The baking industry of Chelyabinsk region in 1946-1950

Based on an extensive source base, the article introduces previously unknown documents on the baking industry of the Chelyabinsk region in 1946-1950. It also clarifies the model of economic development of that period. The end of the Great Patriotic War and the beginning of the reconstruction period posed the new tasks for the bakery industry: to improve the quality of products, to expand the pre-war assortment, and to increase the capacity of enterprises in order to fully meet the demand of the population in bakery products. The article examines the network, location, material, technical and raw material base of the bakery industry. It also describes the range and volume of products, analyzes the solution of such issues as personnel training and advanced training. The author comes to the conclusion that the baking industry of the Chelyabinsk region in 1946-1950 continued to exist in the mobilization model of the economy. This was dictated by the alarming international situation and internal factors of the USSR development. During the post-war five-year period, the bakery industry expanded its network and capacity through the construction of new bakeries, ovens and major repairs of worn-out buildings and equipment. The production was in dire need of highly qualified workers and engineering and technical personnel. Despite the attentiveness and support from the party and Soviet bodies, the range of products remained extremely narrow and of poor quality. This was due to non-standard flour, unsatisfactory organization of production, and low qualification of workers. The insufficiency of vehicles at enterprises led to delays in the raw materials and fuel. Besides, there was a lack of training and retraining programs for the most important professions - bakers, bread sellers, and bakery inspectors. Thus, the bakery industry partially fulfilled the tasks of the IV five-year plan, and did not fully satisfy the needs of the population in high-quality and diverse bakery products.