In 1928
Joseph Stalin began attacking kulaks
for not supplying enough food for industrial workers. He also advocated
the setting up of collective farms.
The proposal involved small farmers joining forces to form large-scale
units. In this way, it was argued, they would be in a position to
afford the latest machinery. Stalin believed this policy would lead
to increased production. However, the peasants liked farming their
own land and were reluctant to form themselves into state collectives.
Joseph Stalin was furious that the peasants
were putting their own welfare before that of the Soviet Union. Local
communist officials were given instructions to confiscate kulaks
property. This land would then be used to form new collective farms.
The kulaks themselves were not allowed to undermine the success of
the scheme. Thousands were executed and an estimated five million
were deported to Siberia or Central Asia.
Of these, approximately twenty-five per cent perished by the time
they reached their destination.
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