CONSTRUCTION OF SURSKY DEFENSIVE LINE AND KAZAN DEFENSIVE PERIMETER AS ONE OF THE WORK-STREAMS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS OF THE CHUVASH ASSR (1941–1942)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider one of the priority work-streams of the Council of People’s Commissars (CPC) – the Government of the Autonomous Republic on organizing and maintenance of special fortifications construction in 1941–1942. The CPC of the Chuvash ASSR is taken as an example, on the territory of which fortifications of Sursky defensive line and Kazan defensive perimeter were held. Recently, the history of constructing Sursky frontier and other defensive lines in the territory of the Volga regions in the initial period of the Great Patriotic War has aroused great interest from historians. The published scientific papers raise various aspects concerning the construction of fortifications and related labor exploits of the Soviet people. However, many details, including the work of the CPC and other regional authorities to ensure construction, still require systematization and further analysis. The article uses specific examples to present the main aspects of the CPC work-streams aimed at achieving the goal of erecting fortified lines on time. Conclusions are drawn about the multidimensional nature of the work carried out by the regional government, which controlled various aspects of construction, including mobilization, supply of the mobilized with food and essential goods, provision of construction sites with materials and other resources, maintenance of labor discipline. When preparing the scientific publication, the methodological basis was made by the comprehensive analysis of historical information, the historical-systematic method, the method of content analysis, and others.