The problem of hunger in Ukrainian books 1921—1923

Abstract

The article is devoted to the historiography of the famine of 1921—1923 in the Ukrainian SSR. The author analyzes domestic books published in the publishers of Soviet Ukraine directly during the disaster that befell five of the twelve provinces of the Ukrainian SSR at that time. Analyzing the event, the author captures the specific features and differences of the famine of 1921—1923 from the Great Famine of 1932—1933. disasters, ordinary outside observers, authorities of all ranks, specialists in science and practical medicine. The author emphasizes that against the background of these developments in the medical field, a new scientific direction has been developed - the study of human hunger states, their impact on the development of human physiology and genetics, specific diseases provoked by prolonged starvation not on a voluntary basis. Concerning the world aspect of the problem of hunger, the author emphasizes that during the study period, in particular, during the First World War (1914—1918), there were artificially organized famines. The latter were seen as effective means in the fight against the enemy and, in fact, became the factors of victory over him. Since neither the fact nor the scale of the 1921—1923 famine in the then Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic was veiled by the Bolshevik authorities, the event had not only a public outcry but also received considerable humanitarian assistance from the world community. This article mainly uses scientific publications published in Soviet Ukraine during 1921—1923.