Measures of demographic policy in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945)

The article analyzes the demographic policy measures of the Soviet state during the Great Patriotic War. Presence of the negative trends in the demographic behavior of the population in 1939– 1940 is indicated, and their causes are analyzed. The demographic policy measures had a controversial character (ban on abortions, expansion of the network of medical institutions, improvement of the system of medical and social assistance (payment of benefits), expanding the network of preschool institutions, etc). There are identified the main trends in the population reproduction in the USSR and the RSFSR in 1941–1945 (significant decrease in birth rates (crude birth rate, total fertility rate)), changes in mortality parameters, especially child and infant mortality, and decrease in the number of marriages). Taking into account the above trends, two stages of the implementation of the demographic policy measures during the Great Patriotic War are identified: 1941-summer 1944 and summer 1944–1945, differing in objectives, recipients of assistance, and measures themselves. At the first stage, the decisions were aimed at reducing the negative consequences of the war, their impact on health, reproductive functions, as well as social and legal institutions. At the second stage, a set of material and non-material measures aimed at supporting lives of women and children, and supporting the family as a whole, was developed and implemented. The main problems and possibilities for implementing these measures are considered. Implementation of the demographic policy measures was based on two main principles: combination of state, public and private forms of assistance; close interweaving of demographic and social policies.

demographic policy, social policy, population of the USSR, the Great Patriotic War, demographic indicators