Problems of supplying the people of Bashkiria during the Great Patriotic War

On the basis of archive documents which are introduced to scientific scrutiny for the first time, this article analyzes main problems of rationing in Bashkiria during the Great Patriotic War. In the wartime open trade was substituted with rationing and in August 1942 in Bashkiria bureaus for registration and control of rationing cards were created. State-owned and cooperative organizations had to establish the supply of people in hard economic conditions. On the one hand, the goods turnover decreased significantly, many qualified and experienced employees had joined the Red Army; on the other hand, Bashkiria received evacuated people and plants whose employees also needed good and timely supply. Due to the shrinking of auditing departments in many trading organizations misuse of rationing cards took place, the number of thefts and embezzlement increased, problems with employing responsible personnel arose. Nevertheless, thanks to the selfless work of state-owned and cooperative organizations problems of supplying people, including those in specialized children’s and medical institutions and military plants, were largely solved, and the Republic was able to significantly contribute to the victory in the Great Patriotic War.