The Importance of Defence in Stalin's Economic Policies, 1928-1941

Stalin's economic policies from 1928 to 1941 were characterized by a mix of motivations, with defence playing a significant role in shaping the Soviet Union's economic development during this period. The perceived threats from Germany and European fascism in the 1930s were central to Stalin's focus on strengthening the Soviet Union's military capabilities through industrialization. The Soviet Union recognized its vulnerabilities in terms of defence preparedness, which drove the need for a rapid expansion of key industries such as steel, oil, and chemicals to support military production.

Stalin's realization of the Soviet Union's lack of readiness for potential military conflicts, particularly given the historical context of Western powers' involvement in the Russian Civil War, underscored the imperative of bolstering the country's industrial base for defence purposes. The military threats posed by capitalist Western powers, including the United States, France, and Britain, further emphasized the importance of building a strong military-industrial complex to safeguard the Soviet Union against external aggression.

Conversely, while defence considerations were significant, other factors also influenced Stalin's economic policies during this period. The need to increase food production to sustain the growing urban population and pay for industrialization was crucial for the economic viability of the Soviet state. Stalin's consolidation of power and establishment of a totalitarian regime, as well as his ideological goals of achieving socialism in one country and eliminating capitalist influences through policies like dekulakization and the end of the New Economic Policy (NEP), were equally significant drivers of his economic policies.

In conclusion, defence was a major factor driving Stalin's economic policies from 1928 to 1941, as the perceived threats to the Soviet Union's security necessitated rapid industrialization and the expansion of key industries for military purposes. However, while defence considerations were paramount, they existed alongside and interacted with other motivations such as economic self-sufficiency, political consolidation, and ideological imperatives in shaping Stalin's economic policies during this period.