Heroes & Villains the national archives
Home > Stalin & industrialisation > How? > Source 7 print
source seven
Part of a speech by VM Molotov, chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (leader of the government under Stalin), referring to forced labour, 1931
(Catalogue ref: FO 371/15589)
Transcript
FO 371/15589; speech by Molotov on forced labour, 1931

Questions
  1. According to Molotov, why was forced labour being used?

  2. What was Molotov’s attitude to forced labour? Choose 4 quotes from his speech to support your answer.

  3. Why do you think Molotov gave this speech?

  4. Why did Molotov say that forced labour was not used to produce goods for export?

  5. What are the advantages and disadvantages for a historian using this source as evidence?
Background | Worksheet | Timeline
  Contact us | Credits | Site map | Help | Glossary | Teacher's notes