the XIV Congress of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, at the end of 1925, Stalin expressed the idea that it was necessary to transform the USSR from a country importing imported weapons and equipment into a country that could produce all this itself and supply it to other states. Of course, there were people who expressed ardent protest, but it was suppressed by the opinion of the majority. Stalin himself became interested in making the country a leader in the first five-year plan, putting it in first place in metallurgy production. Thus, the industrialization process had to take place in 4 stages:

1. Revival of transport infrastructure.
2. Expansion of economic sectors related to materials extraction and agriculture.
3. Redistribution of state-owned enterprises across the territory.
4. Changes in the operation of the energy complex.

All four processes did not take place one by one, but were intricately intertwined. Thus began the first five-year plan for the industrialization of the country.

It was not possible to bring all the ideas to life, but the production of heavy industry increased almost 3 times, and mechanical engineering - 20 times. Naturally, such a successful completion of the project caused quite natural joy for the government. Of course, the first five-year plans in the USSR were difficult for people. A table with the results of the first of them would contain the following words as a slogan or subtitle: “The main thing is to start!”

It was at this time that many recruitment posters appeared, reflecting the main goal and identity of the Soviet people.

The main construction projects at that time were coal mines in the Donbass and Kuzbass, and the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve the financial independence of the USSR. The most prominent structure is the Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Station. The year 1932 marked the end of not only the first five-year plan, but also the most important construction project for heavy industry.

The new power is strengthening its status in Europe by leaps and bounds.

Five Year Plan number two (1933-1937)

The Second Five-Year Plan in high circles was called the “Five-Year Plan of Collectivization” or “People’s Education.” It was approved by the VII Congress of the CPSU(b). After heavy industry, the country needed to develop its national economy. It was this area that became the main goal of the second five-year plan.

Main directions of the second five-year plan

The main forces and finances of the government at the beginning of the “five-year collectivization plan” were aimed at the construction of metallurgical plants. The Ural-Kuzbass appeared, the first current of the DneproGES was launched. The country did not lag behind in scientific achievements. Thus, the second five-year plan was marked by the first landing at the North Pole of Papanin’s expedition, and the SP-1 polar station appeared. The metro was actively being built.

At this time, great emphasis was placed on among the workers. The most famous drummer of the Five-Year Plan is Alexei Stakhanov. In 1935, he set a new record, completing the norm of 14 shifts in one shift.

Third Five-Year Plan (1938-1942)

The beginning of the third five-year plan was marked by the slogan: “Catch up and surpass the per capita production of developed countries. The government’s main efforts were aimed at increasing the country’s defense capability, just as in the first five-year plan, because of which the production of consumer goods suffered.

Directions of the Third Five-Year Plan

By the beginning of 1941, almost half (43%) of the country's capital investments went to raising the level of heavy industry. On the eve of the war, fuel and energy bases were rapidly developing in the USSR, the Urals and Siberia. It was necessary for the government to create a “second Baku” - a new oil production area that was supposed to appear between the Volga and the Urals.

Particular attention was paid to tank, aircraft and other factories of this kind. The level of production of ammunition and artillery pieces has increased significantly. However, the USSR's weapons still lagged behind those of the West, in particular the German ones, but there was no rush to release new types of weapons even in the first months of the war.

Fourth Five-Year Plan (1946-1950)

After the war, all countries had to revive their production and economy; the USSR managed to almost completely accomplish this in the late 40s, when the fourth term began. The Five-Year Plan did not imply a build-up of military power, as before, but the revival of what was lost in all spheres of society during the war.

Main achievements of the Fourth Five-Year Plan

Just two years later, the same level of industrial production as pre-war had been achieved, even though the Second and Third Five-Year Plans imposed harsh work standards. In 1950, the main production assets returned to the 1940 level. When the 4th Five-Year Plan ended, industry grew by 41%, and building construction by 141%.

The new Dnieper hydroelectric power station has come into operation again, and all the Donbass mines have resumed operation. On this note, the 4th Five-Year Plan ended.

Fifth Five-Year Plan (1951-1955)

During the Fifth Five-Year Plan, atomic weapons became widespread, appeared in Obninsk, and at the beginning of 1953, N.S. Khrushchev took the post of head of state instead of J.V. Stalin.

Main achievements of the fifth five-year plan

Since capital investments in industry doubled, the volume of output also increased (by 71%), in agriculture - by 25%. Soon new metallurgical plants were built - Kavkazsky and Cherepovets. The Tsimlyanskaya and Gorkovskaya hydroelectric power stations made the front page in whole or in part. And at the end of the fifth five-year plan, science heard about atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Finally, the first Omsk oil refinery was built, and the rate of coal production increased significantly. And 12.5 million hectares of new land came into use.

Sixth Five-Year Plan (1956-1960)

More than 2,500 of the largest enterprises came into operation when the sixth five-year plan began. At the end of it, in 1959, a parallel seven-year plan began. The country's national income increased by 50%. Capital investments at this time doubled again, which led to the widespread development of light industry.

The main achievements of the sixth five-year plan

Gross industrial and agricultural output increased by more than 60%. Gorky, Volzhskaya, Kuibyshevskaya were completed, and by the end of the five-year plan, the world's largest worsted plant was built in Ivanovo. Active development of virgin lands began in Kazakhstan. The USSR finally had a nuclear missile shield.

The world's first satellite was launched on October 4, 1957. Heavy industry developed with incredible efforts. However, there were more failures, so the government organized a seven-year plan, including the seventh five-year plan and the last two years of the sixth.

Seventh Five-Year Plan (1961-1965)

As you know, in April 1961, the first man in the world flew into space. This event marked the beginning of the seventh five-year plan. The country's national income continues to grow rapidly, increasing by almost 60% over the next five years. The level of gross industrial output increased by 83%, agriculture - by 15%.

By mid-1965, the USSR had taken a leading position in the mining of coal and iron ore, as well as in the production of cement, and this is not surprising. The country was still actively developing heavy industry and the construction industry, cities were growing before our eyes, and cement was needed for strong buildings.

Eighth Five-Year Plan (1966-1970)

The Five-Year Plan did not imply the production of materials, but the construction of new buildings and factories. Cities continue to expand. L. I. Brezhnev assumes the post of head of state. Over these five years, many metro stations appeared, the West Siberian and Karaganda metallurgical plants, the first VAZ automobile plant (production: 600 thousand cars per year), the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station - the largest station in the world at that time.

Active housing construction solved the problem of deprivation (the echo of the war was still echoing in big cities). At the end of 1969, more than 5 million residents received new apartments. After Yu. A. Gagarin's flight into space, astronomy made a big leap forward, the first lunar rover was created, soil was brought from the Moon, machines reached the surface of Venus.

Ninth Five-Year Plan (1971-1975)

During the Ninth Five-Year Plan, over a thousand industrial enterprises were built, the gross volume of industrial output increased by 45%, and agricultural output by 15%. The automotive industry is actively developing, roads and railways are being repaired. Capital investments exceeded 300 billion rubles per year.

The development of oil and gas wells in Western Siberia led to the construction of many enterprises and the laying of oil pipelines. Since with the advent of a large number of factories the level of the employed population also increased, the “Drummer of the Ninth Five-Year Plan” badge was established (for excellence in labor and production).

Tenth Five-Year Plan (1976-1980)

The active increase in national income and industrial output is beginning to decline. Now the country does not need a huge growth of enterprises, but the stable development of all areas of industry is always necessary.

Oil production came to the fore, so over the course of five years, many oil pipelines were built, stretching throughout Western Siberia, where hundreds of stations deployed their work. The number of working equipment has increased significantly: tractors, combines, trucks.

Eleventh Five-Year Plan (1981-1985)

An extremely turbulent time began for the USSR. Everyone in the government felt the coming of a crisis, for which there were many reasons: internal, external, political and economic. At one time it was possible to change the structure of power without abandoning socialism, but nothing of this was done. Because of the crisis, people occupying the leading positions of the state were replaced very quickly. Thus, L. I. Brezhnev remained Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee until November 10, 1982, Yu. V. Andropov held this position until February 13, 1984, K. U. Chernenko - until March 10, 1985.

Gas transportation from Western Siberia to Western Europe continues to develop. The Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod oil pipeline, 4,500 km long, was built, crossing the Ural ridge and hundreds of rivers.

Twelfth Five-Year Plan (1986-1990)

The last five-year plan for the USSR. During her time, it was planned to implement a long-term economic strategy, but the plans were not destined to come true. At this time, many received the badge of a shock worker of the twelfth five-year plan: collective farmers, workers, enterprise specialists, engineers... It was planned (and partially implemented) to establish light industry production.

Five-Year Plans of the USSR: summary table

So, we have briefly listed all the five-year plans in the USSR. The table presented to your attention will help systematize and summarize the above material. It contains the most important aspects for each plan.

	Plan Objectives	The main buildings of the five-year plans	Results
	At any cost, increase military power and increase the level of production of heavy industry.	Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, DneproGES, coal mines in Donbass and Kuzbass.	The production of heavy industry increased 3 times and mechanical engineering 20 times, unemployment was eliminated.
	J.V. Stalin: “We must catch up with the advanced countries in 5-10 years, otherwise we will be crushed.” The country needed to increase the level of all types of industry, both heavy and light.	Ural-Kuzbass is the second coal and metallurgical base of the country, the Moscow-Volga shipping canal.	National income and industrial production increased significantly (2 times), agricultural production - 1.5 times.
	Due to the aggressive policy of Nazi Germany, the main forces were focused on the country's defense and the production of machinery, as well as heavy industry.	The emphasis was on educational institutions at the beginning of the five-year plan, after which efforts were transferred to the Urals: airplanes, vehicles, guns and mortars were produced there.	The country suffered great losses due to the war, but its defense capabilities and heavy industrial production made significant progress.
Fourth	Restoration of the country after the Great Patriotic War. It is necessary to achieve the same level of production as in the pre-war period.	The Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Station and power plants in Donbass and the North Caucasus are coming back into operation.	By 1948, the pre-war level had been reached, the United States was deprived of its monopoly on atomic weapons, and prices for essential goods had been significantly reduced.
	Increasing national income and industrial output.	Volga-Don shipping canal (1952). Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant (1954).	Many reservoirs and hydroelectric power stations were built, and the level of industrial production doubled. Science learns about atomic and hydrogen bombs.
	Increasing investment not only in heavy, but also in light industry, as well as in agriculture.	Gorky, Kuibyshev, Irkutsk and Worsted plant (Ivanovo).	Capital investments have almost doubled, and the lands of Western Siberia and the Caucasus are being actively developed.
	Increasing national income and developing science.		Increase in fixed production assets by 94%, national income increased by 62%, gross industrial output by 65%.
	Increase in all indicators: gross industrial output, agriculture, national income.	The Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk, Saratov hydroelectric power stations, the West Siberian Metallurgical Plant, and the Volzhsky Automobile Plant (VAZ) are under construction. The first lunar rover was created.	Astronomy has advanced (soil has been brought from the Moon, the surface of Venus has been reached), national income grew by 44%, industry volume by 54%.
	To develop the domestic economy and mechanical engineering.	Construction of oil refineries in Western Siberia, start of construction of an oil pipeline.	The chemical industry is developing significantly after the development of deposits in Western Siberia. 33 thousand km of gas pipelines and 22.5 thousand km of oil pipelines were laid.
	Opening of new enterprises, development of Western Siberia and the Far East.	Kama plant, Ust-Ilimsk hydroelectric power station.	The number of gas and oil pipelines has increased. New industrial enterprises appeared.
Eleventh	Increase the efficiency of use of production assets.	The Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod oil pipeline is 4,500 km long.	The length of gas and oil pipelines reached 110 and 56 thousand km, respectively. National income has increased and social benefits have increased. The technical equipment of factories has been expanded.
Twelfth	Implementation of reform economic strategy.	Mostly residential buildings are being built.	Light industry production has been partially established. Increasing power supply to enterprises.

No matter how difficult these plans may be, the results of the five-year plans show the perseverance and courage of the people. Yes, not everything was accomplished. The sixth five-year plan had to be “extended” due to the seven-year plan.

Even though the five-year plans in the USSR were difficult (the table is a direct confirmation of this), the Soviet people steadfastly coped with all the standards and even exceeded the plans. The main slogan of all five-year plans was: “Five-year plan in four years!”

Industrialization is an increase in the overall volume and diversity of industrial production, as well as its share in the structure of the economy. Industrialization carried out in the 30s of the twentieth century in the USSR managed to turn the country into one of the world's industrial leaders.

Good reasons

The USSR had several compelling reasons for industrialization.

1. The Russian Empire also lagged noticeably behind the leading world powers in the level of industrial development. Two wars and a revolution did not improve the situation.
2. The USSR was in rather strict international isolation, and could not simply buy the necessary industrial goods. It was necessary either to remain a backward state or to establish “import substitution.”
3. The threat of a “crusade against the Bolshevik infection” is not a figment of a sick imagination. Western states did not hide their hostile attitude towards the USSR and openly talked about plans for its destruction and division. The army needed good weapons and transport.

The low standard of living of the population was not seen as a reason to increase industrial production. It was believed that prosperity would increase by itself, and there was no need to particularly focus on this.

Timing and Methods

The first statements about the need to implement industrialization were made in 1925, when it became clear that the country's economy had basically reached the level of 1913. However, the actual beginning of the process should be counted from 1928, when the first five-year plan was adopted (five-year plans were developed specifically for industrialization).

In connection with the final objectives, several practical tasks were put forward for the industrialization process:

• increase production in strategic areas working for defense (mechanical engineering, metallurgy, aviation, chemistry, transport);
• ensure the development in the USSR of industries that were previously absent altogether or represented by meager production volumes (aviation, chemistry, machine tool building, agricultural machinery, automobile industry);
• prepare domestic technologies and personnel for industry (primarily defense);
• provide the industry with the necessary raw materials, for which purpose actively develop old and explore new mineral deposits.

These tasks were carried out using administrative resources, but in the history of the Soviet Union this was not the first and not the last time. Features of industrialization in the USSR:

• 1. Workers were deprived of the right to choose their place of work - personnel had to be where they were needed.
  2. It was not finished products that were purchased abroad, but technologies, industrial equipment and personnel (Italians, Germans, and even Americans worked in the USSR).
  3. The volume of exports of agricultural products increased even without regard to famine in some regions.
  4. The number of specialized universities has increased, and the requirements for the general level of education of the population have increased.
  5. The development of exact and applied sciences was stimulated, research and design “sharashkas” appeared (and it was not as bad there as they sometimes shout now, rather the opposite).
  6. Innovation, rationalization activities of workers, and their desire to increase work productivity were advertised. The “Stakhanovites” were all-Union heroes.

At the same time, severe punishments followed for failure to comply with orders and violation of the general order of things. But conscientious workers received significant privileges and even state awards.

Brilliant results

You can argue about the methods of industrialization, but it is impossible to argue about its results. They were brilliant, helped cope with Hitler’s invasion and are still affecting the lives of post-Soviet countries to this day.

1. Several important industries were created from scratch: chemical, aviation, automotive, electrical engineering, and agricultural engineering.
2. The increase in industrial production for some groups for 1928-1941 ranged from 300 to 25,000%.
3. The length of railways and the volume of transportation along them have increased several times.
4. Such giants were built as Azovstal, Kharkov Tractor Plant, Magnitogorsk Combine, Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant, Dneproges.
5. The USSR has become the second industrial giant in the world after the USA.
6. Soviet science and education have become perhaps the best in the world. Illiteracy was completely eliminated, and 7 years of education became compulsory for children.
7. Truly great designers worked in the country. Among them are Mikoyan, Yakovlev, Koshkin, Polikarpov, Tupolev and others.

The production of consumer goods grew more slowly (the needs of people in the USSR were always not in the first place), but still grew. The growth of cities required housing construction, and many “Stalin” buildings still stand firmly today. Consumer goods of the USSR were often considered low-quality, but sometimes they were simply devoid of external beauty, advertising, and were many times superior in quality to their foreign elegant counterparts.