What was one of the main reasons for worker disillusionment during the War Communism period?

During the War Communism period in early Soviet Russia, one of the primary reasons for worker disillusionment was the militarisation of labor. This policy involved the strict organization of labor along military lines, where workers were subjected to draconian discipline and were forced to conform to a military-style hierarchy. This approach aimed to maximize production levels and control the workforce, but it stripped workers of their autonomy and treated them more like soldiers than employees. The result was a profound alienation among workers, as they felt dehumanized by the strict regulations and lack of personal agency in their work.

By contrast, a lack of employment opportunities could have contributed to worker discontent, but during this period many were still employed despite the harsh conditions. The concept of high wages in factories does not align with the realities of the War Communism era, where wages were often low and inadequate for sustaining livelihoods. Excessive industrial production also does not capture the fundamental worker dissatisfaction with the militaristic approach to labor; rather, it was the methods of control and lack of individual rights that caused significant unrest. Therefore, the militarisation of labor stands out as the correct explanation for the widespread disillusionment experienced by workers during this tumultuous period.