The Tuvan People's Republic on the eve and during World War II

At the beginning of Great Patriotic war the Tuvan People's Republic (TPR) has been an independent state, in the international relations the Republic was under the protection of the Soviet Russia. In the middle of XVIII century, Uryankhai territory (the name of Tuva till the early XX century) was conquered by the Manchu Qing Empire, to the early XX century was its colonial province. Russian government policy in relation to Tuva was not focused; however, at this time Russian-Tuva border trade relations have developed. In the late XIX - early XX centuries, spontaneous resettlement of landless peasants began. Tuva was fragmented, its economy, the international situation at that time did not allow establishing an independent state. During the period of 1912-1914 in order to find its place Tuva was balancing between Russia and Mongolia. Tuvan noyons (rulers) (Kombu- Dorzhu, Buyan-Badyrgy, Chamzy Hambo Lama) appealed to the royal government to accept their khoshuns (districts of Tuva) to Russia. On the 4 (17) of April 1914 Uryankhai territory was accepted under Russian protection. Thus Tuva was able to maintain the identity of the country and prevent the threat of Mongol-Chinese assimilation. On the territory of Uryankhai colonial administration acted. However, Tuva, as before, was divided into khoshuns ( dis-rticts), sumons and arbans (settlements), where the power of noyons and bais (rulers) was functioning. The Buddhist religion, the integrity of Tuvan nation, its language, traditions and customs were preserved and remained in previous status. In 1914 the first city - Be-lotsarsk (now Kyzyl) was founded by Russians. Other Russian villages were built where schools and medical centers were opened, the construction of Usinsk road linked Tuva with the "great world". All this allows suggesting that the policy of Nicholas II in relation to Uryankhai territory had really protective character. In 1921 the Tuvan People's Republic as a result of the people's revolution was founded. The formation of the young state and its political system took place with the Soviet experience. By 1930 Tuvan people, with the help of the Soviet state, gained their writing, and after 10 years literacy of population increased from one and a half to 65%, the number of schools increased from 7 to 70. Educational institutions of the Soviet Union prepared up to 826 experts for various branches of economy. Comprehensive assistance of the Soviet Union allowed the Tuvan people in a short time to move forward to the foundation of an independent state. During the Great Patriotic War, Tuvan People's Republic became the first foreign country to declare war on Nazi Germany. Across the Tuva arats (peasants) worked under the slogan "All for the front." Among the donations was the country's gold reserve. Over a dozen of aircrafts were acquired at the expense of the Tuvan workers. Tuva sent to the front five trains with presents, delivered to the army more than 50 thousand horses, more than 700 thousand of cattle. Tuvan volunteers joined the Red Army and participated in battles in the Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. In the name of victory gave their lives 69 out of 221 volunteers from Tuva. All this allows suggesting that Victory of Soviet people over Nazi Germany - is the Victory of the Tuvan people. The Great Patriotic War promoted bilateral rapprochement, which culminated in the voluntary joining of the Tuvan Peoples Republic to the Soviet Union in October 1944.

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