The Ukraine Famine
The Ukraine Famine
In 1924 Joseph Stalin came to power in the Soviet Union. He eventually came to be known as one of the most terrible rulers of the 19th century next to Hitler. He was responsible for the Ukraine famine, lasting from 1929 to 1933, that resulted in the death of over 10 million people.
When Stalin came to power in 1924 he began with the great purge. The purpose of this was to decimate any potential threats and opposition to his rule. Not only did he target members of the communist party In the Soviet Union that may have been of any threat, he also targeted scholars, scientists, cultural and religious leaders. He falsely accused any political threats of any kind of crimes against the state.
When Stalin came to power in 1924 he had the idea of a 5 year plan in which he would increase farm output and industry. This began with the emphasis on heavy industry in order to industrialize and modernize the Soviet Union. To increase farm out put, Stalin introduced collectivization which was a policy that seized control of peoples farms and placed them on State farms, each of which had quotas that they had to meet. This had a huge impact on the Kulaks, or rich farmers, of Ukraine because this is where much of the farms and farm produce for the Soviet Union came from due to Ukraine's very fertile soil.
After being placed on State Farms the kulaks began to rebel because of the high standards and quotas that Stalin had placed on them. They killed their livestock, burned their homes, crops, destroyed their private property and only grew enough food to feed their family. Some even went as far as armed revolts and assassinating local authorities. Stalin reacted harshly by rounding up Kulaks and sending them to brutal work camps in remote parts of the Soviet Union or by exiling them to Siberia. For the Kulaks that remained, the quotas for farm production in Ukraine rose by 44% in between 1932 –1933. This left the citizens of Ukraine with little or no food
In 1924 Joseph Stalin came to power in the Soviet Union. He eventually came to be known as one of the most terrible rulers of the 19th century next to Hitler. He was responsible for the Ukraine famine, lasting from 1929 to 1933, that resulted in the death of over 10 million people.
When Stalin came to power in 1924 he began with the great purge. The purpose of this was to decimate any potential threats and opposition to his rule. Not only did he target members of the communist party In the Soviet Union that may have been of any threat, he also targeted scholars, scientists, cultural and religious leaders. He falsely accused any political threats of any kind of crimes against the state.
When Stalin came to power in 1924 he had the idea of a 5 year plan in which he would increase farm output and industry. This began with the emphasis on heavy industry in order to industrialize and modernize the Soviet Union. To increase farm out put, Stalin introduced collectivization which was a policy that seized control of peoples farms and placed them on State farms, each of which had quotas that they had to meet. This had a huge impact on the Kulaks, or rich farmers, of Ukraine because this is where much of the farms and farm produce for the Soviet Union came from due to Ukraine's very fertile soil.
After being placed on State Farms the kulaks began to rebel because of the high standards and quotas that Stalin had placed on them. They killed their livestock, burned their homes, crops, destroyed their private property and only grew enough food to feed their family. Some even went as far as armed revolts and assassinating local authorities. Stalin reacted harshly by rounding up Kulaks and sending them to brutal work camps in remote parts of the Soviet Union or by exiling them to Siberia. For the Kulaks that remained, the quotas for farm production in Ukraine rose by 44% in between 1932 –1933. This left the citizens of Ukraine with little or no food