Soviet famine of 1930–1933

Alexander Wienerberger Holodomor9

The Soviet famine of 1930–1933 was a severe famine that affected the major grain-producing areas of the Soviet Union, including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and parts of Russia. The famine resulted in the deaths of an estimated 5.7 to 8.7 million people.

Causes

The primary causes of the famine were the policies of collectivization in the Soviet Union and grain requisitioning implemented by the Soviet government under Joseph Stalin. These policies aimed to consolidate individual landholdings and labor into collective farms. The state also requisitioned large amounts of grain from these farms, leaving insufficient food for the local population.

Additionally, a severe drought in 1931 exacerbated the situation, leading to crop failures and further reducing the food supply.

Impact

The famine had a devastating impact on the population. In Ukraine, it is often referred to as the Holodomor, which means "death by hunger." The famine also severely affected the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, leading to a significant decline in the Kazakh population.

The Soviet government initially denied the existence of the famine and restricted information about it. International aid was also limited due to the political climate of the time.

Government Response

The Soviet government's response to the famine included increased grain requisitioning and punitive measures against those accused of hoarding food. The government also implemented measures to prevent the movement of starving peasants to urban areas, further exacerbating the crisis.

Legacy

The Soviet famine of 1930–1933 remains a controversial and heavily debated topic. In Ukraine, the Holodomor is recognized as a genocide against the Ukrainian people. In other parts of the former Soviet Union, the famine is seen as a tragic consequence of misguided policies and natural disasters.

See also

• Holodomor
• Collectivization in the Soviet Union
• Grain requisitioning
• Drought
• Joseph Stalin
• Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic