The reconstruction years, following the ravages of war and military occupation, were neither easy nor untroubled; and the first two years, in particular, of the Fourth Plan were ones of acute difficulties and of intense hardship. 1946 was overshadowed by a crop-failure. The following year 1947, however, witnessed considerable improvement. Firstly there was a large improvement in the harvest. Secondly, industry had surmounted most of the dislocations attendant upon reconversion and re-tooling; and industrial production as a whole was said to have recovered to 90 per cent. The Sixth Plan, covering the years from 1956 to 1960, which was presented to the historic loth Congress of the Party in February 1956, did not differ very much from its predecessor. The rate of progress envisaged in the new Seven-Year Plan was slightly less ambitious than previously: an overall increase of industrial output of 80 per cent.