Marx-Engels |  Lenin  | Stalin |  Home Page

  Transcripts from the Soviet Archives VOLUME I  1903-1926   

Informational report of Dzerzhinsky. September 12, 1924

A source: Transcripts of the meetings of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) ‐VKP (b) 1923‐1938. Moscow. ROSSPEN. 2007. Volume 1 1923‐1926. P. 215‐250

Archive: RGASPI. F. 17. Op. 163. D. 524. L. 1‐50 (uncorrected transcript); L. 51‐115 (copyrighted transcript); L. 116‐128 (verbatim report).

Informational report of Dzerzhinsky.

September 12, 1924 1

I have divided my report into three parts. The first part describes the state of the general state of the metal industry and the production program for 1923/24, how it was implemented, and what plan is planned for 1924/25. Then I will dwell on the work of the so‐called High Government Commission, i.e., Commissions of the

Politburo 2. Finally, I will highlight the real financial situation of the metal industry.

I finished my written report only today and did not have time to send it out yet, so I will now credit it and make the necessary additions.

The production program of the metal industry in 1923/24 and the plan for 1924/25.

(According to Glavmetall 3)

The production and financial plan for 1923/24 was approved by the STO according to the report of the military‐industrial complex on May 7, 1924.

The production program for 1924/25 is being developed and has not yet been reviewed by the State Planning Committee, and therefore has not been considered by the military‐industrial complex.

Here are the main data of Glavmetall:

1. METALLURGY OF FERROUS METAL

All over the USSR	According to plan	Performance (assuming)	%            of programs.	%   completed dated 1922/23	% of 1913
1923/24 program
Cast iron 1)	[34.8] 313 m. Pood.	40.053	113	218	15.6
Steel	51.8           m. Pood.	59,291	114	165	22.9
Rental	[34] 35.2 m. Pood.	41,964	119	151	19.6

1)  Cast iron 34.8 and Ferromanganese 0.5.

The increase in pig iron from 35.3 million to 40 million resulted from the launch of three new blast furnaces in June. The decision to launch three domains in Yuzovka, in Bryansk and in Krematorievka * (* So in the document. Thatʹs right: in Kramatorsk) came about as a result of meetings [of which there were a number of] at the High Government Commission 4.

Thus, pig iron smelting reached only 15.6% compared to 1913, but in relation to 1922/23 increased by 118%.

Production by district

	Cast iron				Steel				Rental
	1923/ 24	1922/ 23	% 1923/ 24 to 1922/ 23	% 1923/   24 to 1913	1923/ 24	1922/ 23	% 1923/ 24 to 1922/ 23	% 1923/   24 to 1913	1923/  24	1922/ 23	% 1923/ 24 to 1922/ 23	% 1923/   24 to 1913
Sout h	22,76 0	5.874	387	12	23,82 3	11,69 3	204	fourte en	17.60 2	10,44 9	170	thirte en
Ural	14,60 0	8.283	175	} 27	18,50 3	12,67 7	146	} 24	12,57 6	8,686	114	} 31
Whe n‐ Ural s	193	213	90		416	283	148		322	261	124
Cent re	2,500	2.986	83	21	16,54 9	11,34 1	146	44	11,46 4	8,354	[756] 137	35
Tota l	40.05 3	[18,35 6]   17,35 6	[2 18] 230	15.6	59,29 1	35,99 4	165	22.9	41,96 4	27,75 0	151	19.6

The importance of different regions in the smelting of iron and steel in 1913 and now

	% value in pig iron smelting		Steel
	1913 g.	1923/24 g.	1913 g.	1923/24 g.
South	73,7	56.8	64.2	40.2
Ural and Urals	21.7	[40] 37	21.4	32
Centre	4.6	6.2	14.4	27.8
Total	100	100	100	100

You can see that the importance of the South is growing all the time for both cast iron and steel. Basic technical meters

	Annual release of free products per worker						Fuel consumption per 100 rubles. (dow <oennyh>) free production
	In 191 3	Prog ram ma on	Fact. 1923/ 24	Fact. by 1922/ 23	% actual by 1922/23	1923/2 4	By 1913	Prog ramm a             on	Fact. 1923/2 4	Fact. b y 1922/2 3	% actual to 1922/2 3	1923/ 24 to prog
		1923/ 24				to the progr am me		1923/2 4				ram me
South	322 7	1367	988	733	135	72	31	182	225	233	96	124
Ural	137 0	569	700	518	135	117	51	235	209	274	76	89
Urals	‐	372	468	289	[161] 162	126	‐	187	129	231	56	69
Centre	‐	914	950	800	[118] 119	104	‐	125	104	144	72	83
The averag e	‐	878	820	651	126	93	‐	193	197	221	89	102

If we turn to the assessment of work on technical meters, such as the gross output of free output per worker and fuel consumption per unit of output, then we see that the South (Comrade

Maksimov 5 should pay special attention to this) [because between the South and Leningrad in In connection with the resolution of the Politburo 6 , controversy continues all the time] lagged behind and lagged far behind the program targets in comparison with other regions, although based on the pace of its development. The South would have to be ahead of all others. We see that only the South has not reached the program targets: the output per worker is 28% lower, and the fuel consumption is 24% higher than the

target. [Cm. See the table ʺBasic technical meters.]

Conclusions:

Insignificant production versus 1913 for cast iron 15.6% on steel 22.9% rental 19.6%

Increase in 1923/24 against 1922/23 smelting cast iron 2.18 times steel 1.65 times rolled 1.51 times

While the Ural, Priuralie and Center exceeded the program targets in terms of technical meters, the South was far behind in terms of output by 28% of the target, and in terms of fuel consumption by 24%.

Program for 1924/25

According to the project of Glavmetall:

	cast iron			steel			hire
	1924/25	%        by   1923/24	% by 1913	1924/25	% to   1923/24	% by   1913	1924/25	% to   1923/24	% by   1913
All over the USSR	59,681	149	23	81,568	138	32	58,934	138	27
South	35,900	158	19	37,400	157	23	26,692	151	19
Across the Urals	21,315	122	} 39	24,963	138	} 46	18,844	157	} 47
Across the Urals	275	107		462	90		382	105
By Center	2.191	88	19	18,743	113	50	13,016	113	40

This means that, in comparison with the rate of growth of production in 1923‐24, Glavmetal in 1924‐25 assumes a slower growth. In 1923/24, compared with 1922/23, the growth in cast iron, steel and rolled products was in% 218‐165‐151, and in 1924/25, compared with 1923/24, it is assumed 149 —138—138.

The annual release of free products per worker in pre‐war rubles is assumed:

South	1,462	% to 1923/24 148
Ural	978	138
Urals	505	109
Centre	1,644	173
The average	1.201	146

Fuel consumption per 100 rubles. free production is assumed:

	Poods	% by 1923/24
South	135	60
Ural	144	69
Urals	130	100
Centre	92	88
The average	132	67

These program tasks show how low our productivity and how high our fuel consumption is. In terms of fuel consumption, the reduction is expected to be quite significant, but it indicates how little we have achieved in this regard.

[ Now, regarding the number of workers employed in ferrous metal metallurgy: in 1913 there were slightly more than 100 thousand, now 89 thousand and 96 thousand are expected for next year.

If we compare this program of work and the actual number of workers planned for 1924/25 with the work and the number of workers in 1913, we will see a colossal discrepancy. From this discrepancy it follows that if we really gave the full load with a rational organization of production, we would have a colossal reduction in the cost of production, i.e., the difficult situation we are now experiencing is transitory, because with each percentage of the greater load, the cost of production will be much more reduced. Thus, these figures indicate a grave condition and, at the same time, indicate that we have a colossal reduction in the price of all products.]

II.    METALLURGY OF RED METAL

	1923/2 4 progra m	Done (presum ed)	Graduat ed                in 1922/23	% issue 1923 /24 1922/23	1923/ 24 to prog.	Assumption. 19 24/25 program	% issue b y 1923/2 4
Uralmed
Smeltin g copper in poods	160,00   0	161000	100560	160	100	218000	140
Wirebus casting	140,00 0	168227	145000	102	120	185000	110
Producti on cost in prewar rubles.	224857 2	2608462	2402252	108	116	2809220	[110] 1 08

 

	1923/2 4 progra m	Done (presum ed)	Graduat ed                in 1922/23	% issue 1923   /24 1922/23	1923/ 24 to prog.	Assumption. 19   24/25 program	% issue by 1923/ 24
Gospromtsvetmet
Producti on of products in poods	462722	838893	509585	164	162	1480234	176
Electroly sis,	180,00 0	168077	64940	258	94	600,000	357
copper in poods
Producti on cost in premilitary rubles	150452 00	22249082	1587800   7	140	147	38970300	175

Those. the program is generally almost unchanged. Such a slight increase in the program is due to insufficient funding. Meanwhile, there is no doubt that this year there will be a hunger for copper, and therefore will have to be imported, perhaps, from abroad.

In 1924‐25, according to all data, we will be dealing with a copper famine due to the depletion of its reserves and insufficient appropriations for the necessary significant increase in its smelting.

Basic technical meters

	1923/24 program	Completed. 1923/24 g.	1924/25 program
Uralmed
Release for 1 slave. in prewar rubles	1605	1387	1472
Gospromtsvetmet
Release for 1 slave. in prewar rubles	4009	3899	4390

These data indicate low underperformance.

III.  METAL PROCESSING INDUSTRY

Factories are divided into 4 main groups:

A.  General engineering (locomotive and railroad cars including).

B.   Shipbuilding.

B. Agricultural engineering.

D. Small metal products.

Of course, these groups are not always separated so precisely that one group does not belong to another, for example, the Nikolaev Shipyard is part of the group of machine‐building plants. [But there are formal signs that unite factories in a specific group.]

A. General mechanical engineering

	There      are     factories      in 1923/24.				Assumed 1924/25
	Total	Rabo melts	Canned <ation>	Liqu.	Total	Rabo melts	Canned <ation>	Liqu.
In the trusts of the USSR	57	38	sixteen	3	59	40	fifteen	4
In the trusts of                 the RSFSR	thirteen	12	1	‐	fourteen	thirteen	1	‐
TOTAL	70	50	17	3	73	53	sixteen	4

I turn to the program and its implementation in pre‐war rubles for trusts. According to the program, all production was planned at 61 million, completed at 65 million. If you look at various associations, you will see that the percentage of increase is not the same, in some, like in Gomza 7 and Zugaz 8, the program has not been completed: in Gomza by 12% and in Zugaz by 52%. (See the table ʺProgram and execution in pre‐war rubles by trustsʺ.)

Thus, on the whole, for all trusts, the program of this year will be fulfilled with a slight excess, but for the next 1924/25 it is planned to increase the production of the current year by 48%. The number of workers will increase by [8] 6%. Labor productivity, however, according to these data, is very low. In 1923/24, with the number of workers at 81% of 1913, the output was 37% of 1913. In 1924/25, Glavmetall plans a program for 56% of 1913 and workers at 86%. We see this low labor productivity also from technical meters.

Program and execution in pre‐war rubles for trusts

 

	Abo ut gra m ma 1923 /24	You full i n 1923 /24	% You full to pro g.	Abo ut Izv. in 1913	Prev by lag. prog ra mma    1924/25 g.	% 1924 /25 to 1913	% 1924 /25 to 1923 /24	Worker sneez e			% 1924 /25 to 1913	% 1924 /25 to 1923 /24
								13 g	1923 /24 g.	1924 /25 g.
the USSR
Gomza	2484 8	2168 5	88	5200 0	28848	56	133	432 06	4060 0	3640 0	84	90
Leninmas h.	8255	1137 0	138	4200 0	16157	38	131	172 89	1058 7	1295 7	75	122
Yuzhmas h.	1256 0	1519 5	121	3826 0	25252	72	166	200 10	1538 7	1745 2	87	113
Gosshvei mash	930	1302	140	1730 0	3322	20	266	358 0	1048	2107	59	200
Zugaz	2700	1300	48	‐	4600	‐	355	‐	1443	3265	‐	239
Tsupvos	2045	2327	114	‐	2663	‐	113	‐	1623	1718	‐	106
Maltz. dis trict	1014	1076	106	4700	2235	48	216	519 9	3160	3646	70	115
Total for the USSR	5235 2	5425 5	103	1542 60	83077	48	153	892 84	7384 8	7754 5	87	105
RSFSR
Mosmash	7500	9711	130	1594 3	12036	63	126	916 0	6322	7741	81	122
Max Geltz.	311	297	95	590	354	60	114	260	196	227	89	116
Ilyich	293	455	155	1220	645	53	217	300	182	204	71	117
Vl. Ilyich	550	498	90	1140	608	53	110	640	320	350	54	110
Total for the RSFSR	8654	1096 1	126	1889 3	13643	72	124	103 60	7020	8522	80	121
Total	6100 6	6521 6	107	1731 53	96720	56	148	996 44	8086 9	8606 7	86	106

Production output per worker in pre‐war rubles

	1913 g.	1923/24 g .	1924/25 g .	% 1924/ 25 to 1913	% 1924/ 25 to 1923/ 24	Fuel consumption in poods for                       100 rubles. products
						1923/ 24	1924/ 25	% 1924/ 25 to 1923/ 24
USSR Trusts:
Gomza	1200	530	795	66	142	128	91	71
Leninmash	2429	1070	1250	52	117	74	48.7	66
Yuzhmash	[1860] 19 13	990	1440	75	145	69	48	70
Gosshveima sh	[4750] 48 32	1240	1570	33	126	56	33	59
Dugaz	‐	910	1400	‐	154	18.4	12.8	70
Dupvoz	‐	1430	1560	‐	108	15.6	11.2	72
Maltz. distri ct	900	340	560	63	165	150	63	42
USSR average	1730	735	1070	62	146	92	0	65
Trusts of the RSFSR:
Max Geltz	2270	1520	1560	69	102	‐	‐	‐
Mosmash	[1730] 17 41	1540	1560	90	102	38.2	35.2	92
ʺIlyichʺ	[4100] 40 67	[2450] 25 00	[3050] 31 62	[ 81] 7 4	125	‐	‐	‐
Vlad. Ilyich	[185 0] 17 81	1560	1740	94	112	‐	‐	‐
Average for the RSFSR	1825	1560	1600	[ 80] 8 8	[100] 103	‐	‐	‐
Average TOTAL	1740	810	1125	63	140	84	58	65

Thus, the output per worker in 1923‐24 averaged 48% of 1913, and in 1924‐25 63% is assumed, i.e., very low percentage.

It is now interesting to trace how products are distributed among individual types of production. Here is the following table:

Summary by type of production in thousands of rubles at pre‐war prices

	1923/24 g.	1924/25 g.	% 1924/25 to 1923/24
New        locomotives (161)	7104	8996	128
Repair of steam locomotives (53 + 80 for the Podolsk plant)	4524	2495	55
Repair wagons (900 pcs.)	4910	5993	121
Other orders NKPS	10382	12204	118
Shipbuilding	3119	5860	[184] 188
Tractor construction (2600)	271	7091	[2920] 2620
Automotive (670)	1055	3782	360	Here it is necessary to give a greater increase
Agriculture	1087	2606	240
Military equipment	928	1796	193
Textile engineering	911	1559	171
Restoration               of industrial.	23178	30277	132	(Restoring industry means restoring fixed capital in terms of machinery)
Communal services	3356	6273	187
Items         of        wide consumption	2065	6180	300
Total	62890	95113	149

The 1924/25 program has not yet been reviewed by the State Planning Committee.

I turn to the second group ‐ shipbuilding. I will return to this issue when I talk about the work of the military‐industrial complex.

Not all factories are included in this group. This group does not include the Nikolaevsky plant, as well as Sormovsky, Kolomensky, which have river shipbuilding shops.

This group of plants includes the Leningrad group, the Sevastopol and Saratov plants, the latter ‐ a small reinforced concrete construction.

B. Shipbuilding

(in thousands of pre‐war rubles)

	Manufact uring in 1913	Prog. 1 923/24	Execute. 1923/24	% complete d 1923/24 to prog.	Prog. 1 924/25	% prog. 1 924/25 to 1913	% 192 4/25 to 192 3/24	Workers
								19 13	192 3/24	192  4/25
Sudo trest	22416	2700	5259	195	5200	23.2	100	81 15	432 0	405 3

 

Sevastopol	3000	1200	947	76	1610	53	170	3000	1820	1810
Saratov	400	110	25	23	113	28	307	‐	70	150
Total	25816	4010	6231	155	6923	27	111	11115	6210	6013
In addition, shipbuilding works at general engineering plants (Nikolaevsky, Sormovo, Kolomna)		3119		5860		184
Total	‐	9350	‐	12783	‐	137	‐	‐	‐	‐

The Supreme Government Commission adopted a program worth 19 million rubles.

B. Agricultural engineering

Number of factories of national importance (group A):

	Total	Working.	Canned <ation>	Liquid.
B1923 / 24	40	21	17	2
In 1924/25	40	24	fourteen	2

Program and execution at list prices:

		Group A		By group B	For group B	Total
	Program	Completed.	%  completed to the program.	Factory entrance. in other        <you> union <eny>	Places <nogo> values
1923/24 g.	16673	14742	89	1241	‐	15983
1924/25 g.	29589	‐	‐	6853	4300	40742
1913 g.	‐	23667	‐	‐	‐	‐

The sharp increase in the program in 1924/25 ‐ up to more than 40 million list price rubles ‐ is caused by the enormous unmet demand for agricultural machinery and implements.

As for the number of workers employed in this group, the following data are available: in 1923‐24 there were 7,004 people, and in 1924/25 ‐ 13,872, i.e., significant increase. Moreover, out of 40 existing factories, 21 were in operation this year, in 1924/25 24 factories are expected to operate. This does not include the proposed start‐up of the Lyubertsy plant.

D. Small metal products

(Wire‐nail, fittings, precision mechanics, tools, optics)

All factories in 1923‐24 were 19, in 1924‐25 18 are supposed.

Release in 1923/24 ‐ 9 393 000 rubles. (pre‐war).

Prog <ramma> in 1924/25 11,734,000 rubles. (pre‐war), i.e., 125% of 1923/24

NEXT