Third Five Year Plan, 1938-41

What was the Soviet Union's Third Five Year Plan?

The Third Five Year Plan was the third industrial plan created by Gosplan for the USSR. It built on the work completed under the Second Five Year Plan.

When was the Third Five Year Plan in the Soviet Union?

The Third Five Year Plan was from January 1938 to December 1941.

What were the aims of the Third Five Year Plan in the Soviet Union?

The Third Five Year Plan was still focused on developing heavy industry as there was a need for armaments to prepare for the Second World War.

What were the successes of the Third Five Year Plan in the Soviet Union?

The Third Five Year Plan had 2 main successes:

• ❖ Heavy industry grew.
• ❖ Defence and armaments grew quickly as one-third of investment was spent on them. This was the basis of a very strong armaments industry which was used during the Cold War.

What were the weaknesses of the Third Five Year Plan in the Soviet Union?

The Third Five Year Plan had 5 main weaknesses:

• ❖ The growth in steel output was poor.
• ❖ The plan was impacted by the Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union and it was ended early.
• ❖ The purges continued to impact the delivery of targets.
• ❖ Consumer good production suffered as resources had been diverted to the armaments industry.
• ❖ Oil production failed to meet its target and there was a fuel shortage.