Marriage and Divorce Rates in Post-War Years: Evidence from Bashkir ASSR

This study examines the dynamics of marriage and divorce rates in the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) from 1945 to 1968, with a particular focus on the impact of the Decree of July 8, 1944, on family and marital relations in the republic. The relevance of this research is underscored by the ongoing crisis facing Russian families in contemporary society. Primary sources include unpublished statistical data on marriages and divorces during the post-war years. Analysis of the total marriage rate among the rural population indicates that men, on average, entered into marriage 2 times, while women did so 1 to 1.5 times. It is shown that the proportion of children born without a father recorded on their birth certificates was lower in postwar Bashkiria compared to the national average and certain regions. The authors suggest that this trend may be attributed to societal condemnation of extramarital relationships, which was also characteristic of the Bashkir and Tatar populations in the republic. The connection between state social policy and the divorce rates is also explored. An examination of the sources leads to the conclusion that a portion of marriages and divorces during this period remained unregistered with the civil registry offices.