State Farms of the Arkhangelsk Region During the Great Patriotic War (According to Consolidated Annual Reports)

Abstract

On the basis of consolidated annual reports, this paper studies the condition of the material and technical resource base and the development of agricultural production on the state farms (sovkhozes) of the Arkhangelsk Region in 1941–1945. The composition and structure of the machine and tractor fleet   is analysed, showing that the deficit of fuel and lubricants in combination with worn-out equipment, lack of spare parts and underqualified machinery operators resulted in a deterioration of the use of machines. In wartime conditions, the material and technical resources of Soviet farms in the Arkhangelsk Region shrank dramatically. As a result, the volume of tractor work per farm decreased by the factor of 7.6 during the war. Unlike other regions of the country, the European North of the RSFSR saw no improvements in the material and technical resource base on its state farms at the war’s final stage. Further, the paper
describes the dynamics of acreage, yield and gross harvest of agricultural crops. It was established that with the onset of war, the state farms scaled down their cropping, which was manifested in the reduction of sown areas. At the same time, the share of grain in the structure of sown areas remained unchanged, while the role of fodder crops decreased significantly and that of potatoes and vegetables increased. As a result of reduced sown areas and lower yields, the gross harvest of agricultural crops decreased. State farm animal husbandry found itself in a difficult situation as well, with reduced feed supply, deteriorated veterinary services, and widespread epizootics. The animal yield dropped markedly while the loss increased. By the end of the war, animal husbandry on the state farms of the Arkhangelsk Region was reduced to a minimum level. Simultaneously with livestock reduction, its productivity fell, which seriously
affected the gross and marketable outputs of the state farms. In conclusion, the paper demonstrates the role of Soviet farms in the region’s agricultural production and determines their contribution to the victory in the war.