The Society of the Soviet Hinterland in the Optics of Government at the Beginning of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1942)

This research paper is devoted to images of Soviet hinterland society in the optics of local government - in the optics of the regional Committee, the district Committee and the city Committee of the AUCP(b). Social reality of Soviet hinterland drastically changed with the beginning of the Second World War. Soviet society was challenged: the transition to the wartime was necessary for survival and victory in armed conflict. The agenda of party plenums has changed: discussions of wartime changes, problems of evacuees and local dwellers became constant topics of meetings. Despite the ideological discourse, speakers also expressed their personal views on the society of Soviet hinterland. The approach of phenomenological sociology of Alfred Schutz will be used for a detailed study of the images of the Soviet hinterland society. This approach allows to understand personal opinions of government officials, expressed during the plenums of party committees. Personal opinions of party members can provide information about stereotypes and views of laborers, peasants, evacuees and other social groups within Soviet hinterland.