There was a shortage of every variety of manufactured article. The forced collectivization of agriculture resulted in the destruction of livestock and the worst famine Russia had ever known. Technicians warned the government in vain that it was committing errors and crimes against the nation and that the famine would cause millions of victims. They were arrested, often tortured, thousands were condemned without trial, and certain selected ones were given propaganda trials in order to demonstrate to the poor Russian people that the famine was organized by agents of France and England.
