Who were the kulaks during Stalin's rule?

During Stalin's rule, kulaks were identified as wealthier farmers who owned land and had more resources compared to the average peasant. This distinction made them targets during Stalin's campaign of collectivization, where the Soviet government sought to consolidate individual landholdings and bring all agricultural production under state control. As part of this effort, kulaks were often portrayed as class enemies because their wealth and independence were seen as obstacles to the development of a communist society.

The confiscation of their land was intended to eliminate the class of wealthier peasants, redistribute their land to poorer peasants or collective farms, and ultimately promote the goals of communism by eradicating private land ownership. This led to widespread suffering and resistance among the kulaks, many of whom faced harsh repercussions, including forced collectivization, deportation, and even execution.

In contrast, other options, such as independent farmers supporting communism and government officials overseeing land distribution, do not accurately reflect the historical context of the kulaks or the socio-political dynamics of Stalin's agricultural policies. Peasants working on collective farms represent a different social class that emerged after the collectivization process, highlighting the shift in agricultural organization under Stalin's regime.