Pre-Soviet Union Russia (1900-1920)

In the early 1900's while still in the time of Tsars, Russia was undergoing vast, rapid changes politically and socially due to an upcoming war. These changes would soon help to shape the Russia that is today. At the start of WW1 Russian Tsar Nicholas II took the offensive against Germany and Austria-Hungary, whilst in the middle of reform and political strife. For the Russians the war was not pleasant as food was sparse and leadership was lacking. Repeated military failures accompanied with the lack of bureaucratic support was more then enough to turn large pockets of the population against the government. By the middle of 1915 the impact of the war was tremendous. Food and fuel were impossible to come by, casualties were at an all time high, and inflation was mounting. Strikes increased among low-paid factory workers, and the peasants, who wanted land reforms. In the years to come Russia would have a civil war, and the Tsars would ultimately conform to the wants of the people. The autocracy would soon become a communist ran country. The effects that the first world war had on the population of Russia was devastating, 3.5 million soldiers died and the country was in desperate need of a turn around.

Russian children and families head away from enemy lines.

Location: Near Smolensk, Russia

Date: 1917

 

A New Russia (1921-1935)

Following the incidents of WW1, Russia was in major turmoil politically. A new union style of government was to be implemented where five members of a political committee would form what was known as a Politburo. The Politburo functioned as the central policymaking and governing body of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Collectively known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) or Soviet Union for short. This new union established new policies transforming the economy, religions beliefs, and the social lives of Russians. From the changes, abortion was made legal, divorce no longer required court procedure, and women were encouraged to get an education.

A Soviet poster symbolizing the reform of the "old way" of an oppressed housekeeper.
The poster is basically saying, "Say no to the oppression of housework".
Location: Moscow
Date: 1932

Early Soviet Union (1929-1939)

From 1929 to 1939 the Soviet Union underwent massive industrialization and internal struggles. Joseph Stalin established total control over Soviet society, wielding virtually limitless power. Stalin initiated the first Five Year Plan, which would build up industry/manufacturing as well as grant the government control over farms and land. Farmers, however, were not so lucky as many of them were forced off their land or killed. Furthermore because the government confiscated all crops/cattle in the rural area's, the people left standing would have no choice but to move to rapidly growing urban centers. Thus the Five Year Plan had great results, by building urban area's and making the Soviet Union industry superior to Germany and Japan. This period of rising would soon come to a plateau as war was once again at the front door of the Soviet Union.   

As you can see in this photo, the Soviet Union was becoming more industrial/urbanized
making the USSR a super power among nations.
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Date: 1935

World War II (1939-1945)

WW2 hit the Soviet Union in 1939. The Soviet Union, however, had signed a non-aggression pact with German forces prompting the continuation of trade between the two countries. This pact was not long lived because Germany invaded the Soviet border on June 22, 1941, ending all peace. Two major German defeats in Stalingrad and Kursk, reversed the course of the entire war for Germany. Strengthened by their victories, the Soviet army then pushed westward breaking German lines and eventually captured Berlin, Germany in 1945, ending the war. The Soviet Union, like most countries that fought in the war, suffered numerous casualties. In total, between 26-27 million Soviets died, 1,700 towns and 70 THOUSAND settlements destroyed and finally a quarter of the population of the St. Petersburg region was gone. All in all, the progress that the Soviet Union had been on was just destroyed. The population was crippled and now the USSR had to rebuild and restart once again.

A Russian soldier raising the flag in Berlin, Germany.
Location: Berlin, Germany.
Date: May, 1945

Cold War Era Reconstruction (1945-1980)

Following the events of WW2, the Soviet Union was in a state of reconstruction once again. Roughly a quarter of the country's capital resources had been destroyed in the war, and industrial and agricultural output fell far short of prewar levels. To help rebuild the country, the Soviet government obtained limited credits from Britain and Sweden but refused assistance proposed by the United States. The Soviet people bore much of the cost of rebuilding because the reconstruction program emphasized heavy industry while neglecting agriculture and consumer goods. By the time of Stalin's death in 1953, the Soviet Union had undergone great development and was now once again a powerful industrial country. However, the impacts of WW1 and WW2 were still present in the society. The Soviet Unions population was still low and actually receding due to post war diseases (Typhus, scurvy, respiratory illness) from two world wars.


 

 

The Soviet Union industry was once again booming with
advance machinery.
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
Date: Somewhere between 1950-1960  

Late Soviet Union (1950-1986)

From 1950 to 1986 the Soviet Union was at an industrial race with the US. During this time the USSR became a leading producer and exporter of petroleum and natural gas. The soviet science industry peaked, building the worlds first nuclear power plant and finally the Soviet space program was the first to reach the moon. All of these factors helped the USSR to become even more of a global superpower. However with all of their great industry/power, the Soviet economy was still lacking and needed some help. A period called the Era of Stagnation overwhelmed the Soviet economy, mostly due to overwhelmed planners in Moscow who's job was to create jobs/provide funds for workers. As a result, labor productivity decreased nationwide as well as employment rates. After several reforms the Soviet government took control of the agriculture, in attempts to turn it around but any counter-measures to help increase employment were non- existent. Thus the Soviet market and living standards were vastly effected.


Soviet protesters protesting for jobs
Location: Moscow
Date: Mid 80's
 

Post Soviet Union- Breaking of the Union(1982-1991)

Two developments took over the decade that followed after the cold war: the increasingly apparent crumbling of the Soviet Union's economic and political structures, and the attempts to fix it. Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union at the time, announced a plan to recover and modernize Soviet communism. Gorbachev plan was essentially a disaster and by 1990 the Soviet government lost control over economic conditions. Due to price control, there were shortages of almost all products, reaching their peak in the end of 1991, when people had to stand in long lines and were lucky enough to buy even the essentials. By December, the shortages had resulted in the introduction of food rationing in Moscow and Saint Petersburg for the first time since World War II. The Soviet Union was breaking and on December 25, 1991 the union was no more. Now the Russian Federation was in control and major changes were planned as the economy, the population, jobs, and welfare of a country were at stake.

Protesters tear down a statue after the USSR was
dissolved.
Location: Russia
Date: December 26, 1991

Russia Today (1991-present)

When the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, Russia's population totaled about 149 million. Two decades later and this number is down to less than 142 million. This population implosion is due to several factors. One, is the fact that Russia had been through several civil wars, and two world wars. Two, Russia went from a Tsar to a communist government to finally a federal system with a president. All of these rapid changes and wars essentially killed millions of people and left the economy in the dump. Thirdly the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 left many millions of people with social and political uncertainty. These uncertainties caused families to have fewer children, and abortion was already legal so abortion rates shot up. Not only birth rates and abortion rates were high, but drinking related deaths, AID's related deaths, heavy smoking, and suicides all were skyrocketing. The life expectancy for males dropped from 71 years of age in 1991 to 62 years of age in 2010 and female life expectancy was just as worse. Fewer than half of Russia's male teens today will survive till 60 years of age. On the plus side, Russia's economy has taken a complete turn around and is now a part of the worlds biggest emerging markets (BRIC). Recent reports from population statistics from 2010, showed that Russia seemed to actually be growing by small percentages. These small percentages may or may not last, everything is depended on government assistance and dependent on Russia's leaders. The future for Russia is very dim, only time will tell more.               

These Russian women are excited for the chance to get $9,200
for when they decide to have children. Incentives like these are
occurring throughout Russia to promote population growth.