Collectivisation and the Ukrainian Famine - History Matters (Short Animated Documentary)

History Matters
5 May 201903:29
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video discusses the plight of the kulaks, wealthy farmers in the USSR who opposed Stalin's collectivization policies. This policy involved forcibly taking land from individual farmers to create state-controlled collective farms, which were less efficient and led to a severe famine, particularly in Ukraine. The famine, known as the Holodomor, caused millions of deaths. The Soviet government denied the famine, restricted movement, and continued exporting grain despite widespread starvation. The debate over whether this event constitutes genocide remains contentious.

Takeaways
  • 🌾 The 'kulaks' were wealthy farmers in the USSR who opposed Stalin's policies.
  • 🚜 Collectivization involved forcibly taking land from individual farmers and combining them under government control.
  • 😠 Farmers resisted collectivization because they were unhappy about losing their land.
  • 📉 Collectivization led to lower crop yields and a significant drop in grain production in 1931 and 1932.
  • 🇺🇦 The decline in crop yields was particularly severe in Ukraine, leading to widespread famine.
  • 🏃 Ukrainian peasants fleeing to Poland spread news of the famine to the outside world.
  • 🍞 The Soviet government implemented bread rations for major cities but left the countryside with little food.
  • 🔒 The government restricted movement within the USSR and denied the existence of the famine.
  • 🚫 Discussion of the famine was framed as a hunger strike orchestrated by Polish spies and Ukrainian nationalists.
  • 📈 Despite the famine, the USSR continued exporting grain to fund heavy industry, exacerbating the suffering.
  • 💀 The Holodomor resulted in an estimated 3 million deaths in Ukraine, with debates on whether it constitutes genocide.
  • 📊 The 1937 Soviet census showed lower population figures, leading to the execution of those who compiled it.
Q & A

  • Who were the 'kulaks' mentioned in the script?

    -The 'kulaks' were wealthy farmers in the USSR who had acquired wealth and land, and were seen as a threat by Joseph Stalin due to their resistance to his policies, particularly collectivization.

  • What was the policy of collectivization implemented by Stalin?

    -Collectivization was a policy that involved forcibly taking land from individual peasant farmers and combining them into collective farms under the control and watch of the government, with the intention of increasing agricultural efficiency and food production for the growing cities of the Soviet Union.

  • Why did peasants resist collectivization?

    -Peasants resisted collectivization because they had been given their land by Lenin and were unhappy about having it taken away. They were often met with violence, deportation, or execution if they did not comply.

  • What were the consequences of collectivization on crop yields?

    -Collectivization led to lower crop yields on collective farms compared to individually held ones. In 1931 and 1932, grain yields dropped significantly due to a combination of factors including bad weather, pests, and the loss of experienced farmers who had been sent to work camps.

  • How did the decline in crop yields affect Ukraine?

    -The decline in crop yields was particularly severe in Ukraine, which had seen higher rates of collectivization. This led to less food, resulting in widespread starvation and famine.

  • What was the Soviet government's response to the famine?

    -The Soviet government created a bread ration for major cities but left those in the countryside with little. They also denied the existence of the famine, suppressed information about it, and continued exporting grain to raise money for industrial development.

  • What was the term used to describe the famine that occurred during this period?

    -The famine is referred to as the 'Holodomor,' which means 'death by hunger' or 'extermination by hunger.'

  • How did the Soviet Union handle the issue of starving Ukrainians fleeing the country?

    -The Soviet Union restricted movement within the USSR and denied the existence of the famine, framing any discussion of starvation as a hunger strike orchestrated by Polish spies and Ukrainian nationalists.

  • What was the death toll of the famine in Ukraine according to historians?

    -Historians estimate that the death toll of the famine in Ukraine was about 3 million people.

  • What was the impact of the famine on the 1937 Soviet census?

    -The 1937 Soviet census showed a lower population than anticipated, which was attributed to the effects of the famine. Those who compiled the census were shocked by the figures.

  • What is the ongoing debate surrounding the Holodomor?

    -The ongoing debate is whether the Holodomor should be considered a genocide.

Outlines
00:00
🏛️ Collectivization and Kulaks' Struggle in USSR

This paragraph discusses the plight of the 'cool acts,' which were wealthy farmers in the USSR under Joseph Stalin's regime. It describes the policy of collectivization, which involved forcibly taking land from individual farmers and combining it under state control. The kulaks, who had land given to them by Lenin, resisted this policy, leading to many being deported, beaten, or killed. The collectivization policy was unsuccessful, as it resulted in lower crop yields and a severe famine, particularly affecting Ukraine. The Soviet government's response was to ration bread in cities but left the countryside, which produced the food, with little. The government also denied the existence of the famine and suppressed information about it.

🌾 The Famine and Stalin's Response

This paragraph delves into the consequences of the failed collectivization policy, which led to a widespread famine known as the Holodomor. The famine was exacerbated by factors such as bad weather, pests, and the loss of experienced farmers to work camps. The Soviet government's response was inadequate, with a focus on maintaining appearances rather than addressing the crisis. They rationed food in cities but neglected the countryside, where the famine was most severe. The government also prevented people from moving and denied the existence of the famine, viewing any discussion of starvation as a political conspiracy. Despite the famine, the Soviet Union continued to export grain, prioritizing the funding of heavy industry over the well-being of its citizens. The famine lasted until 1933, with the death toll estimated to be around 3 million in Ukraine.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡kulaks
The term 'kulaks' refers to wealthy farmers in the Soviet Union who were particularly affected by Joseph Stalin's policies. In the video, it is mentioned that these kulaks were in trouble due to their wealth, which Stalin did not appreciate. The kulaks' resistance to collectivization led to their persecution, with many being deported, beaten, or even killed. The script illustrates this by stating that over 300,000 kulaks were deported, highlighting their central role in the video's narrative about the Soviet Union's agricultural policies and their consequences.
💡collectivization
Collectivization was a policy implemented by the Soviet government under Stalin, aimed at consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms, which were supposed to be more efficient and increase food production for the growing urban population. The video explains that this policy was met with resistance from the kulaks, who had been given land by Lenin and were unhappy to have it taken away. The collectivization process is a key concept in the video, as it led to the forced relocation and suffering of many peasants, contributing to the broader theme of the video, which is the impact of Soviet agricultural policies.
💡crop yields
Crop yields refer to the amount of agricultural produce harvested per unit area. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that crop yields on collective farms were lower than those on individually held farms. This is a critical point in the video's argument about the failure of collectivization, as the decline in crop yields, particularly in 1931 and 1932, led to widespread food shortages and famine. The script uses the example of Ukraine, where the decline in crop yields was particularly severe due to higher rates of collectivization.
💡famine
Famine is a severe scarcity of food that causes extreme hunger and starvation among a large part of the population. The video discusses the famine that occurred in the Soviet Union as a result of failed collectivization and the subsequent decline in crop yields. The famine, particularly severe in Ukraine, is a central theme of the video, illustrating the disastrous consequences of the Soviet government's agricultural policies. The script mentions that the famine led to widespread starvation and death, with the death toll in Ukraine alone estimated to be around 3 million.
💡Holodomor
Holodomor, also known as the 'great famine,' refers specifically to the man-made famine that occurred in Soviet Ukraine in 1932 and 1933. The video uses this term to describe the period of extreme food shortages and starvation that resulted from the failed collectivization policies. The term is significant in the video's narrative as it encapsulates the suffering and loss of life that occurred during this time, with the video stating that the Holodomor continued until 1933 when crop yields began to improve.
💡rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, in this case, food. The video explains that in response to the famine, the Soviet government created a bread ration for major cities. However, those in the countryside, who were the primary food producers, were left with little. This term is important in the video as it highlights the disparity in the distribution of resources during the crisis and the government's approach to managing the famine.
💡deportation
Deportation refers to the forced removal of people from their homes and relocation to another area, often as a form of punishment or control. In the video, it is mentioned that over 300,000 kulaks were deported to faraway settlements or work camps as a result of their resistance to collectivization. This term is significant in the video's narrative as it illustrates the harsh measures taken by the Soviet government against those who opposed its policies.
💡USSR
The USSR, or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a federal socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. The video discusses the agricultural policies and the resulting famine that occurred within the USSR, particularly focusing on the impact in Ukraine. The term is central to the video's content as it sets the geographical and political context for the events being discussed.
💡Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. The video discusses his role in implementing the collectivization policy and his response to the resulting famine. Stalin's policies and actions are a central focus of the video, as they directly influenced the events and outcomes described, including the persecution of the kulaks and the handling of the famine.
💡Lazar Kaganovich
Lazar Kaganovich was a Soviet politician and a close associate of Joseph Stalin. In the video, he is mentioned as having ordered Stanislav Kosior, the leader of the Ukrainian Communist Party, to crack down on the peasantry during the famine. This term is relevant in the video as it identifies a key figure involved in the implementation of the Soviet government's policies during this critical period.
Highlights

The 'kulaks' were wealthy farmers in the USSR who faced opposition from Joseph Stalin due to their wealth and objections to his policies.

Collectivization was a policy that forcibly took land from individual peasants and combined it under government control, which the kulaks strongly resisted.

Over 300,000 kulaks were deported to settlements or work camps as a result of their resistance to collectivization.

Collectivization failed to increase crop yields, with collective farms producing less than individually held ones.

Bad weather, pests, and the loss of experienced farmers due to deportation contributed to the decline in crop yields.

The decline in crop yields was particularly severe in Ukraine, leading to widespread starvation and famine.

Stalin's government created bread rations for cities but left rural areas, including those who grew the food, with little.

Deported kulaks often received larger daily rations than those working on farms or living in cities.

The Soviet government attempted to suppress information about the famine, denying its existence and restricting movement.

The government viewed any discussion of starvation as a hunger strike orchestrated by Polish spies and Ukrainian nationalists.

Despite the famine, the Soviet Union continued to export grain, using the revenue to build heavy industry.

The Holodomor, or the 'great famine,' lasted until 1933 when crop yields began to recover and the population had decreased.

The death toll of the famine in Ukraine is estimated to be about 3 million, with the 1937 census revealing a lower than expected population.

The debate surrounding the Holodomor includes whether it

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Was Collectivisation successful? - A level History

How Stalin starved Ukraine

The Unspeakable Things The Bolsheviks Did During Their Reign

Mass Atrocities 1900-Present [AP World History] Unit 7 Topic 8 (7.8)

Collectivisation in the USSR - A level History

History of Collectivization in the Soviet Union

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
CollectivizationUSSRFamineStalinKulaksPeasant ResistanceHolodomorSoviet HistoryAgricultural PolicyEconomic StrugglePolitical Repression