1ST Five Year Plan (oct 1, 1928 – dec 1, 1932)

Description:

AIMS:
- emphasis on heavy industry
- propaganda device to drive citizens forward & create sense of urgency

GOOD
- coal & iron: output doubled
- steel prod increased by 1/3
- engineering industry developed and increase in output of machine tools, turbines etc
- huge new industrial complexes built
- targets increased:
35--> 75 mil tons coal
6-19mil tons iron ore

BAD
- Decline in consumer industries like food processing
- small workshops squeezed out (Against NEPmen)
- officials not prepared to admit anything was wrong as they didn't want to be accused of sabotaging
- lack of skilled workers: changing jobs
- Great Depression impactedd prices of grain and raw materials.
- USSR couldn't earn form exports
- money went to agriculture for collectivisation
- party handed out bread directives and priorities and it was left to officials and managers at regional and local levels to work out ways to achieve production targets
- High targets strained the economy: intense competition for low supply of materials
- managers made illegal deals in their desperation to get parts/supplies to hit targets.
- railway coudl not cope with what they were expected to transport.

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