Daily life of Tomsk scholars uring the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945)

In this article, the daily life of Tomsk scholars during the Great Patriotic War is studied on the materials of archival documents, personal sources, periodicals, scientific literature. The authors describe the dynamic changes in the city image with the outbreak of the war, in connection with the relocation of industrial enterprises and universities and research institutes to Tomsk from the European part of the USSR. It is noted that the communal economy and transport communications of Tomsk in the period under review were underdeveloped. Only at the end of the war the foundations of communal economy were laid. Representatives of the academic community of the city, united around the wartime public coordinating body - the Tomsk Committee of Scholars, played a major role in this process. A conclusion is made that the beginning of the war, especially the winter of 1941-1942, was the most difficult period in terms of money and daily life organization for scholars evacuated to Tomsk. It is shown that the lack of public transport, loss of buildings by Tomsk universities and research institutes, lack of fuel and electricity significantly influenced the living and working conditions of the city's intellectuals. The conditions of the housing of evacuated scholars in Tomsk are considered. Based on the analysis of government and local regulations and orders, a conclusion is made about the status differentiation of scholars in income and distribution categories. It is stated that throughout the war years there repeatedly were problems with the supply of scholars with food and industrial goods. A conclusion is that the Tomsk Committee of Scholars was very active in improving the food supply, housing, etc. The academic community in the war period acted as a corporate counterpart of the city and regional party structures, which indicated the formation of the city scholars' social identity. The authors identify three main clusters of everyday life of Tomsk scholars in wartime: research and pedagogical, social and recreational. It is specified that research activities occupied most part of scholars' time. The authors study the basic forms of public activity of academic intelligentsia that were specific in wartime: collecting warm clothing, money and valuables for the defense fund, assistance to families of soldiers, etc. It is stressed that the intense and effective research work of scholars was based on the fundamentally patriotic sense of duty to the country, which found itself in mortal danger. However, there were specific interactions and features of everyday practices of scholars, and indifference, the narrow-minded position, the primacy of personal enrichment, unwillingness to participate actively in academic research designed to help the front were condemned. It is concluded that during the Great Patriotic War Tomsk developed the necessary material and moral conditions for the dynamic development of science and technology.

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