Stalin and Soviet Industrialization

Stalin and Soviet Industrialization

Thesis statement

The process of industrialization initiated by Stalin proved to be more of a disadvantage for the Soviet masses, even if on the whole, it ensured a highly industrialized and militarized Soviet state. It also in effect served as a certain disadvantage than an advantage for the Soviets during the World War II and its fight to prevent the German invasion.

Introduction

The second and the third decade of the 20th century proved to be a period which was the most transformative in the history of Soviet Union. This period saw Stalin rule the Soviet Union with an iron fist. Having complete impunity through his powers for his actions, he initiated his version of revolution by imposing it on the people. His efforts led to the transformation of Soviet culture and rise of a new Russian nationalism. Bolshevic's preceding belief that held family to be a bourgeois institution was rejected and the public including writers and artists were forced to adopt socialist realism. However, the cultural changes that resulted from industrialization were minor when contrasted with the transformation that was induced in the daily lives of the people on account of the economic policies during this period. Though an industrialization coercion was enforced that was one of the most prevalent in the history, yet the process of collectivization was a brutal one that impacted the autonomy of the pheasants that they had been enjoying since the time of revolution and required enormous human costs. Stalin's industrialization led to Soviet Union changing into a truly totalitarian state.

The industrialization was followed with killings and deaths of millions of Soviet. On the whole, this period brought about much suffering for the Soviets than advantages. Though proving widely advantageous in terms of having strengthened the military power of the Soviet Union, the Soviet army found itself at a disadvantage when Germany invaded it in 1941 due to the killings and imprisonment of almost half the military corps officers by Stalin.

Discussion

Joseph Stalin grew up to be a bitter youth who endured regular beatings from his drunken father. Years of physical abuse made him an angry, cruel man who trusted no one. Known for his Marxist activities as a youth, he proceeded to become a full-time revolutionary at the beginning of the 20th century. Soviet Union in effect continued to be controlled from 1927 to 1953 by Stalin (Tucker, 1979).Stalin embarked on a journey to reform the soviet society and develop it into an industrial power through an aggressive economic planning and collectivization of agriculture. Soviet policy was broadly and thoroughly reformed with the introduction of westernized ideals which contributed towards the rapid industrialization of the Soviet Union. Despite this success, the people were forced to pay a heavy price owing to the secret police that was created by Stalin. The secret police along with the mass mobilization party of Stalin ensured collectivization efforts and purges that led to the deaths of millions (www.historystudycenter.com).

Stalin knew that Soviet Union fared much ...