Dictatorships In Germany And Russia

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Dictatorships in Germany and Russia What were the social and economic conditions in Russia and Germany before and during the dictatorships? Russia Pre-Communism • Ruled by the Tsar (at that time it was Tsar Nicholas II) who ran the country as he liked. • 80% of the country were peasants, and relied on agriculture as their main source of income. • Due to sudden population boom, the high amount of people and primitive farming methods(no tractors, only horses and ploughs) made the country go into a state of starvation. • Economy was devastated due to its army’s recent loss to Japan. • Nicholas II had a secret police that harassed and wrongfully arrested many people. • Event known as Bloody Sunday occurred, where the Tsar government massacred hundreds of peaceful protesters in the city of St. Petersburg. • Overall, the people were not happy with the way things were being ran by government. Russia during Communism (Lenin) Economy Social Conditions • In 1918, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, had full control of Russia. • Russia was pulled out of World War I, but lost a great deal land of land to the Germans including 60 million people, 25% of its farmland, and 75% of its iron and coal deposits. • Civil War during this period between the Reds (Communists) and Whites (non-communists). • The Reds won, but the war severely impacted Russia’s economy making it worse than it was in the Tsar era. • Lenin then started the New Economic Policy which made Russia’s economy steadily rise and by 1926, Russia’s economy was back to the way it was • After the Civil war, crime increased throughout the country • 5 million people died due to a famine after a drought • Cannibalism became a common way to survive • The country had no order; people could do whatever they want Russia during Communism (Stalin) Economy Social Conditions • During this era, Russia’s economy
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