Semenov Mikhail A.,
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Battle for Cleanliness: the Activities of Sanitary Authorities in Western Siberia During the Great Patriotic War
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2020-3-8
The article describes the struggle to maintain sanitary conditions in Western Siberia. Compliance with sanitary requirements was the most important factor preventing the spread of epidemic diseases, increasing injuries in industry and agriculture, etc. Compliance with sanitary standards often made it difficult for enterprises and institutions to carry out their main activities. In order to avoid solving such conflicts at the expense of compliance with sanitary standards, the country had sanitary supervision bodies that were part of the system of the people’s Commissariat of health. The composition of health authorities also included health education bodies distributing sanitary knowledge, disinfection services. They were directly involved in elimination of violations of sanitary norms, cleaning of epidemic foci. The analysis of the personnel status of these bodies is carried out, and the main methods used in their work are indicated. The main objects of sanitary control are briefly described. The conclusion is made that the results of the work of the sanitary authorities of Western Siberia were twofold. On the one hand, under the emergency conditions of wartime, the health Inspectorate was forced to put up with numerous violations over and over again. The catastrophic lack of resources did not allow to solve the problems in full. On the other hand, the persistence of sanitary doctors, their ability to find non-standard ways to solve problems, the constant pressure they exerted on party and Soviet bodies, enterprises and institutions undoubtedly had a positive impact on the epidemic situation in the region, the living and working conditions of citizens.
Publishing: 29/06/2020
How to cite: Semenov M.A. The Battle for Cleanliness: the Activities of Sanitary Authorities in Western Siberia During the Great Patriotic War // Historical Courier, 2020, No. 3 (11), pp. 84–95. [Available online:] http://istkurier.ru/data/2020/ISTKURIER-2020-3-08.pdf
Links: Issue 3 2020
Keywords: sanitation; health care; medicine; Western Siberia; Great Patriotic War