The work of educational establishments organized be the fascist occupation authorities upon the occupied territory of Smolenskregion in 1941-1943

According to the report of the occupation department, by the end of1942 in Smolensk region occupied by the Nazis, 248 primary schools and 82 peoples schools worked. Besides, three teacherseminaries (Sobolevo, Smolensk, Krasny), four agricultural schools (Voznovka and Soge in Smolensk region, Kardimovo,Monastirshina) and three craftsmans schools (two schools in Smolensk and one school in Monastirshina) were opened in the area.The education was free of charge. The occupation authorities created a group of lecturers who went around the region and madeseminars for teachers. The task of lecturers was to bring teachers up-to-date with the new political and pedagogical problems and toorientate them from Bolshevism and Soviet power to the Nazi ideology. The themes of seminars varied: A new Europe under theleadership of Germany, The essence of National Socialism, The denial of Marxism, Problems of the race, Jewish question,A new Europe and the way of Russia's integration. But for the seminars, in July 15-23,1942 courses for teachers from Smolenskand Smolensk region were organized. 232 teachers were present. They studied the following subjects: questions of pedagogy and thetasks of a modern school; task of physical and artistic education in schools; general questions of school; organization of schoolworkin modern conditions. In addition, the course outline included two political issues crucial for the invaders: A new Europe under theleadership of Germany and A new order of land tenure in the liberated regions. There were special subjects, such as TeachingMethodology and A Critical Analysis of Soviet Textbooks. These textbooks were used in schools until the German authoritiescreated and published new ones. Since May 1943 the occupation authorities were publishing a teaching journal School andEducation. Its task was to increase the educational level of teachers, to bring them up-to-date with events, to acquaint readers withinnovations in education of the growing generation. There were some pages for readers that discussed such questions as 1) scienceculture-education; 2) problems of teaching and education; 3) school life; 4) letters of readers; 5) information. The occupationauthorities created a specialized childrens journal Pupil; its task was to educate children within the framework of the Nazi ideologyand to foster new life stereotypes. This journal published articles about the life story of Hitler, German holiday traditions, bad Soviettime and Nazi aggressors as benefactors. During the occupation several issues of this journal were published.

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