18 Section History and archaeology Секция История и археология

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Section 3. History and archaeology
18
Section 3. History and archaeology
Секция 3. История и археология
Babadjanov Khasan Baxtiyorovich,
The Tashkent University of Information Technology,
assistant of Humanity Department, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
E‑mail: [e-mail]
Some notes about the trade and supply system of 
Uzbekistan during the Second World War
Abstract: In this article on base of the available literature, the archive document describe general picture and 
problems to trade, providing the population goods and factors influenced upon this system in Uzbekistan during 
the Second World War.
Key words: the translation of the economy on military rails, production balance, rationing, inflation.
The economic factors play an important role in mod-
ern warfare. The war is not only a military confrontation 
of states and it includes also an economic fights. Any army 
cannot conduct operations without the economic sup-
port such as providing ammunitions, fuels, equipments, 
clothes and foods. Also the Second World War showed 
that economic factors define the success of the warfare. 
Precisely, it were appeared difficulties in the food supply 
and trade system of Uzbekistan in the Second World War 
period. Below should be considered the major causes of 
these difficulties.
In the 22
th
June of 1943 the German fascistic army 
started an annexation into the territory of the former 
Soviet Union. The military and economic crisis due 
to the war demanded the restructuring of the national 
economy for the miitary needs. States engaged in war, 
mobilize own economic structures and industry for mili-
tary needs. As a result of the war general resources of 
the state and its industry direct for the development of 
destructive weapons.
The restructuring of the economy on the base of re-
quirements of military economy specialized the most in-
dustrial enterprises in the production of military prod-
ucts. Therefore, despite the decrease of the production 
of consumer goods was not a drastic drop in the pro-
duction of military products. Production of raw materi-
als and resources were reallocated to the benefit of the 
military industry.
The major economic factor that has led to difficul-
ties in the trade-economic sphere was the mobilization 
of non-military enterprises for the production of military 
weapons. For example, 63 enterprises in Tashkent and 
230 enterprises in the country began to produce military 
products in december of 1941 [1, 440]. As a result, there 
was a strong disproportion in the production of military 
and non-military products.
The production of consumer goods decreased or the 
production of their some kinds was stopped. An imbal-
ance in production led to the shortage of industrial and 
consumer goods. Existing industrial forces were not able 
to meet demands of the population for industrial goods. 
An introduction of the card system on certain types of 
goods during the war became a reason of the deteriora-
tion in the quality of goods and rising prices for them.
The fall in production of consumer goods was not 
the only factor affected the trade and economic system. 
Also a part of the production which was scheduled for 
trade with the population was directed for needs of the 
driving army. This process was clearly visible in first years 
of the war. In particular, in 1940–1942 the proportion of 
flour and cereal products intended for the needs of the 
population has fallen from 86 % to 73 %, and meat prod-
ucts from 43 % to 23 % and leather products from 79 % to 
27 % [2, 126]. The decline of commodity fund of some 
products has contributed to the deficit in their providing.
The abovementioned economic factors directly af-
fect dynamics of the trade and supply system. The war 
began in June 22, 1941 contributed to a state of emer-
gency in the supply and distribution system of the for-
mer Soviet Union. Soap, matches, salt, sugar and other 

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Секция 3. История и археология
19
consumer goods available in stores were purchased in 
large quantities by the population above their needs to 
create stocks of these products at home.
In early years of the war there have been accepted 
several papers on the implementation of the rationing 
system. According to the decree of the Council of Peo-
ple’s Commissars of the USSR initially in Moscow and 
Leningrad, as well as some of their suburbs was intro-
duced food (bread, pastry products, meat, fish, oil) and 
consumer goods (cotton and silk fabrics, shoes, clothes, 
laundry soap) rationing [3, 705]. From July to November 
of 1941 also in other cities of the Soviet Union was intro-
duced rationing system. Prior to September 1, 1941 in 
197 settlements, and until November of this year in 
38 cities began distributing foods on the card [4, 192].
The card system was introduced mainly in the cit-
ies and the daily bread ration for each person was set 
based on professions, ages and social status of people. 
During the Second World War, the definition of norms 
of goods and foods distributed by cards became a social 
phenomenon
The definition of norms to certain groups on cards 
also influenced the socio-political situation in the Soviet 
state. The determination of norms by the card system 
shows a stratification of the Soviet society wartime. “The 
proximity to the state” of certain social strata and the 
owners of some professions to the totalitarian economic 
system of the former Soviet Union affected the establish-
ment of norms by cards to the population.
Population of cities where the card system was imple-
mented in terms of providing bread were allocated into 
four groups:
Group 1 — workers, engineers and technicians and 
equivalent to them (workers of transport and commu-
nications, medicine, art sphere and science, education 
system, as well as donors);
Group 2 — employees and their equivalents;
Group 3 — people, who lost their main breadwinner;
Group 4 — children under 12 years.
It is also important to emphasize that during the war 
the rural population was not included in the public provi-
sion. Only representatives of rural intellectuals (nurses, 
teachers, agronomists, zootechnicians and others) and 
disabled veterans in rural areas could enjoy the privileges 
of the card system. This provision was clearly defined in 
the Resolution 24307-p of the Council of People’s Com-
missars of the USSR from December 19, 1942, and in the 
Resolution 1614 of the Council of People’s Commissars 
of UzSSR from December 26, 1942. Resolutions indi-
cated that only the workers and employees of rural areas, 
which were not involved in agricultural work as well as 
representatives of the evacuated population, had the 
right to use cards for bread and foods [5].
The main positive aspect of the card system was 
that people had the right to buy the necessary products 
such as bread, food and industrial goods in the standard 
norms and prices set by the state.
But it is wrong to see only the positive aspects of 
the introduction of the card system, as can be observed 
many shortcomings and offenses in the implementation 
of the rationing system. Also, it is impossible to forget 
that the introduction of cards to some extent negatively 
affected to the socio-economic life. Below we consider 
these issues in summarized form:
• In firstly, introduction of the card system has led 
to the drop of the role of cash in the sale and decline of 
feelings of the material interests of workers from their 
labors. Regardless of the amount of work and the quality 
of production workers received products strictly accord-
ing to the norm.
• In secondly, the distribution of products by the card 
system had a negative impact on the qualities and types 
of manufactured goods. Regardless of product quality it 
distributed centrally and buyers had no opportunities 
to choose.
• In thirdly, the formed administrative and bureau-
cratic procedure involved the realization of the card sys-
tem. During the war the personnel of the state structure 
which was engaged in the implementation of the ration-
ing system consisted of 25 thousand people [4, 398]. 
Certainly, this bureaucracy was not formed immediately. 
People’s Trade Commissariat of the USSR and its field 
offices engaged in the distribution of cards. Also, formed 
special offices which distributed cards to companies, or-
ganizations and population and controlled rationing. In 
some cases were offense in activities of administrative 
system in rationing products.
During the war years in the provision of clothes and 
other light industrial products also emerged a number of 
problems. In particular, the generating force of light in-
dustry were aimed at fulfilling the military needs. Enter-
prises, which produced leather products began to pre-
pare products for aviation, automotive and tractor sector, 
tanks and other military areas. For example, in 1941 the 
saddlebag factory in Tashkent produced products for 
the front in the amount of 504 thousand rubles, and in 
1942 the volume was increased with 9 times and factory 
produced products at 4885 thousand rubles [6, 9].
To increase military production enterprises had 
almost stopped the production of goods which they 

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Section 3. History and archaeology
20
produced in peacetime. Freed in this way producing 
power were directed to the production of military prod-
ucts. As a result, in 1940–1942, the production of knit-
wear for public sale was reduced in 16 %, and shoes in 
8 % [7, 75–76].
During the war clothes and shoes can be had only 
found in the bazaars in very expensive prices. Consumer 
goods mainly prepared in craft shops and factories from 
waste materials. For example, for the upper parts of the 
flip-flops used remnants of tunics, and their prices in 
1943 was 85–100 rubles [8]. As for children’s clothies 
required little material and they sold more expensive. In 
1943, retail padded jacket sold for 62 rubles and the baby 
coat for 88 rubles [9].
Despite the fact that the products manufactured with 
waste were poor quality and expensive, it was problemat-
ic to get them during the war. Clothes and light industry 
products were stored in damp and dirty warehouses. The 
audits have found that women’s belt sold for 43 rubles in 
Tashkent. It was also found children’s substandard soft 
toys in urban warehouses that were harmful to the health 
of children [10]. Such irresponsibility was commonplace 
during the war. Any organization did not controll range 
and quality of products during the war.
During the difficult war years, people primarily tried 
to stock foods rather than industrial goods or clothing. 
Since clothes and industrial products (such as a refrigera-
tor or radio) industries are human’s secondary need. And 
foods are a basic human need, and the demands for them 
have everyday character. And due to incomplete cover of 
basic needs fell demands for secondary needs.
One of objective reasons for the fall of the trade during 
the war was monetary inflation. The decline of the produc-
tion of consumer goods during the war intensified infla-
tion. In the trade and supply system number of consumer 
goods decreased and increased the share of cash. The in-
crease in non-commodity moneys led to big indicators 
of inflation, an increase in demand compare with the sup-
ply, costliness and fallings of living standards.
As a result of the unlimited production of soft mon-
eys increased prices and decreased their purchasing val-
ues. Also decreased real salaries of workers and employ-
ees, peasants accumulated a lot of devalued cash moneys. 
The issue of cash is a secret way to pay for the war. Since it 
does not cause a rapid response as the introduction of 
emergency taxes for the population.
Money issue affects negatively in one hand on the fi-
nancial position of people, in the other hand on the trade 
and economic sphere. As a result, people’s confidence 
has fallen to money and it reduced the volume of retail 
trade. Depreciation of the money led to a shortage of 
products in markets and even it furthered the develop-
ment of barter trade.
There is a difference between inflations of war and 
peace periods. The fixed capital of the state during the 
war goes on the production of military goods, as well as 
preparation raw materials and personnel to needs of the 
military sector. As usual, weapons do not create the pro-
duction of assets and commodities. Speaking on another, 
no matter how much increased military production in 
the state, since this increase does not cover needs of the 
population for industrial products and also dost not cre-
ate producing forces in the future.
The wartime economy created a kind of paradox. De-
cline in living standards of the population contributed to 
the accumulation of large amounts of cash in population. 
Besides the public distribution system cash moneys in 
other places have lost their importance.
Unlimited issue of paper moneys has contributed to 
higher prices and lower purchasing power of the popu-
lation. Financial status of workers, employees and oth-
ers worsened. If we look at this fine example, in January 
1942 in the People’s Commissariat of meat and milk 
products of UzSSR leading economist who was appoint-
ed head of two departments received a salary of 1,250 ru-
bles per month [11]. In January 1942, if we should go 
with these moneys to the Farmers’ market in the city 
then we could buy 1.25 liter of milk or 1.2 kg of potatoes 
to them [12, 197]. And prices of card products (except 
alcohol) were not changed, therefore the significance of 
the cards for the population was higher than cash.
In these difficult socio-economic conditions the 
majority of people did not have the ability to buy some-
thing from the free trade. And some part of the popula-
tion were unable even to buy products at fixed prices on 
the card. Salaries of young workers and employees were 
enough only for the purchase of the card products only 
for 2–3 weeks.
According to materials of archival documents food-
stuffs illegally redistributed in many enterprises. Also 
formed a closed system to provide bread and other food 
products of the certain stratum of the population.
Since 1944, in order to combat illegal trade was 
formed “commercial trading system” (unofficial name 
was “commercial”) which sold goods without cards 
severally overpriced. Implementation of commercial 
trading system has contributed to attract a part of cash 
moneys in the society to the state military system. Com-
mercial shops gave a small part of the population, par-
ticularly the workers and employees who received large 

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Секция 3. История и археология
21
salary, to buy bread or other foods additionally to card 
products. Differences between prices of the card and the 
commercial trade system were great. For example, at the 
end of 1945 bread made from second grade flour ration-
ing price sold at 1.7 rubles, and in commercial shops sold 
for 30 rubles. (differences between prices differed by al-
most in 27 times) [12, 194]. Therefore, in the retail trade 
turnover the share of commercial trade system was only 
9.6 % in 1945 [4, 399].
The difficult situation in the trade and supply system 
had negative impact on the organization of the trade and 
qualities of goods. Also, the decline in the purchasing 
power of the population, the cessation of the produc-
tion of certain goods or their deficit contributed to a 
drop in the volume of trade in cash equivalents. Even if 
we consider monetary inflation the retail trade turn-
over of the state and cooperatives included 528 million 
rubles, in 1942 this indicator was 374 million rubles, 
and in 1945 was 393 million rubles [4, 410]. As a result, 
during the war in the retail trade sector and public ca-
tering sphere occurred decline of the system. Even in 
the postwar years, the system could not recover. In par-
ticular, if in 1941 in Tashkent in the retail trade sector 
were involved in 1939 subjects (shops), by 1947 their 
number was 565 [13, 43].
Analysis of the volume and the quality of the trade 
system of Uzbekistan in World War II indicates a pres-
ence of many problems in the country in the first years of 
the war. With the change in the balance of supply forces 
of the production, the population and the army there 
was a shortage of food and non-food items. In order to 
prevent the negative consequences of this deficiency and 
provide the population with essential goods was intro-
duced rationing system. Despite the shortcomings in 
the implementation of the rationing system during the 
war, in generally this centralized trade supply system can 
evaluate a positive process of the war period.