As early as at the end of 1919, the outcome of the Civil War was predetermined: the Whites retreated on all the fronts. Realizing that after the end of a large-scale conflict the country is going to face a catastrophic situation, Lenin is developing measures to boost the economy. One of these measures was the State Electrification Plan for Russia. In January 1920, Lenin wrote a letter to his long-time party fellow-member, Gleb Krzy?anowski, describing his thoughts and setting a goal: To build, in about ten (or five?) years 20, or 30, or 50, power plants to cover the country with the centers of 400 km radius (or 200 km if we can’t provide more), powered by peat, water, shale, coal, oil.” Within ten or twenty years, Lenin planned to electrify whole Russia.
The resolution on electrification was adopted in February. At the same time, after long discussions, the plan was given a name. For the abbreviation to sound better (however, neither the intelligentsia nor the peasants liked the GOELRO variant), it was decided to exclude the word plan” from the name. That’s how the term State electrification of Russia” (GOELRO) entered the lexicon of the early Soviet state and the people memorized the leader’s quote: Communism is the Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country.”
As the result, the GOELRO plan, designed for 10 or 15 years, was fulfilled ahead of time by 1931. And the generation of electricity increased seven-fold, as compared to 1913.
Visualization in the Road to Calvary
The four main characters of the saga, Dasha, Katya, Telegin and Roshchin listen to Krzy?anowski’s report on the electrification of Russia in March 1920 in the hall of the Bolshoy Theater. They also see there Lenin and Stalin, who defeated the army of Denikin.
Do you realize the significance this gives to all our efforts, to the blood that has been shed, the unknown, silent sufferings…? The world will be rearranged for the common welfare… Everyone in this hall is ready to give his life for this… It’s not just an idea of mine — they could show you scars and the bluish spots left by bullets… And this — in my native land, and this is Russia…”
The Road to Calvary by A. N. Tolstoy