Scientific and Environmental Organizations Activities During the Great Patriotic War: Historical and Ecological Aspect

Abstract

This article explores the activities of scientific and environmental organizations of the USSR during the World War II, in the context of Russian environmental history. Environmental history is an interdisciplinary scientific field at the intersection of the humanities and natural sciences, studying the co-evolution of nature and society. Using archival and published sources, this article focuses on the All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature, the All-Union Geographical Society, and the Council for the Study of Productive Forces. Nature made a significant contribution to victory, as the use of natural wealth made it possible to provide the army and the rear with necessary raw materials and food. The most important role in mobilizing a variety of natural resources was played by Soviet scientists. At the same time, ecological systems were seriously damaged. Starting from the war and into the postwar years, the technogenic management era commenced. The leadership of the USSR bet on the active development of the mineral resource and energy base in the eastern part of the country, which was another blow to the environment. The All-Russian Society for the Conservation of Nature tried to restrain the state’s onslaught on nature and sought to minimize its consequences. Its most important task was to popularize environmental ideas among the people. Thanks to the efforts of members of the Society, the authorities turned their attention to environmental problems: in 1946, a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On Nature Protection in the RSFSR” was issued. After this, environmental protection completely came under state control and aimed at balancing active economic activity in the country.