The settlement and economic development of Sortavala city and its suburbs in 1940-1941

Based on the analysis of the wide range of previously published materials and archival sources, a process of settlement and economic development of Sortavala city and its suburbs in 1940-1941 is considered in the article. One of the most pressing issues of this process was a problem of qualified personnel. The challenge was solved by the mass migration of people from other regions of the country. In spring of 1940, multiple specialists from all over the country were recruited to work at the enterprises and institutions, which were located in the new regions of the Karelo-Finnish SSR. In spite of all unbiased difficulties, a process of the industry, transport and communications’ reconstruction in Northern Priladozhje of the Karelo-Finnish SSR was, all-in-all, successful. The progress in the agrarian sphere was much slower. A special place in the article is given to the question of adaptation of settlers from different regions of the USSR to the new environment of former Finnish territories. The majority of new settlers were Belarusians from the Belarusian SSR. According to the memories of Belarusian settlers, the main reason of their movement to KFSSR was rough living conditions in Belorussia. The author came to a conclusion that the time allotted for the complete settlement and economic development of Northern Priladozhje including Sortavala and its suburbs was not sufficient. The process was interrupted by the war between the USSR and Finland, which began in 1941.