Material and domestic supply for demobilized soviet servicemen in the Chelyabinsk region in 1945-1948

Relevance. This study analyzes the material and domestic support for demobilized Soviet soldiers in the Chelyabinsk Region from 1945 to 1948. Its relevance lies in examining the understudied mechanisms of veteran adaptation and the distribution of supplies across demobilization waves, rural/urban areas, and different veteran groups. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive study of the process of material and domestic support for veterans in the Chelyabinsk Region between 1945 and 1948. Objectives. To achieve the research purpose, the following objectives were set: to examine the dynamics of supply for returning servicemen across individual districts of the region and to identify differences in provision between rural areas and cities. The research methodology is based on the principles of social history, focusing on the interaction between a specific social group and local authorities. To address the stated objectives, statistical, historical-genetic, and historical-comparative methods were employed. Results. The findings reveal critically low provision of repaired housing throughout the period. Analysis of fuel supply shows significant regional disparity, with major industrial centers receiving systematic coal deliveries while rural areas faced severe shortages. Financial aid was largely symbolic. The study identifies two distinct support models: an agrarian model focused on restoring personal household plots and an industrial model prioritizing fuel and manufactured goods. The conclusion indicates that the reintegration management by various government levels was ineffective. The measures were fragmented, lacked a comprehensive approach, and were inadequate to the scale of post-war socio-economic problems, further constrained by a limited resource base.