This image and video relate to not only the Stalin’s First Five Year Plan, but also revolutionary culture. Because of the socialist government’s desire to control everything in Russia they banned religion all across that nation. These two primary sources show church bells being taken down (27 bells out of 32 bells in the video were taken down by socialist workers) and further the medal being taken for industrial projects (also a huge factor in the First Five Year Plan). Stalin believe religion was a huge barrier for collectiveness and therefore not only destroyed a huge religious symbol within the church bells, but also demanded the for the destruction of churches, religious symbols, and even cemeteries. Those who resisted these laws was arrested or deported (like the Kulaks). Further the creation of a struck work schedule was enforced to keep religious workers away from acknowledging Sundays (the day of rest) and religious holiday so that they could continue to work for most of the year. However, revolutionary holiday celebrations were still observed, which further proves their dedication to their new culture over all else.
These ideologies left obvious implications that Stalin’s policies to ban religion and become more secular were purely to gain more power, but more importantly to encourage industrialization and collectiveness throughout the nation while promoting socialism.
These sources caught my attention because of our last blog post and midterm papers. I liked seeing the connection between revolutionary culture and the new policies and plans of socialist leaders and how they were still creating a new society in Russia.
Mallory Wyne
Works Cited
“Churches Closed Images.” Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. N.p., 16 July 2015. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://soviethistory.msu.edu/1929-2/churches-closed/churches-closed-images/#>.
“A Devout City Becomes Godless (1929).” YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://youtu.be/iV_CuZ9nOCk>.
Hubbard, Erin. “First Five Year Plan and Stalin’s Economic Policies.” First Five Year Plan and Stalin’s Economic Policies. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://econc10.bu.edu/economic_systems/Economics/Command_Econ/planning/stalins_first_5yp.htm>.
Von Geldern, James. “Church Closed.” 17 Moments in Soviet History. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2015. <http://soviethistory.msu.edu/1929-2/churches-closed/>.
October 5, 2015 @ 1:26 pm
Stalin’s purge of the kulaks and his calls for the industrialization of Russia are the two most well known aspects of the First Five Year Plan. Although most people know that communism is a government without religion, many do not know about Stalin’s purges of the clergy and destruction of churches. It’s fascinating that he dismantled churches and used their bells for iron production. It’s also extremely interesting that all religious holidays were gotten rid of and Soviet holidays replaced them, further decreasing religious participation. Thank you for posting and sharing that video; great job!
October 5, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
Thanks for talking about how “building socialism” involved so much destruction of the old culture. The assault on the church had so many objectives: breaking the hold of tradition, eliminating potential opposition to Stalinist rule, destroying or repurposing the the physical signs of orthodox observance.
October 6, 2015 @ 12:52 am
The massive push for the destruction of religion is a major aspect of the FFYP. This is a great video that gives a live representation of how the plan was carried out. The fact that the physical destruction of the churches were used to build the new wave of industry really wraps up Stalin’s goals behind his plan.
October 6, 2015 @ 1:59 am
I can’t help but find the media you used heartbreaking. So much was lost during the revolution. I don’t understand how there was not enough resistance to prevent this destruction.
October 6, 2015 @ 2:13 am
This video is so interesting! It’s very interesting that the Soviets replaced the religious holidays with Soviet ones. Thanks for sharing!
October 6, 2015 @ 2:34 am
This really shows how smart the Five Year plan was and how its policies maximized control. Stalin’s government and policies purged the country of any opposition to the new culture and way of life. It is darkly brilliant when you really think about it. Stalin almost replaced God and religion with himself and Soviet communism!