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By 1921, Russia was in crisis. War Communism had won the Civil War but had devastated the economy, caused a famine that killed millions, and provoked dangerous unrest — including the Kronstadt Rebellion. In response, Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP), a dramatic U-turn that reintroduced some elements of capitalism. This lesson examines the NEP and its consequences for AQA GCSE History.
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| Economic collapse | Industrial output had fallen to 20% of 1913 levels; agricultural production had halved |
| Famine | The 1921–1922 famine killed an estimated 5–7 million people |
| Peasant resistance | Peasants were hiding grain, reducing production, and rebelling (e.g. the Tambov Rebellion) |
| Kronstadt Rebellion (March 1921) | Sailors at the Kronstadt naval base mutinied, demanding free elections and an end to War Communism; the rebellion was crushed, but it showed that even loyal supporters were turning against the Bolsheviks |
| Urban depopulation | Workers were fleeing the cities to find food in the countryside |
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