An American Inspection Tour of the Soviet First Five Year Plan, 1931

Abstract

This article presents an archival 11-page manuscript written by John M. Carmody in 1958, housed in the Carmody Papers at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York and offers insight into American perspectives on the Soviet Union’s First Five-Year Plan. In the manuscript, Carmody, a prominent New Deal figure, reflects on his experiences with U.S. engineers like John K. Calder and Hugh Cooper, who contributed to industrial projects such as the Stalingrad Tractor Plant and the Dneprostroi Dam. The manuscript details Soviet-American collaboration, highlighting cultural exchanges, technical expertise, and the ideological backdrop of industrialization. It underscores the complex interplay of engineering achievements, propaganda, and individual contributions during a pivotal era in Soviet history.