"Made in USSR" a Magnitogorsk Travel Page by traveloturc

Magnitogorsk is a typical Soviet city. The city was built in the first Joseph Stalin's 5 year plans and the first tent building settlements were erected in March of 1929. Railroad reached the city in June, 1929. Though the barracks were overcrowded almost instantly, the encampment became a blur of activity as workers began building what was then the world's largest and most advanced steel mill.

Many of these new workers were peasants from the surounging area who had been kicked off of their farms in the de-kulakization and collectivisation movements. Many others were recruited from cities in the west part of the country and still others were regarded as state criminals.

Stalin didn't want Russia's primary steel plant accessable to advancing armies from the west. It was therfefore worthwhile to have the plant off behind the Urals. Secondly, the low mountains near the Magnitogorsk site boasted some of the richest and most accessable deposits of iron ore in Russia.