The landmark events of the first years after the Great Patriotic War were monetary reform and the abolition of cards. On December 16, 1947, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) ‘On the implementation of monetary reform and the abolition of cards for food and industrial goods’ was published. In the minds of most people, the abolition of cards has become one of the main signs of a happy peaceful life and the post-war reconstruction of the country.
The card system was introduced in the Soviet Union three times: 1918–1921, 1929–1935, 1941–1947. During the Second World War, such systems existed in most of the countries of Eastern and Western Europe. The USSR was the first to decide on a bold economic step — the abolition of cards. Within a week, all cash, with the exception of small coins, was exchanged for new 1947 bills at a ratio of 1:10. Private deposits of citizens up to 3,000 rubles remained unchanged; larger deposits were partially overvalued: for three rubles of old money, two rubles of new money were given.
In addition to the monetary reform and the abolition of the rationing system, the state switched to trade at a single reduced state retail prices. Prices for basic foodstuffs — bread, flour, cereals — were reduced by 10–12 percent. Fish and meat did not fall in price. And for scarce fabrics, footwear, clothing and knitwear, the price was set three times less than the former commercial price.
As a result of the monetary reform and the abolition of cards, commercial shops and spontaneous markets — ‘flea market’ — disappeared in the cities. Food and industrial goods immediately appeared in stores. Although shoes and clothes, furniture and household utensils did not fill the shelves, in general they became more accessible.
The reform was carried out for five days from December 16 to 20. It was prepared in the strictest secrecy, and therefore came as a complete surprise to the population. Many families have ‘uncommodified’ cards — these instantly useless paper sheets were kept for a long time as a memory of the past.
Again, cards for food and clothing appeared in the conditions of commodity and food shortages in the early 1990s.
The card system was introduced in the Soviet Union three times: 1918–1921, 1929–1935, 1941–1947. During the Second World War, such systems existed in most of the countries of Eastern and Western Europe. The USSR was the first to decide on a bold economic step — the abolition of cards. Within a week, all cash, with the exception of small coins, was exchanged for new 1947 bills at a ratio of 1:10. Private deposits of citizens up to 3,000 rubles remained unchanged; larger deposits were partially overvalued: for three rubles of old money, two rubles of new money were given.
In addition to the monetary reform and the abolition of the rationing system, the state switched to trade at a single reduced state retail prices. Prices for basic foodstuffs — bread, flour, cereals — were reduced by 10–12 percent. Fish and meat did not fall in price. And for scarce fabrics, footwear, clothing and knitwear, the price was set three times less than the former commercial price.
As a result of the monetary reform and the abolition of cards, commercial shops and spontaneous markets — ‘flea market’ — disappeared in the cities. Food and industrial goods immediately appeared in stores. Although shoes and clothes, furniture and household utensils did not fill the shelves, in general they became more accessible.
The reform was carried out for five days from December 16 to 20. It was prepared in the strictest secrecy, and therefore came as a complete surprise to the population. Many families have ‘uncommodified’ cards — these instantly useless paper sheets were kept for a long time as a memory of the past.
Again, cards for food and clothing appeared in the conditions of commodity and food shortages in the early 1990s.
