ORGANIZATION OF UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING IN BURYATIA IN 1941–1945

The article is devoted to one of the most important tasks of the state in war conditions – preparing the population for homeland defense. The study of this problem on regional materials seems to be an urgent task for historical science, since each region is unique due to its historical, socio-economic, socio-cultural, natural-climatic and other features. Such studies expand the geographical scope and make it possible to identify similarities and differences characteristic of individual regions and the country as a whole. Therefore, on the basis of previously unpublished archival sources (which reflects the novelty of the study), the author examines the organization and progress of universal military training in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia in 1941–1945. The article analyzes the regulatory and legal foundations of the formation of universal military training, its chronology is studied in detail, seven stages (successions) of military training are characterized, the number of conscripted population by years is determined, the specifics of training programs are considered, organizational difficulties are studied, as well as the ways to solve them, the role and importance of universal military training in preparing the reserve for the front are revealed. 
 
The fundamental principles and methods of scientific research were used in the work: historicism, comprehensiveness, objectivity. This made it possible to study the problem taking into account the specific historical situation in development, interrelation and inconsistency. 
 
As a brief conclusion, it should be noted that the main tasks set at the state level by universal military training to create a reserve for staffing the Red Army were fulfilled, despite a sufficient number of shortcomings in the organization (weak material and technical base, low level of instructors’ training, low literacy of most potential cadets, short training period). 
 
The results of the study gave the opportunity to rethink the process of attracting Buryatia’s human potential to meet the needs of the front, as well as to clarify the contribution of the region to achieving the victory. 
 
The materials of the article can be used in preparing generalizing works and summaries on the history of the Great Patriotic War, for a separate study of military history, in the educational process with military personnel, as well as in developing seminars and special courses in the field of national history.