2.3.1

War Communism

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Communism in the Russian Civil War (1918-1921)

In order to ensure that the army had enough food supplies and Russia had a good industrial capacity, ‘war communism’ was introduced.

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War communism

  • The new government wanted to end capitalism in Russia.
  • To do this, they had to end the free trade of goods and balance out social classes by evenly distributing money.
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Grain

  • Fixed prices for grain were introduced in order to keep the price of grain and the cost of buying grain for the army low.
  • But, this meant that peasants did not want to sell their grain for low prices. They just kept the grain they produced.
  • The Cheka (secret police) was sent to requisition (forcibly take) grain from peasants.
  • The brutality of this war communism made the party unpopular.
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Other changes

  • Food rationing was brought in, and people with jobs that were important to the war effort were given the most food.
  • Money was abolished, and instead people were paid in material goods.
  • In July 1918, all large industries were nationalised. Production targets were set in Moscow.
  • Public transport was made free in the cities, and private trading was banned.

Jump to other topics

1The End of Tsardom

2Lenin's New Society

3Stalin's USSR

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