Restructuring of the Activities of Local Authorities to Solve Strategic Economic Problems (1941–1945)

The article analyzes the main directions of the work of the Soviets of Workers› Deputies to reorganize activities to solve problems caused by the military situation. The author studies the ways of overcoming the problem of shortage of personnel in the lower Councils of Workers› Deputies, measures to create conditions for training officers of the Soviet apparatus in the conditions of personnel renewal. It is concluded that the shortage of deputies and senior staff in local authorities was solved by involving representatives from the party, military structures, as well as other workers who were not deputies of the local councils in the executive committees of the Councils of Deputies of Workers› Deputies. These measures were contrary to the constitutional provisions. However, they allowed the new government to overcome the difficulties of the current moment of wartime. Archival materials have preserved examples of situations when citizens, not being deputies of lower councils, were appointed to the offices of heads of the councils and successfully coped with their duties. The article examines the features of the organization and holding of sessions of the Soviets of Workers› Deputies in a war situation. The author comes to the conclusion that during the Great Patriotic War, the constitutionally established forms and methods of work of local councils could not fully function, which led to the natural adaptation of Soviet workers to work in a wartime situation, and, consequently, methods of activity atypical for peacetime were used. Such fundamentally new methods in their entirety allowed local Councils of Workers› Deputies to cope with the tasks of wartime and overcome the difficulties that arose.

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