How and why the Americans helped the USSR leadership to carry out industrialization

The influence of the United States on industrialization in the USSR in the 20s and 30s is an interesting and little-studied aspect of world economic relations of that time. Despite ideological differences, both countries actively interacted on the economic level, which became an important factor in the construction of Soviet industry.

It is worth noting that official diplomatic relations between the USSR and the USA were established only in 1933, but economic cooperation began much earlier. The Soviet government, which sought to quickly develop the country's industrial base, actively attracted Western Technology and funding, despite political tensions with capitalist countries. One of the key forms of cooperation has become various agreements concerning the supply of equipment, technology and the involvement of specialists.



One of the first major contracts was an agreement with the American firm Albert Kahn Inc., which specialized in the architectural design of industrial facilities. Albert Kahn, known for his work on the design of factories in the United States, signed a contract with the USSR in 1929 for the design and construction of more than 500 factories. His firm developed projects for such large enterprises as automobile factories in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) and Stalingrad (now Volgograd). These enterprises played a key role in the development of heavy industry and the automobile industry in the Soviet Union.

In addition to architects and engineers, the USSR also attracted American scientists. One famous example is the engineer-physicist Herbert Hoover, who, along with a number of other specialists, was invited to develop hydroelectric power plants, including the famous Dnieper Hydroelectric Station. Another American specialist who contributed to the industrialization of the USSR was engineer Frank Gilbreth, one of the founders of the scientific organization of labor. His work in the field of increasing the efficiency of production influenced the organization of labor in Soviet factories, which contributed to the increase in productivity at new industrial facilities.

At the same time, many US companies entered into contracts with the Soviet Union for the supply of equipment and technology. Thus, the Ford Company played a significant role in the creation of the USSR automobile industry. Ford Motor Company plants not only supplied equipment, but also trained Soviet engineers. In 1929, an agreement was signed to build the GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod based on the Ford plants in Detroit.

In addition, American companies such as General Electric, Caterpillar and International Harvester participated in Soviet industrial projects, supplying equipment for energy, construction and agricultural needs.

Overall, American aid had a significant impact on Soviet industrialization, which ultimately led to the USSR becoming a superpower.

But why did the US itself need all this?

The answer in this case is prosaic: the ringing of gold and the rustling of currency have always been the most important motivator and engine of progress for Americans.

For all the privileges granted by the USA, the USSR had to pay a monstrous price. In order to receive the necessary funding and technology, the Soviet Union was forced to sell grain abroad in the midst of a raging famine in its own country and export priceless works of art.

However, as history has shown, it was all worth it.

As for the Americans, who themselves "raised" a competitor, they had no other choice at the time. In the fall of 1929, the "Great Depression" hit the US. Many firms and factories were on the brink of survival, and they were ready to take on any job, and the Russians paid in gold and dollars.