Stalin’s Five Year Plan in 1929 brought a new expectation for the work that must be accomplished. However, in a society in which all workers earn an equal wage, how can workers be influenced to work hard with no incentives? The Soviets pushed a movement in 1929 promoting “Shock Workers” (udarniki).
— Soviet Shock Worker Medals
The term was created during the Civil War to designate those who worked hard on arduous tasks. The term was now being coined for workers who exceeded their given quotas. Along with being deemed a “shock worker”, those who exceeded their quotas were given special privileges. Their names were posted on notice boards, they were given access to certain scarce resources, and were even sent on special trips as defined by the collection of testimonies in The First Cruise. Although many of the publications in The First Cruise were politically oriented, the signed testimonies from “shock workers” on a sponsored trip to Europe showed just how highly these workers thought of themselves, writing “Yes, with heads held high we walked through the streets…”
False Shock Worker
The movement was highly effective. In 1929 only 29% of workers were designated as “shock workers”, but only a year later 65% of workers were coined “shock workers”. However, the effectiveness of this movement was its downfall. With the increased number of “shock workers”, their value decreased exponentially. It also put a massive strain on the workers health and the machines used in the industry. It also led to “false shock workers” who reaped the benefit of “shock workers” without the work.
Although the “Shock Workers” would die out, they were essential for Russian industrialization and allowed for the Soviets to compete with Western society.
Cites:
http://soviethistory.msu.edu/1929-2/shock-workers/ (Shock Workers, Lewis Siegelbaum)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakhanovite_movement
Blogs:
https://tlos.vt.edu/soviethistoryf14/2014/10/05/rockin-shock-workers-2/
http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/fromrussiawithlove/2013/10/06/shock-workers-the-heroes-of-industrialization/
Pictures:
The Drunk Russian 
I really like how you connected the reports from the “First Cruise” to these images of shockworkers. The “false shockworker” is a favorite of mine.
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This post gives a good description and background f the Shock Workers. You make a very good point on how though they would eventually die out, they were a necessity for the rapid industrialization that Stalin’s Five Year Plan called for. This is a very good example of what too much of a good thing can do. If 65% of a given factories machines and manpower were running at increased rates for longer hours, one can only imagine the physical and mechanical tole on the workers and their machines. Good analysis!
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Great post! This is an awesome example of how Soviets used incentive to become stronger! Good description of the Shock Workers!
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I think it is interesting how they became so overzealous with the idea of shockworkers that they defeated the purpose. It was still a pretty clever way to increase productivity.
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