ISSN 2078-9823 (Print), ISSN 2587-7879 (Online)

DOI: 10.24412/2078-9823.071.025.202503.209-223

Aleksey I. Belkin1, Zhanna V. Chashina2

1 National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University (Saransk, Russia),

e-mail: alex.i.bel@mail.ru

2 Balakhna Branch of the Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky (Balakhna, Russia),

e-mail: chashina.j@yandex.ru

 

Deployment of Universal Military Training in Mordovia at the Initial Stage of the Civil War (April 1918 – January 1919): Experiencein Comparative Analysis of Training in Pensa, Tambov and Simbirsk provinces

 

Abstract

Introduction. The Bolsheviks who came to power in Russia in October 1917 needed to organize the defense of the country from internal and external aggression. In order to prepare a combat-ready reserve of the armed forces in April 1918, it was decided to organize universal military training for the population of military age (16–40 years old). The purpose of the article is to study the history of universal military training (vsevobuch) in Mordovia in 1918–1919 by comparative analysis of the activities of four district military commissariats – Saransk and Krasnoslobodsk of the Penza province, Temnikov of the Tambov province and Ardatov of the Simbirsk province.

Materials and Methods. The research materials are archival documents from the funds of the Central State Archive of the Republic of Mordovia (CSA RM). The main methods used to study the documents are information analysis, a systematic approach and source analysis.

Results. The regulatory framework for the deployment of universal military training in the field is considered. The preparatory measures carried out by provincial recruitment offices before the start of training of the first group of the population of pre-induction and call-up age (16–20 years) were studied. Archival data on the work of provincial congresses of instructors of universal military training and standard documents adopted by these congresses are given. Materials reflecting the level of training of students of the first age group were analyzed. The difficulties in implementing universal military training programs and the measures taken by instructors to overcome these difficulties are shown.

Discussion and Conclusion. As part of a comparative analysis of the activities of the Saransk and Krasnoslobodsk district military commissariats of the Penza province, Temnikov of the Tambov province and Ardatov of the Simbirsk province, were considered the results of the training of the first age group, which took place in October 1918 – January 1919. It was noted that in a significant part of the territory of Mordovia, the male population, enrolled by age in the first group, underwent universal military training programs by the beginning of 1919, despite the difficulties that arose in this process. The importance of universal military training as an important method of mass training in military affairs in emergency conditions, which allows to prepare a qualified military reserve, is emphasized.

Keywords: universal military training, construction of armed forces, army, revolution, Civil War, military training, comparative analysis.

For citation: Deployment of Universal Military Training in Mordovia at the Initial Stage of the Civil War (April 1918 – January 1919): Experience in Comparative Analysis of Training in Pensa, Tambov and Simbirsk provinces. Gumanitarian: aktual’nye problemy gumanitarnoi nauki i obrazovaniia = Russian Journal of the Humanities. 2025; 25(3): 209–223. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24412/2078-9823.071.025.202503.209-223.

 

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