Reorganization of the activities of the zemstvos of Perm Province during the First World War

The aim of this article is to examine the activities of the zemstvos (local self-government bodies) in Perm Province during the First World War and their contribution to the reorganization of medical care, agriculture, and the educational process. The study provides a deeper understanding of the context and complexity of the challenges faced by the zemstvos under wartime conditions. The research draws on a wide range of sources, including archival documents, reports, and statistical data collected by the provincial zemstvo and other state institutions. Works on the zemstvo experience during the First World War, the interaction between zemstvos and state authorities, play a significant role. Among the most important are the works of N.D. Sudavtsov and N.V. Gerasimova, which analyze the symbiosis of state and zemstvo institutions, as well as extensive archival materials containing data on the medical and teaching staff of zemstvo employees. In the course of the study, it was established that, despite being in opposition to state authority for virtually the entire period of their existence, it was the zemstvos that assumed the bulk of the burden in organizing mobilization measures during the First World War, all while maintaining constant contact with state authorities. The zemstvos not only carried out organizational work but also bore a major share of the economic costs of mobilization, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining socio-economic stability in the province. Mobilization led to a significant reduction in the number of doctors and paramedics. The loss of doctors in Perm Province amounted to 35%, resulting in a shortage of medical personnel, especially in rural areas. Zemstvos sought to compensate for this shortage by opening training courses for medical personnel. The mobilization of teachers also negatively impacted the educational process. Many educational institutions were closed or temporarily suspended their activities due to staff shortages and premises being requisitioned for hospitals. Facing a labor shortage, zemstvos began recruiting students for fieldwork and raised the issue of utilizing prisoner-of-war labor to address problems with sowing and harvesting crops. In the realm of social support, an important step to aid the families of mobilized men was the creation of volost (district) economic councils. These councils provided oversight and support for peasant households, which helped improve the local situation. The First World War had a significant negative impact on all spheres of life in Perm Province. However, the zemstvos, despite political and economic constraints, managed to achieve certain successes in organizing medical care, sustaining agriculture, and preserving the educational process, becoming a vital link in the region's social welfare system. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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