Contribution of the press and radio of the Tuvan People's Republic to the victory in the Great Patriotic War

On June 22, 1941, the Tuvan People's Republic expressed solidarity with the USSR in struggle of the Soviet people against Germany. Adoption of allied commitments demanded reorganization of work of all social institutes, including the press and radio, for the conditions of war. Following the example of the Soviet Union, the main emphasis was made on the development of oral propaganda and radio. Radio, being more responsive to the challenges of wartime, was available to illiterate people as the most operational mass media. On July 8, 1941, the Radio Committee at the Council of Ministers of TPR was created. Improvement of hardware, development of the radio network in districts, recruiting of correspondents, organization of the Tuvan Telegraph Agency allowed establishing a constant broadcasting network, increasing its volume and diversifying its content. The introduced regime of economy of paper limited the possibilities of periodicals development. On August 25, 1941, the format of newspapers Shyn, Areve Shyny, Hostug Arat was reduced according to the resolution of the Central Committee of the Tuvan People's Revolutionary Party. Magazines Revoly-ustun Khereli, Ertem oruu merged. Release of several periodicals was suspended and then terminated. Despite the difficulties of wartime (interruptions in electricity, lack of finance and necessary materials, including paper, etc.), the development of the periodical press did not stop. During the war, the first regional newspaper in the Tuvan language was issued. This made the press more accessible to villagers. For the rapid development of methods of teaching new writing a journal was issued for Tuvan teachers. The significant financial and moral support by the small people of Tuva to the Soviet people in the years of war were largely the result of agitation and organizing activities of the press and radio. On June 28, 1941, newspapers had a heading "From the Soviet Information Bureau" for covering events from the front. Rulings, resolutions of the party and the Government of TPR, materials about life and work of the people were regularly printed. Letters, songs, slogans, dedications and messages in verse by young Tuvan writers (S. Pyurbyu, S. Saryg-ool, O. Sagan-ool, L. Chadamba, S. Tamba, S. Samba-Lyundup, K. Idam-Syuryun and others) were published. In literary works courage, heroism and valor of the Soviet soldier were praised. In the years of war there was a genre of political satire founded by B.D. Hovenmey. Centralization of management and toughening of control, introduction of plans in the work of editorials created a basis for the strengthening of the ideological orientation of the press and radio. They provided fast reorganization of the national economy in military conditions, the rise of patriotic sentiments among Tuvans, successful conducting of socialist competitions and campaigns for fund raising. It became a factor of further strengthening of the Soviet-Tuvan relations and unification of the two states.

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