The Soviet Five Year Plans, a cornerstone of the Soviet Union's centrally planned economy, were comprehensive, long-term economic and social development blueprints. Initiated by Joseph Stalin and implemented from 1928 to 1955, these Plans reshaped the Soviet economy and society, ushering in industrialization and modernization.
Each Five Year Plan (5YP) was designed to foster rapid growth in key sectors, prioritize infrastructure development, and achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture. They played a pivotal role in transforming an overwhelmingly agrarian society into a major industrial powerhouse within just a few decades.
The First Five Year Plan (1928-1932)
The First Five Year Plan laid the foundation for Soviet industrialization. Its primary goal was to establish a modern, independent Soviet industry that could support the country in case of international conflict.
With a focus on heavy industry, it set ambitious targets for coal, iron, and steel production, as well as machine tool manufacturing. The Plan aimed to increase coal production from 35.2 million tons to 60 million tons and iron to 10 million tons.
Electrification and Heavy Industry
The Plan emphasized rapid electrification, aiming to build over 1,000 industrial enterprises and install more than 1 million horses' worth of electrical power. This was envisioned to replace traditional, horse-powered machines in agriculture and industry.
Heavy industry was prioritized to create a self-sustaining Soviet industry. It targeted the production of coal, iron, steel, and machinery, with the ultimate goal of lessening foreign dependence, especially given the emerging global tensions.
The Five Year Plan in Action: The Magnitogorsk Combine
The Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine, established during this Plan, exemplifies its ambitions. Initially designed to produce 10,000 tons of iron per year, it eventually grew to be one of the largest factories in the Ural Mountains, manufacturing over 10 million tons of pig iron annually.
Similarly, the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station, completed in 1932, was the world's largest electric power station when it was built, illustrating the Plan's success in infrastructure development and electrification.
![(48) Trud v Piatiletke [Translation: Labour in the Five Year Plan] - Soviet posters](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/97/c7/88/97c7889ed833a777d3697e3320a8fdcc.jpg)
The Second Five Year Plan (1933-1937)
The Second Five Year Plan expanded on the first, balancing heavy industry with consumer goods production. It aimed to make the Soviet Union self-sufficient in agricultural products, improve living standards, and further develop infrastructure.
The Plan targeted a 100% increase in oil production, aiming to produce 21 million tons of oil by 1935. It also planned to significantly increase light industry production, offering more consumer goods to the Soviet population.
Light Industry and Consumers Goods
Compared to the first Plan, the second emphasized light industry, textile manufacturing, and consumer goods. Its targets included a significant surge in the production of cotton, wool, and silk textiles, as well as increased output in the production of footwear, leather goods, and household items.
The introduction of the "Stakhanovite" movement during this Plan demonstrated the Soviet Union's effort to increase labor efficiency and productivity. Named after Alexey Stakhanov, a coal miner who famously mined 102 tons of coal in 5 hours and 55 minutes, this movement encouraged workers to exceed their quotas in pursuit of personal and national success.
The Second Five Year Plan's Impact on Agriculture
The Plan targeted a significant increase in agricultural production to support the growing population and feed the expanding industrial sector. It aimed to increase cereal grain production from 73.4 million tons to 85 million tons by 1937.
However, the planned collectivization and forced crop purchases led to widespread famine, particularly in Ukraine, where millions perished. Despite these tragedies, the Plan successfully transformed the Soviet Union's agrarian landscape and increased agricultural production.
Each Five Year Plan brought dramatic changes to the Soviet Union, modernizing its economy and society. Although the Plans were not without controversy - including widespread forced labor, incomplete targets, and human cost - they undeniably revolutionized the Soviet Union's economic landscape. Today, remnants of these Plans, such as the Dnieper Dam and Magnitogorsk, stand as testaments to their enduring significance and impact.