The activities of the “Torgsin” system in Ukraine in the years of 1931–1935

Abstract

The paper studies the activities of the All-Union Association “Torgsin” in Ukraine between 1931 and 1935. It proves that the Soviet state needed to mobilize financial resources for implementing the industrialization programme and, therefore, sought additional sources of income. The Soviet authorities elaborated complex measures for this purpose. The grain procurement policy caused mass famine in Ukraine. The establishment of the Torgsin system demonstrated a pseudo-concern of Soviet authorities about the starving population. The Torgsin trade network, founded in the years of mass famine in the early 1930s, extended to the territory of Ukraine and strengthened its organizational structure due to exporting food and industrial goods of high quality. It enabled the state to swindle gold, family values and antiques from the starving population in exchange for foodstuffs and trade currency with foreigners and Soviet citizens through the Torgsin network.

Keywords

• ussr
• ukrssr
• “torgsin”
• all-ukrainian agency
• trade network