Russian Optics Before and During the Years of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945

Introduction. In recent years, the interest of researchers in studying the history of individual branch institutes and their work during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 has increased significantly. Using the example of the activities of the S. I. Vavilov State Optical Institute (SOI), we will try to analyze the options for adapting scientific theories to solve specific problems of the optical and mechanical industry during the war years. Projects that increased the country’s defense capability required special attention from the SOI and the optical and mechanical industry. It is impossible to achieve success without sharing the potential of educational, scientific and industrial organizations, including in the fields of scientific and technical personnel training. One way or another, the activities of industry institutes across the country need an integrated approach and additional research. Results and Discussion. The article summarizes a complex of diverse documents, including the previously little-studied archival fund of the St. Petersburg State Government Institution “Central State Archive of Scientific and Technical Documentation of St. Petersburg” (CSASTD SPb), where sources about the S. I. Vavilov State Optical Institute were deposited. The development of the optical and mechanical industry was supported through research and development, standardization, personnel training, knowledge dissemination and policy formation, which contributed to increasing the defense capability and competitiveness of the Soviet state and the stability of the optical industry in the pre-war and war periods. As part of the study of the developments carried out at SOI and areas of cooperation with the defense industry, aspects of the state of scientific research, production organization, evacuation to the eastern regions of the country and the restructuring of the production capacities of optical plants for the production of military products were revealed and specified. Conclusion. It is concluded that the established system of scientific and industrial relations made it possible to provide the Soviet army with modern optical devices and laid the foundation for post-war development.