Involvement of The Population of Khorezm Region in Military Training

Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, large-scale military mobilization and compulsory military training were introduced throughout the USSR. In the Uzbek SSR, including Khorezm Region, the population that remained in the rear was actively involved in military training through organizations and programs such as Osoaviakhim, GTO, BGTO, GSO, and PVHO. The implementation of these programs faced a number of organizational and material difficulties, including the formation of training units, provision of training facilities and equipment, and preparation of instructional programs. Nevertheless, military training was gradually expanded with the assistance of party and Komsomol organizations. The article examines the organization and development of military training among the population of Khorezm Region during 1941–1945 on the basis of archival documents and contemporary newspapers. Particular attention is paid to the participation of women, young people, workers, collective farmers, and students in military and civil-defence training. In Khorezm, 251 women voluntarily participated in military training, and a special sniper unit was subsequently formed from among them. Training programs covered infantry skills, marksmanship, machine-gun operation, communications, cavalry, medical assistance, anti-aircraft and chemical defence, and physical training. By 1942, 4,498 specialists had been trained in various military fields in the region, while archival records indicate that the number of persons registered for military training continued to increase in subsequent years. The study demonstrates that military training became an important component of the mobilization of the rear population and contributed to the preparation of a substantial reserve for the Red Army.