Life in the Soviet Union

Soviet Union Life

When Stalin became the leader of Russia in 1928 he initially went along with Lenin’s plans but as he settled into his role of leader he encouraged changes to both Russian economy and social life. He was forced to do this for two reasons:

1. Stalin did not want to be dependent on foreign support for his economic improvements any more and he needed to improve Russian education to do this.
2. Stalin became convinced that Russia had approximately ten years before Hitler started a war in Europe and he needed the country to be ready for such an event.

Stalin realised that true Communism would not allow him to achieve both of these. He needed to go against Marxists ideas to build a new Russia. Some of his ideas seemed a bit radical for traditional Communists.

• Formalise education with a return to traditional teaching methods with new schools and the expansion of technical colleges and universities.
• Crime would ‘wither away’ – he just refused to allow it to exist in his new Russia and introduced a new stricter criminal code (in fact Russia would experience a crime wave that went unrecorded and often unsolved).
• Titles were banned and everybody had to call each other comrade to show equalness.
• History was rewritten and all former heroes were dishonoured – there would be no Russian history before 1917.

The Creation of a new Russian Bourgeoisie

Better education and better pay in Russia created a new Russian middle class being created. These people were teachers, doctors, scientists and engineers. They dressed well, ate out and enjoyed holidays. They became the people who ran the new Russia.

1936 Russian Constitution

Stalin’s new constitution in 1936 was the work of Nicholas Bukharin. The law making body of Russia, The Supreme Soviet, would be made up of two houses of equal authority – the Soviet of the Union (750 representatives) and the Soviet of the Nationalities (630 representatives). These two houses would elect 33 members of a Presidium (like the British cabinet) and the head of the Presidium would be the head of the country. The Supreme Soviet really only existed to pass the legislation of the Communist Party since that was the only political party in Russia at this time. The constitution did state that the voting process would be by secret ballot and universal suffrage would be given to all men and women aged over 18 and of sound mind with no criminal record. The list of representatives was always chosen by the Communist Party though.

The new constitution was democratic only on paper and in practice fell very short of real democracy. The Communist Party only had one and a half million members but it was now fully in charge of the country and used a secret police, NKVD, to keep an eye on anybody who disagreed with Stalin.

So what was life like in this new Soviet Union?

Soviet Education

• Nursery, primary, secondary schools and universities were increased.
• There was strict classroom discipline and students had to wear a uniform.
• School attendance became compulsory between the ages of 3 and 15.
• There was a range of subjects but key concepts included the need for obedience, hard work and loyalty.
• Politics became the most important subject.
• Traditional teaching methods were used once again.
• Young people were encouraged to go into higher education and adults were encouraged to join adult education programmes created by the Workers’ Faculty.
• Stalin encouraged people to take courses on mathematics, science and technology.
• University places were even offered to women and by 1940 almost 60% of undergraduates were Russian women.
• The whole system was geared towards creating a new Soviet man who thought and acted as instructed by the Communist Party.
• By 1935 the Soviet Union had one of the most advanced education systems in the world.

Soviet Youth

• Young people were indoctrinated by the Communist Party.
• At a young age they joined the ‘Little Octobrists’ and then at 9 years old they joined the ‘All-Union Lenin Pioneer Organisation. In these they took part in politically organised educational and recreational activities.
• They later joined the Komosol which encouraged sport, education, industrial and healthy activities.
• Young people who were active in the Communist youth activities would be more likely to get a good job.

Soviet Women

• Women were treated just as harshly as men in Communist Russia.
• Marriages were always through civil ceremonies.
• Stalin needed women to work in industry as well as produce the next generation of Russians.
• Women were given short maternity leave and were not allowed to breast feed because it would stop them working.
• Promiscuity, contraception and abortion was frowned upon.
• The number of women working rose from 3 to 13 million between 1928-1940.
• 800,000 women fought in the Soviet army during WWII.

Stalin and Religion

• The Communists wanted to eradicate religion – no matter the faith.
• It became illegal to hold religious ceremonies.
• Churches were closed and priests were accused of being spies.
• Religious people were taxed more and their children were barred from attending school.
• Religious festivals were banned.
• Civil ceremonies took over from marriage ceremonies and the wearing of wedding rings was banned.
• Churches were converted into anti-religious museums.
• Good Communists were expected to be atheists.
• The church went underground.

The Soviet Union – A Cultural Revolution?

• Many of Russia’s artists, writers and musicians fled abroad in 1917.
• Writers who stayed had to adapt their views to that of the Communist Party and join the Association of Proletariat Writers. They glorified the Communist Party.
• Russian art had to portray people, scenes and events in a realistic way.
• Everything was very austere.
• Music in 1930s Russia had to conform to Stalin’s ideas. Composers had to belong to the Composer’s Union. All music had to have socialist content.
• Stalin saw the cinema as a useful propaganda tool. A very famous Russian film maker at this time was called Sergei Eisenstein and his films are still watched today.
• At this time the Moscow State Circus was on a par with ballet and opera.

Worksheet Lesson Plan:

• Aimed at Students studying across UK Year 7,8 & 9 or equivalent
• Premium resource
• Use as you wish in the classroom or home environment
• Structured information sheet.