Labor Conscripts from Central Asian Military District in the Urals, 1942–1944: Work Arrangements and Conditions

Introduction. The article contains an analysis into the conditions experienced by labor conscripts from Central Asian Military District at plants and factories of the Urals during the Great Patriotic War. The topic has remained virtually unattended in the Soviet era, and present-day historiographers tend to consider it in regional perspectives. Results. The paper shows the labor mobilization ― in particular, across Central Asian republics ― played an important role in the functioning of war-related industries. However, the revealed facts attest to executives of such recipient enterprises were not ready to employ the significant numbers of workers with meager or even absent industrial qualifications and skills. Other adaptation hindering factors for Central Asians at factories and construction sites of the Urals included lack of Russian fluency, unusual weather and living conditions, inattention of executives to newcomers, their difficulties and interests. Insufficient attention would be paid to safety regulations, outdoor temperature control, etc. The miscalculations resulted in low labor motivation, cases of absenteeism and desertion, illnesses and even deaths. These led to numerous complaints that forced the authorities to initiate inspections of involved executives and certain subdivisions (workshops). The paper shows the inspections did have certain positive effects, which included not only some formal safety-related sessions but also industrial training of labor conscripts and even expansionary measures. It is concluded that the conditions of Central Asian labor conscripts did improve by 1944–1945, which enhanced the latter’s efficiencies.

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