Rationing system and normed supply of civil population of Leningrad city and Leningrad region in the Great Patriotic War

The most important event in the years of the Great Patriotic War was transition to the normed supply of civil population with essential food. It was especially important for civil population of blockade Leningrad and occupied territory of Leningrad region. The rationing system has been introduced in Leningrad since 18 July 1941 and in Leningrad region - since 19 July. It was important to minimize draw backs of normed supply, to build it so that to combine properly the interests of consumers in nutrition and military economy of the country in total -it was necessary to avoid gray-out. Different standards of food supply in groups and categories had been determining not only in accordance to the character of works on hand, age and other factors influencing on physiological need of body but also taking into account the significance of this work for national economy, for defense and for a victory over enemies. There were 4 groups of population: workers and equated to them, office workers and equated to them, dependents and equated to them and children (to 12 years). Such products as bread, bake goods and flour, cereals and pasta, sugar and confectionery, animal and vegetable oils, meat and meat products, fish and fish products were being given by food cards. Amendments in these standards were being moved in the years of war. In practice of cards issue in 1941-1942 there were some violations of rules (in some districts of Leningrad region - more than 70%): registration and standard lists of excessive numbers of dependents, evacuated and died persons. In the years of war material and technical base of trade significantly changed. In the first years of war the number of different trade enterprises reduced 2,5 times and the number of public catering establishments reduced more than 40%. In the war most of all reduced the trade in the country. Enormous damage was done to storage net. The share of food goods was cashed through canteens. Besides trade trading organizations had their household plots, e.g. to produce own goods. Compulsive joint of population to the shops ands canteens for goods was a forced action on the certain stage as a whole rationing system. Restructuring of all system of the state supply under the strict centralization of planning, distribution of marketable resources and introducing of rationing system allowed to use resources more effectively and to provide supply of civil population by the certain standards. At the moment historical experience of functioning of this mechanism is of great practical and political importance. The military experience in extreme and unexpected circumstances is also useful.

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