The Economy and Everyday Nuances of Military Life: Food Supply for the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (RKKA) from 1941 to 1945

Introduction. The article delves into the food supply of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army in 1941–1945 in the prism of the everyday life of soldiers and officers. The sustenance of the military forces plays a crucial role in influencing their immediate combat effectiveness during military engagements. Due to the all-round tragic situation at the warfront in the early period of the war, there was a need for immediate reorganization of the material and technical system, especially the food supply system of the Red Army. Even in the key stages of the war, changes were constantly made in the system of supplying the army with food products. The changes were reflected in the standards of food products for soldiers and officers and in the organization of the army’s supply mechanism. Methods and materials. The problem studied in the article is considered from different perspectives. In examining the daily experiences at the front during the war, a variety of source levels are employed. The research extensively utilizes oral history and written accounts, including diaries, letters, and memoirs of war participants, to gain insights into everyday life directly at the warfront and the mood in the army, in addition to various laws and norms dealing with food supply. On the other hand, army life is subject to different regulations. The article also includes a partial comparative analysis. The organization of food supply in the Soviet and fascist German armies in 1941–1945, the norms of supply in the two armies are studied. Analysis. During the war, military servicemen’s daily life at the warfront, including food supply, was organized on the basis of various legal documents. In this regard, legal documents (resolutions, orders, and reports from the government authorities responsible for supplying the army with food products, etc.) were also used to reveal these aspects of the issue. The use of the above-mentioned sources in the article allows a comprehensive approach to the problem of food supply to the Red Army in 1941– 1945. That is, the introduction of legislation and security mechanisms is directly compared with the memories of military personnel who were witnesses and participants of these events. Results. Considering the growing interest of historians in everyday life and the food supply of the army, which is an important part of the history of the Second World War, it should be noted that the work in this direction has only started. Authors’ contribution. Kh.B. Babadjanov, together with A.K. Abdullaev, examined the scientific literature, as well as oral history materials, and came to conclusions on the topic. By carefully examining historical materials, Kh.B. Babadjanov was able to describe the features of everyday life and military routine, using the example of food supplies for the Red Army (RKKA) of workers and peasants from 1941 to 1945. A.K. Abdullaev contributed to the data summary and analysis of the available statistics.