Evaluate the impact of Stalin’s economic and political policies in the Soviet Union between 1945 and 1953.

The question requires candidates to make an appraisal of both economic and political policies in the Soviet Union between 1945 and 1953. When considering impacts, candidates may discuss the aims of the policies. Economically the main aim was to recover from wartime destruction of infrastructure. Industrial and agricultural production levels were below those of the 1930s. The 4th and 5th Five Year plans were implemented, focusing on key industries (oil and steel) production, and both rose significantly by 1950. Agriculture was less successful not reaching pre-war levels by 1950, despite being re-collectivized. It was damaged by policies such as Lysenkoism. Politically, Stalin’s aim was to maintain power and strengthen the state. The party was purged (100 000 a year), wartime heroes such as Zhukov were sidelined. The “discovery” of plots such as the Doctors’ Plot and the Leningrad affair maintained an atmosphere of fear and potential rivals such as Malenkov and Khrushchev were unable to threaten Stalin. There was limited political impact but economic policies were to some extent successful in aiding recovery.