Six-Year Plan
Six-Year Plan (1950–1955) was the second
People's Republic of Poland, following the completed Three-Year Plan (1947–1949). It concentrated on increasing the heavy industry
sector.
By 1950, the Polish government was dominated by Stalinist hardliners, such as
Soviet economy, concentrated on heavy industrialization, with projects such as Nowa Huta. The plan was accepted by the Sejm
on July 21, 1950. Later on, it was modified several times, and never fully completed.
Polish society paid a heavy price for poorly thought-out and rapid industrialization. Living standards were reduced, since investments in other fields, such as construction, were cut. In agriculture, the idea of
collectivization was promoted, to the protests of Polish farmers. The plan was fashioned after similar Soviet plans, and was based on certain Soviet-style principles, such as central planning of economy, limiting the so-called Capitalist elements, and close cooperation with other Eastern Bloc nations. New urban districts were built in big cities, attracting residents of overpopulated villages. At the same time, however, the balance between supply and demand deepened, and shortages of basic products were common. As a result, rationing
was re-introduced in the early 1950s.
The only real achievement of the Six-Year Plan was quick development of heavy industry. At the same time, however, other fields of Polish economy, such as services and food industry, remained underdeveloped, as all state funds were directed at construction of shipyards, steel plants, chemical plants and car factories. Among major investments of the plan are:
- Skawina Aluminum Factory,
- development of Buna Werke),
- development of Zaklady Azotowe Kedzierzyn (formerly IG FarbenHeydebreck),
- development of Synthetic Fibres Plant Stilon Gorzow Wielkopolski(formerly IG Farben-Werks Landsberg (Warthe)),
- Shoe Factory at Nowy Targ,
- Lenin Steelworks at Nowa Huta,
- Warsaw Steelworks,
- FSO Warszawa,
- FSC Lublin,
- FSC Star at Starachowice,
- Wierzbica Cement Plant,
- development of Jaworzno Power Station,
- development of CzestochowaSteelworks,
- development of Schichau-Werft and Danziger Werft),
- development of Szczecin Shipyard (formerly AG Vulcan Stettin).