Chernysheva N.V., Svintsova M.N. Fertility of the population of the Volga-Vyatka region during the Great Patriotic War. Bulletin of the Tomsk State University. Story. 2021. No. 73. P. 48-55.

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Abstract

The article is devoted to the birth rate of the population, one of the most important demographic processes. The purpose of the research is to analyze the main characteristics of the birth rate of the population of the Volga-Vyatka region during the Great Patriotic War and determine its trends. The base of the research is a wide range of published and unpublished works. The authors use works of leading specialists in the history of the population of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War and historical demography in general (V.V. Alekseev, B. Ts. Urlanis, Yu. A. Polyakov, V.A. Isupov, G.E. Kornilov, V. B. Zhiromskaya and others). Statistical collections, results of the All-Union Census of the USSR in 1939, unpublished reports, summaries and other forms of statistical reports of the central (Russian State Archive of Economics, State Archive of the Russian Federation) and regional archives (Central State Archive of the Kirov Region, State Archive of the Republic of Mari Al, State Historical Archive of the Republic of Chuvashia) allowed to analyze the main characteristics of the birth rate and present demographic indicators. According to the concept of fertility and the selected criteria for assessing its level, researchers calculated demographic coefficients and analyzed the current demographic situation. Chernysheva N.V., Svintsova M.N. point out that structural (purely demographic) and non-structural factors influenced fertility rate. A sharp drop in the birth rate in the Volga-Vyatka region had been taking place since April 1942. The lowest point was in 1943 (9.8 ‰ in the Kirov region). The amount of multiple births did not significantly decrease. The gender ratio of born children remained (more boys were born than girls), but infant mortality among boys was higher. The war influenced the seasonality of births, leveling this indicator in all autonomous republics and regions of the Volga-Vyatka region since 1943. Changes in the birth rate were also observed according to the type of settlement: a sharp decline in urban areas along with rapid recovery processes in 1944–1945. The demographic situation was aggravated by a high level of infant mortality (in 1942 every third to fourth infant died). In such conditions, it was important to prevent a further drop in the birth rate and to help pregnant women, mothers and children. Analyzing measures of demographic and social policy, researchers state their unsystematic nature. Only since 1944 we can talk about a set of long time measures (rights of women and mothers in a situation of social risk (pregnant women, single mothers, mothers with many children), pay and benefits). Using the calculation method of B. Ts. Urlanis, the authors determined that the birth deficit was 7019000 people in the republics and regions of the Volga-Vyatka region during the World War II.