Sports and physical development and military and defensive training of youth in the Ulyanovsk region during the period from 1941 to 1945

The author focuses on military and sports education as a part of military patriotic education of youth in Kuibyshev and Ulyanovsk region from the first days until the end of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. He stresses that during the war sports and mass events were regularly held, military and sports clubs and schools were opened, often with the help of such organizations as the Society for promotion of defense, aviation, and chemical industry (Osoaviakhim). Young people developed their sports and military skills in order to be ready to defend the homeland from fascist aggressors. Later, the Komsomol and the Pioneer organization were urged to deal with these problems; in order to improve teaching and educational work with pupils, the activity of the Pioneer organization was transferred to school.