The first post-war five-year plan in the USSR. Restoration Fourth Five-Year Plan (1946–1950)

Plan and main tasks of the Fourth Five-Year Plan

From January 1, 1946 to December 31, 1950, the USSR carried out the fourth five-year plan for the development of sectors of the country's national economy. This period is characterized by the beginning of the post-war period of reconstruction.

Note 1

The main economic and political task of the Fourth Five-Year Plan was to completely restore the sectors of the national economy of the Soviet Union, restore the regions of the country that suffered after the Great Patriotic War, restore and further increase the level of industrial and agricultural production, as well as further economic development.

A new system began to be built, which distributed the functions of managing the country’s national economy between the party and state authorities.

The basis of the fourth five-year plan was the law “On the Five-Year Plan for the Restoration and Development of the National Economy.” This law was adopted by the session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

The post-war economy of the Soviet Union faced two major challenges. First, it was necessary to carry out reconversion. Secondly, restore the economy.

To implement the reconversion, the following actions were taken between 1945 and 1946:

• The People's Commissariat were reorganized (the People's Commissariat of Tank Industry was reorganized into the People's Commissariat of Transport Engineering, the People's Commissariat of Mortar Weapons - into the People's Commissariat of Mechanical Engineering and Instrument Making, the People's Commissariat of Ammunition was transformed into the People's Commissariat of Agricultural Engineering);
• The State was completely liquidated. Com. Defense. Its economic management functions were newly transferred to the Council of People's Commissars, which were subsequently transformed into ministries.
• The State Committee for Supply of the National Economy and the State Committee for the Introduction of New Technology into the National Economy were formed.

Features of the Fourth Five-Year Plan

During the Fourth Five-Year Plan, a monetary reform was developed. The application of this reform was carried out simultaneously with a reduction in prices and the complete abolition of the card system.

The result was an increase in the purchasing power of the ruble and an increase in the level of real wages.

During the same period, the conversion of State loan bonds was carried out, which made it possible to collect statistical data for the conversion of other loans. The new monetary reform made it possible to exchange cash for new banknotes at a nominal ratio of 10 to 1.

Note 2

All contributions were subject to revaluation, and this revaluation was carried out in a differentiated form. Small deposits amounting to up to 3 thousand rubles, which accounted for 80% of the total number of all deposits, were not revalued, which allowed their owners to receive a significant “premium”. For deposits amounting from 3 to 10 thousand rubles. The exchange ratio was set at 3 to 2, and for large deposits, amounting to 10,000 rubles. and above this ratio was 2 to 1.

There was a significant decrease in retail prices, which averaged 17%. Prices on collective farm markets have fallen by more than three times.

The ongoing financial reform has also made it possible to significantly strengthen the public credit system. During the implementation of the reform and after its completion, a large flow of deposits was observed. First of all, this reform dealt a blow to speculators who kept their savings in their hands.

In 1948, all government loans from previous years were converted into a State loan with a rate of 2%. Subsequently, from 1949 to 1957, a new government loan was issued annually.

At the end of February 1950, the ruble was revalued against the dollar. Now the dollar began to cost 4 rubles, instead of the previous 5.3 rubles.

Among other things, another difficult task had to be solved - the abolition of the card system for the distribution of goods.

The card system existed in many countries during the Second World War.

Prices for consumer goods were significantly higher than in pre-war times. After the currency reform and until 1954, the state reduced prices every year, and in 1954 the price level was slightly above 40% of the 1947 level, however, they were still higher than the prices of the pre-war period.

The annual decrease in retail prices for goods contributed to a significant increase in the level of well-being of the entire Soviet population at the same time, while the biggest winners were the least paid part of the population, including the peasantry.

The state also thought through the issue of rush buying of goods in connection with the abolition of cards. Before their cancellation, a commodity stock of 1.7 billion rubles was previously formed. After the abolition of cards was carried out with a simultaneous transition to uniform retail prices, the reserve was divided and went to retail chains in cities (in the amount of 1.1 billion rubles) and rural areas (in the amount of 0.6 billion rubles).

Results of the Fourth Five-Year Plan

During the years of the Fourth Five-Year Plan, almost all major industrial facilities were restored and put into operation. Capital investments in the national economy amounted to about 48 billion rubles. The Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Plant was restored, the metallurgy industry also practically recovered, the factories of the South and the mines of Donbass were restored and put into operation.

By the end of 1948, the entire Soviet industry had reached the level recorded in the pre-war period.

The housing stock was also actively restored. Over 200 million m² of living space was restored and rebuilt. At the same time, as before, all housing was provided by the state free of charge. The plan for its completion set in the fourth five-year plan was fulfilled and even exceeded.

A lot has been done during this period.

During these years, such significant enterprises as the Transcaucasian Metallurgical Plant, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead-Zinc Plant, the Ryazan Machine Tool Plant, etc. were put into operation. In total, there are about 6.5 thousand enterprises.

The main economic and political task of the five-year plan was to restore the regions of the country damaged during the Great Patriotic War, restore the pre-war level of industry and agriculture and then exceed this level to a significant extent.

The Soviet economy in the post-war period faced 2 tasks:

• 1) carry out reconversion;
• 2) restore the economy.

To implement the first task in 1945-1946. a number of organizational steps were taken.

• 1. A reorganization of the People's Commissariats took place: the NK of the tank industry was reorganized into the NK of transport engineering, the NK of mortar weapons - into the NK of mechanical engineering and instrument making, the NK of ammunition - into the NK of agricultural engineering.
• 2. The State Defense Committee was liquidated (September 4, 1945), the main functions of economic management were returned to the Council of People's Commissars.
• 3. On March 15, 1946, the people's commissariats were transformed into ministries (reasons: the stage of revolutionary disruption, which was characterized by the abandonment of old names, has ended; ministries must emphasize the idea of ​​unity of command and build a vertical line).

In the first post-war years, the question of the pace and methods of restoring the national economy remained controversial among the country's leadership. Two points of view emerged.

• 1. Slow option. Supporters: Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks A. Zhdanov, Chairman of the State Planning Committee N. Voznesensky. Ideas: The Soviet people worked with overexertion throughout the war years. Now he can be given the opportunity to rest. In addition, with the end of the war, a crisis will occur in Western countries, and the threat from them will weaken.
• 2. Quick option. Supporters - L.P. Beria, G.M. Malenkov. Despite the fatigue and overstrain of the people, it is impossible to choose the path of slow recovery; an accelerated option is needed. Western countries will overcome the economic crisis quickly, and the contradictions between the socialist and capitalist worlds will once again intensify. The main factor in the need to speed up restoration is the US monopoly on nuclear weapons and the Cold War environment.

The last word remained with Stalin, who in 1946 declared that the main condition for the security of the USSR was the accelerated growth of heavy industry. The choice was made in favor of the 2nd option.

Speaking at a pre-election meeting of voters in the Stalin electoral district of Moscow on February 9, 1946, Joseph Stalin set the task:

“We need to ensure that our industry can annually produce up to 50 million tons of iron, up to 60 million tons of steel, up to 500 million tons of coal, up to 60 million tons of oil. Only under this condition can we consider that our Motherland will be guaranteed from all kinds of accidents. This will take, perhaps, three new five-year plans, if not more."

These decisions were reflected in the IV Five-Year Plan (1946-1950). The plan provided for reaching the pre-war level in basic industrial indicators by 1948, and by the end of the five-year plan - exceeding the indicators by 48%.

According to official data in 1950, the plan was fulfilled and exceeded. Today, researchers believe that the enterprises of group “A” met the five-year plan, but the enterprises of group “B” did not.

In any case, a lot has been done during the post-war five-year period. Significant enterprises put into operation during these years were the Transcaucasian Metallurgical Plant, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead-Zinc Plant, the Ryazan Machine Tool Plant, etc. There are about 6,500 enterprises in total.

Comparing the past and present is necessary to improve the future, while it is advisable not to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. The USSR was a once mighty superpower that at one time made a significant contribution to the development of society. One of the cornerstones of the life of Soviet citizens was the five-year plan. Based on their results, historians can judge the industrialization of the country, compare the achievements of the past and present, find out how far our generation has come technologically and what else is worth striving for. So, the topic of this article is the five-year plan in the USSR. The table below will help structure the knowledge gained in a logical order.

First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932)

So, it began in the name of building socialism. After the revolution, the country needed industrialization in order to keep up with the leading European powers. In addition, only with the help of an accelerated increase in industrial potential was it possible to unite the country and bring the USSR to a new military level, as well as increase the level of agriculture throughout the vast territory. According to the government, a strict and flawless plan was needed.

Thus, the main goal was to build up military power as quickly as possible.

Main tasks of the first five-year plan

At the XIV Congress of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), at the end of 1925, Stalin expressed the idea that it was necessary to transform the USSR from a country importing imported weapons and equipment into a country that could produce all this itself and supply it to other states. Of course, there were people who expressed ardent protest, but it was suppressed by the opinion of the majority. Stalin himself became interested in making the country a leader in the first five-year plan, putting it in first place in metallurgy production. Thus, the industrialization process had to take place in 4 stages:

1. Revival of transport infrastructure.
2. Expansion of economic sectors related to materials extraction and agriculture.
3. Redistribution of state-owned enterprises across the territory.
4. Changes in the operation of the energy complex.

All four processes did not take place one by one, but were intricately intertwined. Thus began the first five-year plan for the industrialization of the country.

It was not possible to bring all the ideas to life, but the production of heavy industry increased almost 3 times, and mechanical engineering - 20 times. Naturally, such a successful completion of the project caused quite natural joy for the government. Of course, the first five-year plans in the USSR were difficult for people. The table with the results of the first of them would contain the following words as a slogan or subtitle: “The main thing is to start!”

It was at this time that many recruitment posters appeared, reflecting the main goal and identity of the Soviet people.

The main construction projects at that time were coal mines in the Donbass and Kuzbass, and the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve the financial independence of the USSR. The most prominent structure is the Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Station. The year 1932 marked the end of not only the first five-year plan, but also the most important construction project for heavy industry.

The new power is strengthening its status in Europe by leaps and bounds.

Five Year Plan number two (1933-1937)

The Second Five-Year Plan in high circles was called the “Five-Year Plan of Collectivization” or “People’s Education.” It was approved by the VII Congress of the CPSU(b). After heavy industry, the country needed to develop its national economy. It was this area that became the main goal of the second five-year plan.

Main directions of the second five-year plan

The main forces and finances of the government at the beginning of the “five-year collectivization plan” were aimed at the construction of metallurgical plants. The Ural-Kuzbass appeared, the first current of the DneproGES was launched. The country did not lag behind in scientific achievements. Thus, the second five-year plan was marked by the first landing at the North Pole of Papanin’s expedition, and the SP-1 polar station appeared. The metro was actively being built.

At this time, great emphasis was placed on among the workers. The most famous drummer of the Five-Year Plan is Alexei Stakhanov. In 1935, he set a new record, completing the norm of 14 shifts in one shift.

Third Five-Year Plan (1938-1942)

The beginning of the third five-year plan was marked by the slogan: “Catch up and surpass the production per capita of developed countries. The main efforts of the government were aimed at increasing the country’s defense capability, just as in the first five-year plan, because of which the production of consumer goods suffered.

Directions of the Third Five-Year Plan

By the beginning of 1941, almost half (43%) of the country's capital investments went to raising the level of heavy industry. On the eve of the war, fuel and energy bases were rapidly developing in the USSR, the Urals and Siberia. It was necessary for the government to create a “second Baku” - a new oil production area that was supposed to appear between the Volga and the Urals.

Particular attention was paid to tank, aircraft and other factories of this kind. The level of production of ammunition and artillery pieces has increased significantly. However, the USSR's weapons still lagged behind those of the West, in particular the German ones, but there was no rush to release new types of weapons even in the first months of the war.

Fourth Five-Year Plan (1946-1950)

After the war, all countries had to revive their production and economy; the USSR managed to almost completely accomplish this in the late 40s, when the fourth term began. The Five-Year Plan did not imply a build-up of military power, as before, but the revival of what was lost in all spheres of society during the war.

Main achievements of the Fourth Five-Year Plan

Just two years later, the same level of industrial production as pre-war had been achieved, even though the Second and Third Five-Year Plans imposed harsh work standards. In 1950, the main production assets returned to the 1940 level. When the 4th Five-Year Plan ended, industry grew by 41%, and building construction by 141%.

The new Dnieper hydroelectric power station has come into operation again, and all Donbass mines have resumed operation. On this note, the 4th Five-Year Plan ended.

Fifth Five-Year Plan (1951-1955)

During the fifth five-year plan, atomic weapons became widespread, appeared in Obninsk, and at the beginning of 1953, N. S. Khrushchev took the post of head of state instead of J.V. Stalin.

Main achievements of the fifth five-year plan

Since capital investments in industry doubled, production volumes also increased (by 71%), in agriculture - by 25%. Soon new metallurgical plants were built - Kavkazsky and Cherepovets. The Tsimlyanskaya and Gorkovskaya hydroelectric power stations made the front page in whole or in part. And at the end of the fifth five-year plan, science heard about atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Finally, the first Omsk oil refinery was built, and the rate of coal production increased significantly. And 12.5 million hectares of new land came into use.

Sixth Five-Year Plan (1956-1960)

More than 2,500 of the largest enterprises came into operation when the sixth five-year plan began. At the end of it, in 1959, a parallel seven-year plan began. The country's national income increased by 50%. Capital investments at this time doubled again, which led to the widespread development of light industry.

The main achievements of the sixth five-year plan

Gross industrial and agricultural output increased by more than 60%. Gorky, Volzhskaya, Kuibyshevskaya were completed, and by the end of the five-year plan, the world's largest worsted plant was built in Ivanovo. Active development of virgin lands began in Kazakhstan. The USSR finally had a nuclear missile shield.

The world's first satellite was launched on October 4, 1957. Heavy industry developed with incredible efforts. However, there were more failures, so the government organized a seven-year plan, including the seventh five-year plan and the last two years of the sixth.

Seventh Five-Year Plan (1961-1965)

As you know, in April 1961, the first man in the world flew into space. This event marked the beginning of the seventh five-year plan. The country's national income continues to grow rapidly, increasing by almost 60% over the next five years. The level of gross industrial output increased by 83%, agriculture - by 15%.

By mid-1965, the USSR had taken a leading position in the mining of coal and iron ore, as well as in the production of cement, and this is not surprising. The country was still actively developing heavy industry and the construction industry, cities were growing before our eyes, and cement was needed for strong buildings.

Eighth Five-Year Plan (1966-1970)

The Five-Year Plan did not imply the production of materials, but the construction of new buildings and factories. Cities continue to expand. L. I. Brezhnev assumes the post of head of state. Over these five years, many metro stations appeared, the West Siberian and Karaganda metallurgical plants, the first VAZ automobile plant (production: 600 thousand cars per year), the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station - the largest station in the world at that time.

Active housing construction solved the problem of deprivation (the echo of the war was still echoing in big cities). At the end of 1969, more than 5 million residents received new apartments. After Yu. A. Gagarin's flight into space, astronomy made a big leap forward, the first lunar rover was created, soil was brought from the Moon, machines reached the surface of Venus.

Ninth Five-Year Plan (1971-1975)

During the Ninth Five-Year Plan, over a thousand industrial enterprises were built, the gross volume of industrial output increased by 45%, and agricultural output by 15%. The automotive industry is actively developing, and roads and railways are being repaired. Capital investments exceeded 300 billion rubles per year.

The development of oil and gas wells in Western Siberia led to the construction of many enterprises and the laying of oil pipelines. Since with the advent of a large number of factories the level of the employed population also increased, the “Drummer of the Ninth Five-Year Plan” badge was established (for excellence in labor and production).

Tenth Five-Year Plan (1976-1980)

The active increase in national income and industrial output is beginning to decline. Now the country does not need a huge growth of enterprises, but the stable development of all areas of industry is always necessary.

Oil production came to the fore, so over the course of five years, many oil pipelines were built, stretching throughout Western Siberia, where hundreds of stations deployed their work. The number of working equipment has increased significantly: tractors, combines, trucks.

Eleventh Five-Year Plan (1981-1985)

An extremely turbulent time began for the USSR. Everyone in the government felt the coming of a crisis, for which there were many reasons: internal, external, political and economic. At one time, it was possible to change the structure of power without abandoning socialism, but nothing of this was done. Because of the crisis, people occupying the leading positions of the state were replaced very quickly. Thus, L. I. Brezhnev remained Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee until November 10, 1982, Yu. V. Andropov held this position until February 13, 1984, K. U. Chernenko - until March 10, 1985.

Gas transportation from Western Siberia to Western Europe continues to develop. The Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod oil pipeline, 4,500 km long, was built, crossing the Ural ridge and hundreds of rivers.

Twelfth Five-Year Plan (1986-1990)

The last five-year plan for the USSR. During her time, it was planned to implement a long-term economic strategy, but the plans were not destined to come true. At this time, many received the badge of a shock worker of the twelfth five-year plan: collective farmers, workers, enterprise specialists, engineers... It was planned (and partially implemented) to establish light industry production.

Five-Year Plans of the USSR: summary table

So, we have briefly listed all the five-year plans in the USSR. The table presented to your attention will help systematize and summarize the above material. It contains the most important aspects for each plan.

No matter how difficult these plans may be, the results of the five-year plans show the perseverance and courage of the people. Yes, not everything was accomplished. The sixth five-year plan had to be “extended” due to the seven-year plan.

Even though the five-year plans in the USSR were difficult (the table is a direct confirmation of this), the Soviet people steadfastly coped with all the standards and even exceeded the plans. The main slogan of all five-year plans was: “Five-year plan in four years!”

History of the Ukrainian SSR in ten volumes. Volume nine Team of authors

4. RESULTS OF THE FOURTH FIVE YEAR PLAN IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORT

4. RESULTS OF THE FOURTH FIVE YEAR PLAN IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRY AND TRANSPORT

The heroic work of the Soviet people under the leadership of the Communist Party during the Fourth Five-Year Plan brought to life a grandiose program for the restoration and further development of the country. During the post-war revival of the national economy, the needs and capabilities of each republic were comprehensively taken into account. The development of the economy of the affected areas during the Fourth Five-Year Plan accounted for more than 46% of all capital investments.

By uniting the efforts of workers throughout the country, the Communist Party ensured the successful implementation of the “Law on the Five-Year Plan for the Restoration and Development of the National Economy of the USSR for 1946–1950.” The Soviet people demonstrated massive labor heroism and put up with temporary hardships in order to quickly heal the severe wounds of the war. The successful implementation of the tasks of the Fourth Five-Year Plan in industry and transport took place under the sign of the widespread introduction of new equipment and progressive technology. Over these years, the mechanization of labor-intensive processes in ferrous metallurgy and the coal industry has been mainly carried out, and through the creation and implementation of new machines and mechanisms, an increase in labor productivity has been achieved.

General results of the revival of industry. During the years of the Fourth Five-Year Plan, 6,200 large enterprises were restored and built. Great strides have been made in the field of technology and production technology; power supply and labor productivity have increased by 40 and 37%, respectively, compared to 1940. It is significant that by the end of the five-year plan, 69% of the increase in all industrial output was achieved through increased labor productivity. Very significant changes have occurred over the years in the territorial distribution of industry. The share of the eastern regions in the country's economy has noticeably increased. The fuel, raw materials, metallurgical and energy bases developed here at a rapid pace. The production of new types of products was mastered at an accelerated pace.

Over five years in the Ukrainian SSR, industrial output increased 4.4 times. Enterprises of the republic began to produce a large number of new types of products: coal combines, heavy shearing machines, cars, beet harvesters, motorcycles, mainline diesel locomotives, new types of metallurgical and power equipment.

With the help of workers throughout the country, Ukraine has achieved great success in the development of heavy industry. By the end of the Five-Year Plan, industrial production in the liberated regions of the country accounted for 21.6% of its union output. In 1950, Ukraine provided 47.8% of the all-Union coal production, 54.2% of coke, 47.8% of cast iron, 30.6% of steel, 38.4% of metallurgical equipment, 71.6% of granulated sugar, etc. In the same year, over 18 thousand trucks were produced in the republic for the first time, and the production of walking excavators was organized. By the end of the five-year plan, Ukraine produced more rolled ferrous metals, iron ore, electricity, and mineral fertilizers than before the war.

The largest of the restored Donbass mines “Novogundorovskaya” No. 2 with fully mechanized coal mining processes, 1950.

In the post-war years, the policy of the party and the Soviet government was aimed not just at restoring the pre-war level, but also at achieving qualitative changes in the development of the production of means of production. The restoration of heavy industry was accompanied by further reconstruction and modernization of fixed production assets. The revival of the leading industries of the Ukrainian SSR served as a solid basis for the development of the entire national economy, including construction, transport, light industry and agriculture.

The main objective of the Fourth Five-Year Plan for industry, which was to restore the pre-war level and then significantly exceed it, was successfully achieved.

Not only were individual factories and factories returned to operation, but entire industrial centers of the country were completely revived. Restoration work was carried out in such a way as to give a new, modern look to the former factories and mines. During the years of the Fourth Five-Year Plan, factories in Ukraine received thousands of units of new equipment, machines and devices of high productivity. Already in 1948, the gross industrial output of the USSR exceeded the level of 1940. The first to achieve this were power engineers (1946) and miners (1947); in 1948, the pre-war production of steel, cars, tractors, metal-cutting machines, cement, etc. was exceeded.

The pre-war level in different industries was reached at different times. This depended on the destruction that individual industries suffered during the war, advances in the development of equipment and technology, the availability of personnel, and structural changes in heavy industry. In 1950, the country's gross output exceeded the 1940 level by 73% instead of the planned 48%. During this time, labor productivity in industry increased by 45% and in construction by 37% (per worker). During the Fourth Five-Year Plan, the foundations were laid for further development of the economy at a new technical level.

Results of restoration of the fuel and energy base and metallurgy. The working people of Ukraine, with the fraternal help of all the peoples of the country, restored the energy sector of the republic in an unprecedentedly short time.

At the beginning of the Five-Year Plan, energy production reached pre-war levels. In 1950, electricity production in the USSR amounted to 91.2 billion kW - hour compared to 48.3 billion kW - hour in 1940, or increased almost 1.9 times. By the end of the Five-Year Plan, the capacity of all power plants in Soviet Ukraine was not only restored, but also exceeded the pre-war one by 600 thousand kW. Annual electricity production in the republic increased by 2.8 million kWh and amounted to 14.7 billion kWh.

Already in the first year of the five-year plan, the team of the Kharkov Turbine Generator Plant manufactured a unique turbine with a capacity of 100 thousand kW for the Zuevskaya power plant. At the Krivorozhskaya State District Power Plant in April 1946, the first restored turbine with a capacity of 10 thousand kW was tested. A new turbogenerator with a capacity of 12 thousand kW was put into operation in Lvov. By the autumn of 1946, restoration work at the Kharkov Hydroelectric Power Station No. 2 was completed. By this time, the team of the Leningrad Metal Plant had manufactured the first of six powerful hydraulic turbines over 100 thousand kW for the Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Station named after. V.I. Lenin. In March 1947, the first unit of the restored Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Plant was put into operation, and by the end of the five-year plan its capacity amounted to 650.6 thousand kW, i.e. increased by 90 thousand kW compared to the pre-war level. During the five-year plan, the Shterovskaya, Kurakhovskaya, Zuevskaya, Severodonetsk, Krivorozhskaya and other regional thermal power plants, as well as all municipal and most industrial power plants, were completely restored. New state district power plants came into operation in Kherson, Poltava, Berdichev, Kremenchug, Kirovograd, Melitopol and other industrial centers. Construction has begun on a new power plant in Donbass - Mironovskaya State District Power Plant.

Significant progress has been made in the restoration and development of the Donbass electric power industry. The level of electricity production planned for 1950 was achieved here already in 1949. The Donetsk region was again reunited with the Dnieper energy district. The construction of local thermal power plants was carried out on a broad front in the Donbass.

During the Fourth Five-Year Plan, the USSR began construction of a nuclear industrial power plant with a capacity of 5 thousand kW for the first time in the world.

The electrical network was being restored and laid at a high pace. By the end of the five-year plan, its length with a voltage of 35 kW and above amounted to 4.6 thousand km, or 13% more than in 1940. Mechanization and automation, new, more productive high-voltage installations were widely introduced.

The Communist Party and the Soviet government paid constant attention to the development of the Donbass coal industry. Most of the main mines in the area were operational and producing fuel by the end of the Five-Year Plan. At the same time, dozens of new coal mining enterprises began to operate.

In the coal industry of the country, including Ukraine, profound qualitative changes were taking place in mining technology. For the first time, systems of machines and mechanisms began to be widely used, and a radical technical re-equipment of the entire mining industry was underway.

Successes in the restoration and development of domestic mechanical engineering opened up great opportunities for strengthening the technical equipment of mines. The creation of a coal combine in 1948 made it possible to begin mechanizing the loading of coal onto a conveyor and to solve the problem of this basic and labor-intensive operation, previously performed manually. Numerous coal and rock loading machines, scraper conveyors, tunneling machines appeared in the Donbass mines, and the number of electric locomotives increased.

If by the autumn of 1947 the Donbass miners gave the country over two-thirds of the pre-war coal production, then in the fourth quarter of 1949 - already more than in 1940. The revival of the Donbass coal industry was completed, which was a great victory for the Soviet people.

The country's oil and gas industry developed successfully. As a result of the widespread deployment of exploratory drilling and the use of new technology, in particular, Soviet turbo drills, numerous oil fields were discovered. On the territory of the Ukrainian SSR, extensive geological exploration work was carried out to discover natural gas deposits. The Dashava-Kyiv gas pipeline has entered into operation.

Great success has been achieved in the revival of the republic's ferrous metallurgy. For 1946–1950 In Ukraine, 22 blast furnaces and 46 rolling mills, 43 open-hearth furnaces began to operate. Through the selfless work of builders, metallurgists, with the help of the entire Soviet people, the main metallurgical giants of Donbass and the Dnieper region - Zaporizhstal, Azovstal, Makeevsky named after. S. M. Kirov, Kramatorsk, Enakievo factories. The revival of the iron ore base - the Krivoy Rog basin - was successful. By the beginning of 1948, all 60 mines operating before the war were put into operation here. The complete restoration of metallurgical plants in Ukraine ended in 1951. In total, during the years of restoration (including 1943–1945), 36 blast furnaces, 80 open-hearth furnaces, and 78 rolling mills were put into operation in Ukraine. Although the total number of operating units has not yet reached the pre-war level, the average capacity of technically improved blast furnaces, open-hearth and coke furnaces, rolling and pipe rolling mills by the end of the Fourth Five-Year Plan became higher than in 1940. By the end of 1950, the pre-war level of pig iron production was exceeded by " Azovstal”, “Zaporozhstal”, at the Makeevka Metallurgical Plant named after. S. M. Kirov, steel smelting at the Yenakievo Metallurgical Plant, Azovstal, etc. In 1950, the republic gave the country over 9.1 million tons of cast iron, 8.3 million tons of steel, 6.9 million tons of rolled products , 21 million tons of iron ore, 15 million tons of coke, over 78 million tons of coal. It produced more rolled metal, ferrous metals, iron ore, electricity, mineral fertilizers than before the war, almost the same amount of steel, cast iron, and coal as before the war.

Restoration and development of mechanical engineering, transport and light industry. During the Fourth Five-Year Plan, machine builders of Soviet Ukraine launched the production of new machines and units designed to ensure the mechanization of labor in many sectors of the national economy and increase labor productivity.

In 1950, the total volume of mechanical engineering products of the Ukrainian SSR increased by 1.5 times compared to 1940. The production of tractors increased by more than 2 times, metallurgical equipment - by 2.7, normal electric motors - by 2.5, explosion-proof electric motors - by 3.3, tractor plows - by 3, tractor cultivators - by 5.7, and complex threshers - 5.1 times, freight cars - 2.1 times, excavators - 9.3 times, bicycles - 4.4 times.

Already in the first year of the Fourth Five-Year Plan, a coal loading machine was manufactured at the Kharkov machine-building plant “Svet Shakhtyora”. At the Delta-3 mines of the Voroshilovugol trust, the “coal plow” installation for mechanizing cleaning work on gently dipping seams was successfully tested. In September 1946, the first samples of finished products left the workshops of the Lvovselmash plant under construction, and in October the monthly plan was completed 113% ahead of schedule. 100 vehicles were produced in excess of the target.

Ukrainian mechanical engineers also produced equipment for Arctic expeditions, for the mining industry and shipyards of the Far North. Significant success in this was achieved by teams from the Kharkov Electromechanical Plant, “Svet Shakhtyora”, etc. The team of the Novokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant in 1950 created equipment for a continuous thin-sheet mill “1450” for the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, including a unique horizontal press for crimping slabs weighing 464 tons The plant also supplied 97 excavators and draglines for builders of the Volga-Don Canal, thousands of complex turbine parts, lifting mechanisms and other equipment. For the country's automobile and tractor industries, Novokramatorsk people created horizontal forging machines and various cranes. In 1950, the Odessa Radial Machine Tools Plant mastered the production of a vertical diamond boring mill for grinding cylinder blocks, and the Odessa Heavy Crane Manufacturing Plant named after. January Uprising began serial production of a 10-ton railway mobile crane and mastered the production of a 25-ton crane. The team of the Odessa Machine Tool Plant named after. S. M. Kirov launched the production of high-precision jig boring machines.

A great contribution to the creation of new, more advanced tools was made by machine builders from the Kharkov Tractor Plant named after. Sergo Ordzhonikidze, “Svet Shakhtar”, electromechanical plant (KHEMZ), “Sickle and Hammer”, “Red October”, etc. The KhTZ team, without slowing down the rate of production, mastered the new diesel tractor DT-54, established mass production of gardening crops HTZ-7 tractors. Workers at the Serp i Molot plant have mastered the production of combine harvester engines. At the Svet Shakhtyora enterprise, the production of high-performance conveyors was mastered, and at the Red October plant, powerful presses. The KHEMZ team manufactured the latest types of electric motors, explosion-proof motors for the chemical and mining industries, as well as unique machine units for a walking ten-cubic-meter excavator.

Despite the fact that the country practically had to rebuild such giants of agricultural engineering as the Stalingrad and Kharkov Tractor Plants, Rostselmash, Odessa Agricultural Engineering Plant. The October Revolution, the Zaporozhye combine plant “Kommunar”, etc., agriculture received more and more agricultural machines every year. In February 1948, the ten thousandth post-war tractor rolled off the KhTZ assembly line. In the same year, the team of the enterprise produced more cars than in 1940. The team of the Kyiv Bolshevik plant exceeded the pre-war production level in 1949.

During the years of the Fourth Five-Year Plan, workers in the engineering industry supplied 536 thousand tractors (15-horsepower) and 93 thousand grain combines to the country's agriculture. If before the start of the war there were three tractor factories in the country, then in 1950 there were already seven. Every year the energy content of domestic tractors increased and their performance characteristics improved.

The Kharkov Transport Engineering Plant (in 1957 it was named after V. A. Malyshev) began serial production of mine electric locomotives in 1946, in 1947 it mastered the production of powerful mainline diesel locomotives TE-1, and since 1950 - TE-2. The team of the Kharkov machine-building plant “Svet Shakhtyora” reached the pre-war level in terms of production volume and manufactured scraper conveyors and mine lighting equipment. In the same year, the Kharkov Electromechanical Plant reached the pre-war production level. In 1946, the Kharkov plant of small modular machines began producing A-1 modular machines. In 1946, the Kharkov plant for the production of diesel locomotive equipment (now Elektrotyazhmash named after V.I. Lenin) was put into operation. In 1947, the first electric motor for the TE-1 diesel locomotive was manufactured here.

Simultaneously with the reconstruction and restoration of old machine-building plants, new ones were being built in the republic. The Zaporozhye transformer plant became operational, and new factories such as the Kiev motorcycle plant, the Kharkov bearing plant, and the Lvov and Vinnitsa instrumental plants began producing products. During these years, the first steps were taken in the aircraft and automobile industries. Serial production of AN-2 aircraft was mastered by the staff of the Kyiv Aviation Plant. Construction began on the Lvov Automobile Assembly Plant, which was converted into a bus plant in 1951. The production of road vehicles began in the republic, and the production of automation and telemechanics equipment and devices, complex measuring equipment and radio equipment increased significantly. The team of the Lutuginsky plant in the Voroshilovgrad region has mastered a new technology for the production of high-resistant rolls for rolling mills. At the Voroshilovgrad Locomotive Plant named after. The October Revolution introduced a new technology for smelting steel, manufacturing bronze parts and bimetal parts on a cast iron base. The Rubezhansky Chemical Plant team has mastered the production of new durable types of vat dyes.

By 1950, the restoration of Ukraine's chemical industry, destroyed during the war, was largely completed. The volume of its gross output amounted to 97% of the 1940 level. The output of mineral fertilizers exceeded the pre-war level by 1.5 times, chemical fibers by 1.8 times, varnishes and paints by 2 times, and rubber shoes by almost 3 times.

For 1946–1950 Railway tracks of considerable length, a large number of bridges and stations were restored and reconstructed, which made it possible by the beginning of 1948 to resume train traffic on 15 thousand km of railways connecting the Dnieper region and Donbass with Moscow and Leningrad, with many other industrial centers of the country. Railway workers completed their five-year plan ahead of schedule. They almost doubled labor productivity and transported millions of tons of cargo beyond plan.

Significant changes have occurred in the development of sea and river, road and municipal transport. In the last year of the Five-Year Plan, freight turnover on river, road and air transport exceeded the pre-war level.

During the Fourth Five-Year Plan, much was done to restore the light industry of Ukraine. With the help of the fraternal republics, new light and local industry enterprises were created. The development of light industry in these years was carried out at a high pace. Average annual increase in shoe production in 1946–1950 accounted for more than 50%, and cotton fabrics - over 58%. In 1950, the gross output of light industry reached 79% of the 1940 level, and the level of production of the local industry of the republic reached the pre-war level, even surpassing it in some indicators. The production of cotton fabrics increased 1.5 times compared to pre-war. All this had a positive impact on raising the material standard of living of workers.

During the Fourth Five-Year Plan, the socialist economic system again demonstrated great possibilities to the whole world. The Soviet people, under the leadership of the Communist Party, without outside help, found the strength and means to simultaneously ensure high rates of restoration work and the further development of the country's productive forces. A significant increase in all sectors of the national economy was achieved, and further strengthening of the economic and defense power of the socialist state was ensured. The working class, the working people of the Ukrainian SSR, with the help of the fraternal republics, have achieved great success in restoring industry and transport. For 1946–1950 The industry of the republic was not only restored, but also took a significant step forward in its development. The country's five-year plan for the total volume of industrial output was completed ahead of schedule - in 4 years and 3 months. During this period, significant results were achieved in the development of transport and capital construction.

Structural changes have occurred in Ukrainian industry. New industries have developed. The successful restoration of the national economy was clear evidence of the advantages of a planned socialist economy, the key to new achievements of the Soviet people in the development of the national economy, and the strengthening of the defense power of our Motherland.