The Communist Revolution of 1917 was followed by a period of Civil War in Russia, which lasted until 1921. This further devastated the Russia economy, compounding the pre-existing problems caused by defeat in WW1 and the lack of an industrial revolution along the lines of many countries in western Europe. Between 1921 and 1928, the USSR adopted a largely capitalist economic model, until Stalin launched his ‘Great Break’ in 1928. This involved the forced collectivisation of agriculture and the centrally mandated targets of the ‘Five-Year Plans’. There were three such plans between 1928 and 1941, and 12 in total prior to the collapse of the USSR. The plans brought about a transformation in the industrial capacity of the USSR, but significant issues and problems remained and were inherent in the plans themselves. In this episode, the @VersusHistory Editors discuss the reasons behind the introduction of the plans, their key features, consequences and legacy. For terms of use, please visit www.versushistory.com

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