Food production under German vs Soviet control?

[Rich Rostrom]

Are any data available on food production in the areas
of Eastern Europe that were under both Soviet and
German rule for at least one complete growing cycle?

(I say "rule" because I would exclude areas such as
Hungary and Romania, which came under de facto Soviet
control in the WW II period, but were not made over
into Communist states with Communist agricultural
methods until a few years later.)

What I am thinking about is areas such as the Baltic
states, eastern Poland, Belarus, western and eastern
Ukraine, and perhaps Bessarabia.

Some of this area - Ukraine between the Bug and the
Don, eastern Belarus - had been Soviet territory from
the end of the Revolution and Civil War. In these
areas, all farms had been consolidated into state
farms or collectives ("sovkhoz" or "kolkhoz"). This
had been done over the opposition of the peasants,
whose resistance was broken by the "Terror Famine".
Despite the provision of machinery and other advanced
techniques, production declined substantially.

The rest was taken over in 1939-1940. One presumes
that Soviet agricultural policy was enforced there
during the 1940 growing season. (Bessarabia was taken
over in summer 1940, so perhaps not there.) Was there
a change in agricultural production in these areas?

Then in mid-1941, all this area was overrun by German
forces. For the rest of 1941 and all of 1942, this
area was under German control (with the exception of
Bessarabia, which reverted to Romanian control).

How did the Germans organize agriculture in these
areas? One may guess that in the newly acquired Soviet
lands, they presided over reversion to pre-1939
conditions.

But what about Ukraine and Belarus? Did the Germans
simply continue the Soviet system?

Were there any changes in production in 1942 in any of
these areas that could be plausibly linked to the
change in overlordship?

In 1943, the Soviets regained eastern Ukraine; in 1944
they took the rest. What changes in production
(compared to 1942-1943) followed?

[SolomonW]

Post by Rich Rostrom
Are any data available on food production in the areas
of Eastern Europe that were under both Soviet and
German rule for at least one complete growing cycle?

I am annoyed that no-one has come forth with any figures as it would be
quite interesting,

I do know that the Germans under the pressure did not change the existing
systems.

Solzhenitsyn in his book does say that unlike the Soviets, the Germans shot
thieves.

Anyway, I do not know if this article can kick-start a discussion, but I
hope it's a start.

http://russia-insider.com/en/indirect-deaths-due-privation-induced-war-and-occupation/5858

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[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Post by Rich Rostrom
Are any data available on food production in the areas
of Eastern Europe that were under both Soviet and
German rule for at least one complete growing cycle?

The only reference I know that probably covers this is the multi
volume set Germany and the Second World War, it certainly
covers the amount of food taken from the various areas.

Post by Rich Rostrom
(I say "rule" because I would exclude areas such as
Hungary and Romania, which came under de facto Soviet
control in the WW II period, but were not made over
into Communist states with Communist agricultural
methods until a few years later.)

The economies of Hungary and Romania were largely left
alone by the Germans, so any changes would have been
mostly local.

Post by Rich Rostrom
What I am thinking about is areas such as the Baltic
states, eastern Poland, Belarus, western and eastern
Ukraine, and perhaps Bessarabia.

The Germans invaded in mid summer, so much of the summer
crops would be in the harvesting phase, depending on how
the local weather had been. Then comes the policy for the
winter crops and then of course 1942.

As to what policies the Soviets employed in the areas they took
in 1939 and 1940 that would probably require Polish etc.
histories.

Post by Rich Rostrom
Some of this area - Ukraine between the Bug and the
Don, eastern Belarus - had been Soviet territory from
the end of the Revolution and Civil War. In these
areas, all farms had been consolidated into state
farms or collectives ("sovkhoz" or "kolkhoz"). This
had been done over the opposition of the peasants,
whose resistance was broken by the "Terror Famine".
Despite the provision of machinery and other advanced
techniques, production declined substantially.
The rest was taken over in 1939-1940. One presumes
that Soviet agricultural policy was enforced there
during the 1940 growing season. (Bessarabia was taken
over in summer 1940, so perhaps not there.) Was there
a change in agricultural production in these areas?

Probably, the disruption of normal activity would have
effects.

Post by Rich Rostrom
Then in mid-1941, all this area was overrun by German
forces. For the rest of 1941 and all of 1942, this
area was under German control (with the exception of
Bessarabia, which reverted to Romanian control).
How did the Germans organize agriculture in these
areas? One may guess that in the newly acquired Soviet
lands, they presided over reversion to pre-1939
conditions.

Probably a reversion where the USSR had expanded in
1939 and 1940 but that would depend on things like how
intact the local farming communities were, whether the USSR
had removed the more successful farmers as capitalists for
example.

Note the Nazis were allocating farmland to Germans.

Post by Rich Rostrom
But what about Ukraine and Belarus? Did the Germans
simply continue the Soviet system?

Note the collective farms were a very good way of controlling
food supply and the Germans were requisitioning local food
for the military operating in the area.

The Red Army did a lot of destruction where it could, there
was a lot of damage to farms and irrigation systems, plus
killing or moving livestock.

It is unlikely the Germans supplied much fuel or spare parts
for Soviet agricultural machinery.

Post by Rich Rostrom
Were there any changes in production in 1942 in any of
these areas that could be plausibly linked to the
change in overlordship?

I can only recommend seeing what Agricultural histories are
out there.

Post by Rich Rostrom
In 1943, the Soviets regained eastern Ukraine; in 1944
they took the rest. What changes in production
(compared to 1942-1943) followed?

The Germans destroyed much as they retreated, including
killing people or forcing them to retreat with the Germans.
In addition countries that were not fought over generally
found they were running into problems as long term
maintenance was cut back and many agricultural workers
ended up in the military. To know what effect policies had
you need to know things like the quantity and quality of the
workforce. Then comes how food growing friendly the
weather was.

Geoffrey Sinclair
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