Grain requisitioning

Definition

Grain requisitioning was a policy implemented by the Bolshevik government during and after the Russian Civil War, where the state forcibly took grain from peasants to meet the needs of the Red Army and urban populations. This practice was essential for ensuring food supplies during a time of war and economic turmoil, and it was deeply connected to the broader struggles for control and power within the newly formed Soviet Union.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Grain requisitioning was often met with violent resistance from peasants, leading to uprisings such as the Tambov Rebellion in 1920-1921.
2. This policy contributed to widespread famine in rural areas, most notably the devastating famine of 1921-1922 that resulted in millions of deaths.
3. The policy was part of War Communism, which sought to centralize control over production and distribution amidst civil war chaos.
4. Grain requisitioning was officially replaced by the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1921, which allowed for some degree of private farming and trade to restore agricultural production.
5. The government justified grain requisitioning as necessary for maintaining the Red Army's strength and urban food supplies, despite its harsh impact on the rural population.

Review Questions

• How did grain requisitioning reflect the economic strategies of the Bolshevik government during the Civil War?
  • Grain requisitioning was a central feature of the Bolshevik government's economic strategy during the Civil War as it aimed to secure food supplies for both the military and urban workers. By forcibly taking grain from peasants, the government prioritized its needs over those of rural populations. This approach illustrated the radical shift towards state control and collectivization, which was seen as essential for survival amid external and internal threats.
• Evaluate the social consequences of grain requisitioning on rural communities during this tumultuous period.
  • The social consequences of grain requisitioning were dire for rural communities, leading to widespread famine, discontent, and violence. Peasants were stripped of their livelihoods, causing uprisings such as the Tambov Rebellion, where they fought against state confiscation. The severe impact on agricultural productivity contributed to long-term resentment towards the Bolshevik regime and laid a foundation for future policies that sought to improve relations with peasants under NEP.
• Analyze how grain requisitioning set the stage for future economic policies in the Soviet Union after 1921.
  • Grain requisitioning fundamentally influenced future economic policies in the Soviet Union, particularly through its role in shaping public perception and peasant relations. The backlash against this policy highlighted the need for reform, leading to the introduction of NEP in 1921, which temporarily relaxed state control and allowed private agriculture. This transition reflected a significant shift in strategy aimed at rebuilding an economy that had been devastated by civil war and famine, paving the way for later collectivization efforts under Stalin.

Related terms

War Communism: An economic and political system that was implemented by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War, characterized by the nationalization of industry and requisitioning of agricultural products to support the Red Army.

Nepmen: Private entrepreneurs who emerged during the New Economic Policy (NEP) after War Communism, facilitating trade and small-scale production in a semi-capitalist economy.

Cheka:

The Soviet secret police established to suppress opposition and enforce Bolshevik policies, including the enforcement of grain requisitioning during the Civil War.