Final answer:
Stalin's Five-Year Plans aimed to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union, with significant increases in industrial capacity despite major human costs such as mass starvation. The plans were deemed successful in enhancing the Soviet Union's global standing and industrial power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of Stalin's Five-Year Plans was primarily to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union and increase its industrial and agricultural output. The first Five-Year Plan focused on building new industries, developing cities dedicated to specific industrial sectors, increasing iron and steel production, and constructing new electrical power stations. As a result, industrial capacity saw a notable increase of approximately 50%. However, these plans came at a significant human cost, including mass starvation due to the forced collectivization of agriculture, which was part of Stalin's second plan. Nonetheless, in terms of industrialization and securing a stronger global position for the USSR, the plans were successful in ending the Soviet Union's pariah status and achieving near parity with Western industrial powers.