Sociocultural perception and living conditions of foreign citizens in Stalingrad in the 1920s – 1930s

Introduction. In the late 1920s Stalingrad was undergoing major industrial construction and reconstruction. Due to the shortage of local labor resources, foreign labor resources were required. The study highlights the nationality and number of the labor force, arrival dates and participation in the city’s public life. Methods and materials. The study used sources from the State Archive of Volgograd Oblast. The Research is based on comparative-historical and descriptive-historical methods. Analysis. Housing was the main issue in Stalingrad. Foreign specialists (Americans, Germans, Austrians, Czechs, Swedes) and their families were provided with housing, but living conditions were harsh. Moreover, despite the fact that salary of foreign labors was higher than salary of locals, foreign specialists still considered it insufficient. Providing foreign specialists with better living conditions, special product delivery and essential goods irritated the locals, whose standard of living was low. Results. Construction of buildings for foreign specialists began in the late 1920s. For local workers of such plants as the Stalingradskiy traktornyy zavod (Stalingrad Tractor Plant), the Barrikady (Titan-Barrikady) and the Krasny Oktyabr construction began in 1933. This helped to improve the city’s housing situation and increase the standard of living and the number of citizens. In 1933 Stalingrad became a major industrial center; by the end of the 1930s, it had become a city with a large population, including foreigners who stayed in Stalingrad, provided training for local specialists, adapted to an unfamiliar social life, and mastered the Russian language.