The Stakhanovite movement was a mass cultural movement of workers which originated in the Soviet Union, and encouraged socialist emulation and rationalization of workplace processes. The Stakhanovites modeled themselves after Alexei Stakhanov, a coal miner, and took pride in their ability to produce more than was required by working harder and more efficiently, thus contributing to the common good and strengthening the socialist state. The movement began in the coal industry but later spread to many other industries in the Soviet Union. Initially popular, it eventually encountered resistance as the increased productivity led to increased demands on workers.
Aleksei Grigorievich Stakhanov with a fellow miner
USSR Medal "For Labour Valour"
In September 1959 near Neustrelitz, East Germany, a forester on his AWO 425T motorcycle congratulates a team of women who achieved 184% of a production goal by planting 25,000 saplings during their shift, despite only being set a quota of 16,000.
Alexei Grigoryevich Stakhanov was a Soviet miner, Hero of Socialist Labour (1970), and a member of the CPSU (1936).
Stakhanov in 1936
Stakhanov on the cover of Time Magazine, 16 December 1935.
Alexei Stakhanov, the student of Industrial Academy on the front page of Pravda issue 314 (7280) dated Nov 15 1937.
