Sentiments of Peasant Poverty in Late 1920s: A Generational Historical Analysis

This study analyzes the sentiments of the Soviet rural poor in the late 1920s through the lens of generational history. The authors identify three distinct generations within the Soviet countryside of the 1920s: the “Children of the Revolution,” the “Generation of Revolutionary Break,” and the older generation. Drawing on archival documents, the research uncovers how these generations perceived the everyday realities of Soviet life during this period. It is emphasized that poor peasants, feeling supported by the authorities, began to recognize their significant role in transforming rural society; however, even among them, support for collectivization was largely declarative, with active collective farmers expressing dissatisfaction with their circumstances. A comparative analysis reveals that members of the “Children of the Revolution” were particularly sensitive to issues of social injustice in the NEP-era countryside and demonstrated a readiness for decisive action against “alien elements.” Similar sentiments were observed among the “Generation of Revolutionary Break,” yet this group, feeling a part of the peasant community, voiced discontent regarding the methods employed in grain procurement. It was established that the increasingly burdensome tax obligations were condemned by representatives of the older generation as well. The authors conclude that a prevailing trend among the sentiments of poor peasants was a hostile attitude towards wealthier peasants and local bureaucracies.

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