Which historical figure ended the New Economic Policy (N.E.P.) and introduced the Five-Year Plans?

The New Economic Policy (N.E.P.) was an economic strategy implemented by Vladimir Lenin in the early 1920s, which temporarily reintroduced limited capitalism to stabilize the Soviet economy after the Russian Civil War. This policy allowed some private enterprise and small-scale farming while the state retained control over major industries.

Joseph Stalin, who succeeded Lenin, ended the N.E.P. in the late 1920s. He introduced the Five-Year Plans, which aimed to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union and collectivize agriculture. The first Five-Year Plan was launched in 1928 and focused on transforming the Soviet economy from agrarian to industrial. This marked a significant shift in Soviet policy by emphasizing state control over all aspects of the economy and eliminating the private ownership and market mechanisms allowed under the N.E.P.

In summary, Stalin's leadership led to the transition from the more lenient economic policies of the N.E.P. to the aggressive state-driven industrialization efforts characterized by the Five-Year Plans, solidifying his control over the Soviet Union and its economy.