Actually, in the 1950s and 60s the USSR had very impressive rates of economic growth (far more impressive than anything that the USA could achieve), and although this is a very controversial and unpopular thing to say in an American blog, it made many imprssive industrial achievements.Hence Kruschev's boast 'We will bury you'.Such things as dams, railroads, heavy industry etc.Lest we forget the Ts