<p><strong>Episode Summary:</strong></p><p>In the second part of our deep dive into the origins of the Soviet famine, Nick continues his exploration of 1928-1929, the critical years that sealed the fate of the Russian peasantry.</p><p>Drawing again on Robert Conquest’s&nbsp;<em>The Harvest of Sorrow</em>, we examine how Stalin’s "emergency measures"—intended to be temporary—became a permanent war on the countryside. Why did the Bolsheviks believe that the "middle peasant" was a capitalist hoarder? How did the regime’s reliance on bad data lead to a spiral of confiscation and violence that destroyed the incentives to produce food?</p><p>We uncover the tragic logic of a state that viewed market mechanisms as a threat and chose instead to loot its own people, setting the stage for the catastrophic famine of the early 1930s.</p><p><strong>Plus:</strong>&nbsp;A reminder for history students! Tickets are selling fast for our&nbsp;<a href="https://explaininghistory.org/masterclasses/the-russian-revolution-stalinism/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Russian Revolution Masterclass</strong></a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<strong>Sunday, January 25th</strong>. Book your spot now to master exam technique and essay structure.</p><p><strong>Key Topics:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>The Emergency Measures of 1928:</strong>&nbsp;How temporary requisitioning became permanent policy.</li><li><strong>The Destruction of the Market:</strong>&nbsp;Why peasants stopped producing grain once the state began seizing it.</li><li><strong>Stalin's "Breathtaking Frankness":</strong>&nbsp;Admitting that the "tribute" levied on peasants was necessary for industrialization.</li><li><strong>The Myth of Hoarding:</strong>&nbsp;How the regime chased a phantom surplus that didn't exist.</li></ul><p><strong>Books Mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><em>The Harvest of Sorrow</em>&nbsp;by Robert Conquest</li><li><em>Bloodlands</em>&nbsp;by Timothy Snyder</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.</p><p>▸ Support the Show &amp; Get Exclusive Content</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/explaininghistory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory</a></p><p>▸ Join the Community &amp; Continue the Conversation</p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast</a></p><p><a href="https://theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com</a></p><p>▸ Read Articles &amp; Go Deeper</p><p><a href="https://explaininghistory.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website: explaininghistory.org</a></p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>