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The Bolshevik economic policy introduced in 1918 during the Russian Civil War, involving state control of industry, compulsory grain collection and a ban on private trade.

The Bolsheviks' emergency economic policies during the Civil War, including state control of industry, forced grain collection and restrictions on private trade.

After taking power in 1917, Lenin's Bolsheviks wanted to build a socialist society, replacing private profit with collective ownership. They also had an immediate problem: surviving a Civil War while keeping soldiers and towns supplied. Their first major response was War Communism, introduced in 1918.

War Communism contributed to famine, but war damage and poor weather also mattered. Do not treat it as the only cause.

Under War Communism, industry was nationalised, peasants' grain was requisitioned and food was strictly rationed. These measures aimed to direct scarce resources towards the war effort, but compulsory grain collection intensified conflict with peasants and contributed to the uprisings that continued in 1921. The conflict also deepened economic disintegration and caused widespread destruction and loss of life.

War Communism

Definition

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AQA GCSE History · 8145

Edexcel GCSE History · 1HI0

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