Plan of the investigation: This investigation analyses the successes and failures of collectivisation in the Soviet Union, specifically looking at the impact it had on the peasants of Russia and whether it aided in satisfying the Soviet Union’s economic needs. In order to assess the extent to which collectivisation was a success, this investigation examines and evaluates the first few years of collectivisation, assessing collectivisation’s impact on the economy of the Soviet Union and the people, as a stronger economy would greatly improve the livelihood of the masses. Ultimately this investigation assesses the wisdom of Stalin’s decision to partake in collectivisation. This analysis does not assess Stalin’s abilities as a leader, the Ukrainian ‘holodomor’, or the industrialisation process in the Soviet Union. A number of sources were used in this analysis, and two of them are evaluated for their value and limitations.

Summary of evidence:
• Implemented in 1928
• By collectivising Stalin hoped to increase agricultural output, create grain reserves and make available more peasants for work in the cities.
• Two types of farms; collective farms and state farms. The process of collectivisation was intended to be voluntary and took place in the countryside as peasants were expected to group their holdings into one unit (kolkhoz).
• 90% of the kolkhoz produce was to be sold to the state whilst the remaining 10% of the produce was the peasants’ share. In addition to this, peasants were expected to grow crops such as flax to aid Russian industry, as opposed to subsistence farming.
• Many peasants viewed the introduction of collectivisation as another form of serfdom (which had been abolished by Tsar Alexander II in 1861) and were reluctant to give up their land. For this reason a lot of resistance was faced, as peasants could not come to terms with the