Brendan+Gibbs

Brendan Gibbs IB History Historical Investigation


 * A.) Plan of Investigation **

The question of my investigation is **Did Stalin’s policies help or hinder the USSR during the Great Patriotic War?** The focal point of the investigation are the policies that Stalin made during WWII. From that I will look at the outcomes from these policies for the Russian Army and the people in mainland Russia during the war. I will achieve this by reading first hand accounts about Stalin’s policies along with some of the policies themselves.


 * B.) Summary of Evidence **


 * I. War Policies: **

a. commanded all soldiers and commanders not to retreat from battle at will and only can retreat if they get orders from higher command[i] b. Anyone who went against this policy would be court-martial as traitors of the Soviet Union[ii] c. Any units who retreated at will, would be put at the most difficult sectors of the front to redeem their crimes by blood[iii] d. 3-5 armed guards will be stationed behind unstable units to ensure that no one retreats and will execute any one who attempts retreat[iv]
 * 1. “Not a step back” Policy **

a. Stalin commanded people “ When moving forward don’t try to capture one or other point but... burn to ashes these populated areas. So the German staffs and units will be buried... Toss away any sentiment and destroy all populated areas you meet on your way!” [v] b. People were to destroy anything that could be any use to the Germans before the Germans would take the city
 * 2. Stalin’s Scorched Earth Policy **

a. Stalin approved “NKGB Order No. 246 that stipulated the destruction of families of men who were captured”[vi]
 * 3. NKVD Order No. 246 **

a. “A major goal of the evacuation effort was to defend and develop the Soviet military capability, so defense workers and factories were evacuated with the highest priority”[vii]
 * 4. Evacuation of Wartime Workers **

a.“ While hundreds of thousands were dying in the streets, the leaders worked day and night”[viii]. Stalin gave military rations to factory workers so that the industrial output would continue. b. “...industrial evacuees received larger food rations, higher quality housing, and better medical care”[ix]
 * 5. Food Rationing to Industrial Workers **

a. Stalin withdrew as the Leader and “ As the Germans advanced, the government was paralysed for two long days”[x]
 * 6. Stalin Withdraw from Power **

a. During the German invasion Stalin“...still persisted in the idea that the war might be a provocation by German Officers”[xi] b. Stalin claimed “Hitler simply does not know about it”. Stalin would not order resistance until he had heard from Berlin”[xii]
 * 7. Stalin’s Refusal to Acknowledge a German Invasion **

a. Saw the two front war as “first rate importance”[xiii] b. “the aid of the Allies to the Soviet Union has so far been little effective. In order to amplify and improve this aid, only one thing is required: that the Allies fulfill their obligations fully and on time”[xiv].
 * 8. Wanted Two Front War **


 * II. Results of War policies: **

a. After the Policy was put into place in 1942 the USSR rode a string of victories. b. They stopped the German advance at Stalingrad and decisively beat back the German counter offensive at Kursk. c. Advanced all the way to Berlin where they defeated Germany d.
 * 1. “Not a step back” policy and NKVD Order No. 246 **

a. The Scorched Earth policy was very costly for the Soviet Union. “ A third of industrial production alone was lost, apart from crippling losses of men and civilians killed or captured”[xvi]
 * 2. Scorched Earth Policy **

a.During these first few weeks “Russia had lost around 2,000,000 men, 3,500 tanks and over 6,000 aircraft”[xvii] b. Leading Russian commanders had no orders from the paralysed government which essentially incapacitated the military. c. During this period the German Army advanced easily through Russia.
 * 3. Stalin’s Withdraw from Power and Stalin’s Refusal to Acknowledge a German Invasion **

a. “...the massive relocation of industries and workers in 1941 and 1942 resulted in substantial defense production, crucial to the Soviet victory of 1945. As stated by G.A. Kumanev, a leading Russian military historian, the evacuations "main goal - to save millions of Soviet citizens, a major amount of industrial and agricultural resources, and other material riches - was achieved."[xviii]
 * 4. Evacuation of Wartime Industrial Workers and Food Rationing for Wartime Industrial Workers **

a. In 1944 the USSR and Stalin received 10 billion dollars in aid from the allies[xix] b. The allies had been fighting Germany on the Western Front and as they advanced he needed more soldiers devoted to that front which effectively split up the German Army[xx] c. With Germany fighting on two fronts the USSR was able to push Germany back to Berlin and eventually be part of an allied victory in WWII.
 * 5. Stalin’s Emphasis on a Two Front War and Allied Aid **


 * C.) Evaluation of Sources **

Montefiore, Simon Sebag. //Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar//. New York: Random House Inc., 2003. Print.

// Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar // was written by Simon Sebag Montefiore. He studied at Cambridge University and his book Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar won the British History book of the year. He is currently a professor at the University of Buckingham. The purpose of this book is to inform people about the life of Stalin and his political policies. The value is that it shows how and why Stalin made certain decisions during WWII. It not only talks about first hand accounts about Stalin but also the outcome of his policies and how he reacted to them. I will use this to determine whether Stalin's polices helped or hindered the USSR during WWII. The limitations of this book is that it isn't solely focused on WWII and Stalin's policies during WWII.

Stalin, Joseph. "Need For a Second Front." Letter to Henry C Cassidy. 3 Oct. 1942. //Seventeen Moments in Soviet History//. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. // Seventeen Moments in Soviet History //. Web. 7 Mar. 2012. .

The source is a letter written by Stalin to Henry C. Cassidy to respond to previous questions given to him. Henry C. Cassidy sent him three questions to answer that would interest the American Public and this was his response. The purpose of this source was to inform the American People about the policies of the USSR during WWII. The value of this article is that it gives us insights into Stalin's political policies during WWII. It talks about how Stalin desired two fronts in order to defeat Germany and take some pressure off the USSR. I will use this source to determine whether Stalin's policies helped or hindered the USSR during WWII. A major limitation of this source is that it only talks of one or two of Stalin's Policies during WWII.


 * D.) Analysis **

Joseph Stalin has often been criticized for his harsh domestic policies but although they were harsh Stalin helped turn an “upside down” country into a global superpower. The case was the same for WWII when Stalin used harsh and cruel policies to try to lead the USSR in a victory over Germany. On June 22, 1941 Hitler and Germany surprised the Kremlin and invaded the USSR. Stalin was informed of the invasion but “persisted in the idea that the war might be a provocation by German Officers”[xxi]. He also claimed that “Hitler simply [did] not know about it”. And “Stalin would not order resistance until he had heard from Berlin”[xxii]. Not only did Stalin ignore the German Invasion but he also shortly withdrew himself from power due to the situation he faced. Due to this, as “the Germans advanced, the government was paralysed for two long days”[xxiii]. After turmoil, Stalin came back into power but the decisions he had made led to heavy losses for the USSR. “Russia had lost around 2,000,000 men, 3,500 tanks and over 6,000 aircraft”[xxiv] over a two week period. During the course of the war Stalin issued many other policies that proved costly to the Soviet Union. He commanded the people “ When moving forward don’t try to capture one or other point but... burn to ashes these populated areas. So the German staffs and units will be buried... Toss away any sentiment and destroy all populated areas you meet on your way!”[xxv]. He issued a scorched earth policy similar to what the Russian people did during the Napoleon's invasion. Although it had worked in the past, the Scorched Earth policy was very costly for the Soviet Union. “ A third of industrial production alone was lost, apart from crippling losses of men and civilians killed or captured”[xxvi]. Early in the War Stalin is attributed with failures in his policies but as the war progressed some of his policies ended up helping the USSR. After many retreats in the beginning of the war Stalin issued Order No. 246 and the “Not a Step Back” Policy to try to stop the USSR from retreating. In Order No. 246 Stalin approved the “stipulated the destruction of families of men who were captured”[xxvii]. In the “Not a Step Back Policy” he ordered that any units who retreated at will would be put at the most difficult sectors of the front to redeem their crimes by blood. He also commanded all soldiers and commanders not to retreat from battle and units could only retreat if they get orders from higher command. This policy included that 3-5 armed guards stationed behind unstable units to ensure that no one retreated and could execute any one who attempted retreat. He used these policies to try to motivate the men to fight to the death or their families could possibly be killed. These policies placed the good of the state before the man and placed morals behind the good of Russia. Although these policies seem harsh and “...ruined the lives of millions of innocent soldiers and their families”[xxviii] they seemed to work for the Soviet Union. After the Policy was put into place in 1942 the USSR rode a string of victories. Russian Forces were able to stop the German advance at Stalingrad and decisively beat back the German counter offensive at Kursk. Stalin also put an emphasis on a two front war and aid throughout the entire war to the allies. In 1944 the USSR and Stalin received 10 billion dollars in aid from the allies. The allies then engaged the German Army on had the Western Front and as they advanced he needed more soldiers devoted to that front which effectively split up the German Army. This combined with Order No. 246 and the “Not a Step Back” Policy helped to contribute to the Russian advance to Berlin which ended the war for the Soviet Union. Stalin is also attributed with the successful evacuation of wartime industrial workers. “A major goal of the evacuation effort was to defend and develop the Soviet military capability, so defense workers and factories were evacuated with the highest priority”[xxix]. Not only did Stalin evacuate these workers but fed them at highest priority so that the USSR Industrial output could continue throughout the war. “...industrial evacuees received larger food rations, higher quality housing, and better medical care”[xxx] and “ While hundreds of thousands were dying in the streets, the leaders worked day and night”[xxxi]. Overall “...the massive relocation of industries and workers in 1941 and 1942 resulted in substantial defense production, crucial to the Soviet victory of 1945. As stated by G.A. Kumanev, a leading Russian military historian, the evacuations "main goal - to save millions of Soviet citizens, a major amount of industrial and agricultural resources, and other material riches - was achieved."[xxxii]


 * E.) Conclusion **

Although many of Stalin’s policies during the Great Patriotic War were successful he also had many unsuccessful policies during the war. In the end not all of his policies could be examined and determine whether they truly helped or hindered the USSR during WWII.

Word Count: 1,983


 * D.) ** **List of Sources**

Edwards, Kristen. "1943: Wartime Evacuation." //17 Moments in Soviet History//. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. .

Montefiore, Simon Sebag. //Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar//. New York: Random House Inc., 2003. Print.

"1943: The Nazi Tide Stops." //Seventeen Moments in Soviet History//. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. .

Stalin, Joseph. "Need For a Second Front." Letter to Henry C Cassidy. 3 Oct. 1942. //Seventeen Moments in Soviet History//. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.

// Seventeen Moments in Soviet History //. Web. 7 Mar. 2012. .

Wolfson, Robert, and John Laver. //Years of Change European History 1890-1990//. N.p.: Hodder Education, n.d. Print.

[i] "1943: The Nazi Tide Stops." //Seventeen Moments in Soviet History//. N.p., n.d.

Web. 18 Apr. 2012.

[ii] ibid [iii] ibid [iv] ibid [v] Montefiore, Simon Sebag. //Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar//. New York: Random

House Inc., 2003. Print. (388) [vi] ibid (379) [vii] Edwards, Kristen. "1943: Wartime Evacuation." //17 Moments in Soviet History//.

N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. [viii] Montefiore (389) [ix] Edwards [x] Montefiore (375) [xi] ibid (365) [xii] ibid (365) [xiii] Stalin, Joseph. "Need For a Second Front." Letter to Henry C Cassidy. 3 Oct.

1942. //Seventeen Moments in Soviet History//. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.

// Seventeen Moments in Soviet History //. Web. 7 Mar. 2012. [xiv] ibid [xv] Montefiore (379) [xvi] Wolfson, Robert, and John Laver. //Years of Change European History 1890-1990//.

N.p.: Hodder Education, n.d. Print. [xvii] Montefiore (378) [xviii] Edwards [xix] Stalin [xx] Wolfson [xxi] Montefiore (365) [xxii] ibid (365) [xxiii] ibid (375) [xxiv] ibid (378) [xxv] ibid (388) [xxvi] Wolfson [xxvii] Montefiore (379) [xxviii] ibid (379) [xxix] Edwards [xxx] ibid [xxxi] Montefiore (389) [xxxii] Edwards