75 years ago - August 22, 1941 - the State Defense Committee of the USSR adopted a resolution "On the introduction of vodka for supply in the active Red Army." This is how the famous "People's Commissar's hundred grams" went down in history, about which both rank-and-file front-line soldiers and generals left fond memories.
"Vodka is not a luxury, but hygiene!"
There are no absolute teetotalers in war. “I didn’t try this potion until the winter of 1942,” writes N. Nikulin, who served in the Red Army since November 1941, “until the need forced me. The foreman saved me. He gave me dry linen (my tunic, greatcoat and quilted jacket somehow dried by the fire), rubbed me with vodka and gave me a glass of vodka inside, saying: "Vodka is not a luxury, but hygiene! "". In the abundance of such stories, alcohol appears precisely as "salvation", because the storytellers know that not for every freezing soldier there was at a critical moment "a fire, dry linen, or a foreman with vodka" 1.
The front-line soldiers agree that "vodka in battle, with physical and emotional stress, is like a cure for severe stress." A.V. Pyltsyn, who went through the war as the commander of a rifle platoon and a company as part of the officer's penal battalion of the 1st Belorussian Front, noted that when dispensing alcohol, the combat situation and the physical condition of servicemen were taken into account. Recalling the participation of his battalion in Operation Bagration, he wrote that due to severe fatigue and three sleepless nights that had passed since the beginning of the offensive, the commander was given an order from the battalion commander to explain to the fighters why the People's Commissar's "weaving" of vodka was not issued before dinner. “The fact is that even these 100 grams of alcohol could aggravate the physical condition if they were taken on a completely empty stomach and with such a degree of fatigue. Therefore, we were given vodka to all of us only before the command“ forward ”came again.” They drank from mugs, which were filled from standard half-liters, issued at the rate of one for 5 people 2.
To whom and how much - the order decided
The introduction of alcohol into the daily supply of personnel on the front line occurred shortly after the outbreak of the war. Decree of the State Defense Committee (GKO) of the USSR N 562 "On the introduction of vodka for supply in the active Red Army" of August 22, 1941 established, starting from September 1, 1941, the issuance of 40-degree vodka in an amount of 100 grams per day per person to the Red Army men and the commanding staff of the first line of the active army (Order of the People's Commissariat of Defense (NKO) of the USSR N 0320 of August 25, 1941). The criteria for dispensing vodka changed throughout the war. In 1942-1943. Several resolutions of the State Defense Committee of the USSR and orders of the NKO of the USSR were adopted, regulating a stricter procedure for issuing vodka in the army and aimed against abuse in its distribution.
So, on May 11, 1942, the State Defense Committee ordered to suspend the daily mass dispensing of vodka from May 15 (order of the NKO USSR N 0373 of May 12, 1942). The daily issue was retained only for the military personnel of the front line units who were successful in the hostilities, moreover, their rate increased to 200 grams of vodka per person per day. All other front line soldiers were entitled to 100 grams on revolutionary and national holidays. On November 12, 1942, by GKO decree N 2507, 100 grams of vodka per person per day were supposed to be given to units conducting direct hostilities (order of the NKO USSR N 0883 of November 13, 1942). 50 grams each was supposed to be assigned to parts of the reserve, support, performing important tasks, to the wounded (as directed by doctors). The distribution of 100 grams of vodka to all servicemen on holidays was continued. On the Transcaucasian front, instead of vodka, it was ordered to issue 200 grams of fortified wine or 300 grams of table wine. Order of the NKO of the USSR N 0323 of May 2, 1943 determined a vodka ration of 100 grams per day per person for servicemen only in those parts of the front line that conduct offensive operations. All other servicemen of the active army were given vodka in the amount of 100 grams only on the days of revolutionary and public holidays 3.
"There are no non-drinkers here, but there are no drinkers either ..."
In their correspondence with domestic soldiers, they quite often spoke out on the topic of alcohol consumption, usually reporting that they were not abusing. Senior Lieutenant A.V. Pershtein, born in 1923, specially emphasized in a letter to his parents that on the 7 November holiday "I drank no more than 50 grams for appetite (in general, I don’t think to get used to drinking vodka)" 4. Private V.N. Tsoglin, born in 1925, wrote to his mother that he did not smoke, "but 200 grams is another matter." "Although I often give the guys, but sometimes you need a drink to raise your spirits. After that, something hot runs through your veins. After that, you do more and think less. This is necessary here."
And yet, wives and mothers were seriously afraid that, due to the regular use of alcohol, an addiction would develop. The soldiers tried to dissuade them. Political instructor D.A. Abaev reprimanded his wife: "With regard to drunkenness, your reminders turn into something bad and offensive ... If you repeat yourself in future letters, I will not write a word. , then they will be demoted, imprisoned, tried and shot mercilessly "6.
They wrote home quite freely about "Voroshilov's 100 grams" for the New Year, February 23, May 1 and November 7. In addition, they singled out those special holidays that came with the war. Participant of the Battle of Stalingrad, guard petty officer V.V. Syrtsylin wrote to his wife in 1945: "Dear Zinok! Today is the second of February - the day of the defeat of the Germans in Stalingrad - this is our holiday - therefore today I am a little drunk and in this you will forgive me."
"I don't like drunks even from afar"
Not all servicemen were drinkers and not all were loyal to the drinking of alcohol by their colleagues. The junior lieutenant, political instructor of the company M. Lvovich, born in 1917, who adhered to pre-war habits, explained in a letter to a friend: "Maybe I am so inclined that the army has not taught me how to smoke, drink, or go on an unauthorized absence in search of" friends of the heart. "But if I have some kind of immanent aversion to this, then I will die with such views, but I will not give up." From the context of Lvovich's letter, it is clear that categoricalness was born from rejection of certain situations with the participation of colleagues, who "give them 50 grams of alcohol to drink, they, as a rule, will make a brawl" 9. Probably based on a similar experience, military translator V. Raskin, born in 1920, complained in a letter to a friend: “There are troubles. For example, the prospect of meeting May 1 with vodka. a tent with some full livestock (or several) is just painful for me "10.
Especially many claims about drunkenness and the accompanying licentiousness are addressed to the rear services. Major General P.L. Pecheritsa, who in November 1942 was appointed a member of the Military Council of the 44th Army, emphasized in his memoirs that drunkenness was eating away at the rear service apparatus, making it unfit for work. He confirms this with a specific example: “On my way to the army headquarters, I had to personally face major disturbances. indifference of workers to their duties. In the village of Kalinovka, in the hospital for the lightly wounded, there was one nurse on duty, and the rest of the staff drank on the birthday of the head of the hospital "11.
Alcohol in the army environment was bought or "extracted". You could buy it, for example, in the Voentorg stores. A.Z. Lebedintsev reported that the next birthday of the Red Army (February 23, 1943) was remembered by the arrival of champagne from the former warehouses of Abrau-Dyurso to the Voentorg dining room, and at pre-war prices. The officers seized the opportunity to "get out", as they were selling two bottles for each. Many drank this "noble drink" for the first time in their lives 12. As for the extraction of alcohol, then remarkable ingenuity could be manifested here. According to N. Nikulin, during his stay in the Estonian city of Tartu, when the stocks of alcohol dried up, "craftsmen began to extract alcohol from university preparations, alcohol-treated rats, reptiles, tapeworms" 13.
"For good and responsible work"
Alcohol was often featured as a reward or gift that the military received. The commander of the fire platoon V.G. Kulnev recalled how one day in the middle of the night he was summoned to the dugout of the regiment's headquarters, where he received his first order - "Red Star". "Screwing" the order, regiment commander, Hero of the Soviet Union, guard Colonel I.M. Bogushevich brought each recipient a glass of vodka. Kulnev, who had not tasted alcohol until that time and divided his 100-gram allowance between distinguished soldiers and sergeants "as a reward", was at first confused, but then drank vodka "out of the blue."
DI. Malyshev, who went through the whole war as a driver, reported in his diary that he was once awarded in a similar way for the disassembly and evacuation of the Pe-2 aircraft, which was carried out under enemy fire in the Grodno region. “This was a big job, for which we all received gratitude from the company commander. In the evening, the captain called me and the leader of the group and brought us a glass of vodka, saying:“ For a good and responsible job ”15.
Military personnel could be presented with alcohol by acquaintances of women from the civilian population, with whom a close relationship arose. Malyshev's diary mentions "a friend of Marusya, a moonshiner," for a month of communication with whom he "drank moonshine, probably a whole sea." “When Klava came,” he writes about “friendship” with another woman, a storekeeper of a medical warehouse, “she always brought me a present: a bottle of wine or a bottle of alcohol, or good cigarettes” 16.
"Cognac three beets"
Most often, alcohol was obtained through exchange transactions with the local population or expropriation. He recalled Lebedintsev as a real "master of expropriation" of an ordinary former prisoner who had taken root in the kitchen and had become especially adept at producing moonshine. "Usually he offered a trophy blanket or uniform in exchange for a" vodka ", chicken or a jug of milk. The old women, as always, denied the presence of moonshine in the house, then he took out a compass from his pocket and stood in such a position so that the arrow pointed to a bag of grain or under the bed, or in the attic, and showed the arrow, saying that “the device will show the truth.” The hostess usually pulled out the hidden “potion” and made an exchange, since the inhabitants really needed any clothes so much that they even took soldiers' footcloths. ” In the front-line environment, moonshine appeared under the name "cognac three beers" 17.
"Guys, here's a fortress!"
At the final stage of the war, the use of alcohol in the army increased, which is confirmed by both official documents 18 and personal testimonies of the participants in the events.
The centuries-old history of military battles testifies to the fact that the cities taken by "big blood" on the territory of the enemy were often surrendered by the commanders to "the mercy of the victors", served as a kind of compensation for the human casualties suffered. This kind of reward included permission to drink alcohol to relieve stress and relieve anxiety. The fact that the soldiers of the Red Army in a particularly difficult combat situation expected similar compensation from their commanders is evidenced by a fragment of N. Nikulin's memoirs, where he appropriately interprets the text of the leaflets "from Rokossovsky" distributed in early spring 1945 near the walls of Danzig: " And yet the resistance of the Germans was strong, our losses, as always, were great and the siege of the city was dragging on. One fine morning leaflets fell from the sky on our heads, as well as on Danzig. They said something like the following: “I, Marshal Rokossovsky, I order the garrison of Danzig to lay down their arms within twenty-four hours. Otherwise, the city will be stormed, and all responsibility for civilian casualties and destruction will fall on the heads of the German command ... "The text of the leaflets was in Russian and German. It was clearly intended for both warring parties. Rokossovsky acted in the best Suvorov traditions. : "Guys, here's a fortress! There is wine and women in it! Take it - walk for three days! And the Turks will answer! "" 19.
"We sang" Katyusha ", in Russian and in Magyar"
The joint use of alcohol facilitated the establishment of mutual understanding with the local population. The famous writer Sergei Baruzdin recalled that there was a wary attitude towards Hungary, "which fought against us," but later it softened. "In the evening we were present in the same house for a drink. We sang 'Katyusha', in Russian and in Magyar, and the owners danced."
The countries were remembered, including by national drinks: Hungary - fruit vodka "palinka", Czech Republic - "wonderful" beer, Poland - "bimber". In the memoirs of A.V. Pyltsyn's "bimber" was described as a Polish moonshine infused with calcium carbide with its scalding effect ("first-class trash"). Pyltsyn also told how in one Polish city at a dinner at a "living priest" he and his comrades had the opportunity to learn the taste of real branded Polish vodka "Vyborova" (selected). In the memories of the "officers' banquets" at the end of the war, champagne often appeared. Describing the banquet at the army headquarters, A.Z. Lebedintsev emphasized that "only French champagne was poured."
Alcohol helped to "survive" and the joy of the long-awaited Victory Day. "There was not a single sober soldier," reads an entry from the front diary of Captain E.I. Genkin, made on May 9, 1945 in the city of Lobau 22. Remembering the afternoon of this festive day, when a gala dinner began for the entire battalion at a local stadium in the suburbs of Berlin, A.V. Pyltsyn especially noted that the table was "not glasses and mugs, but peacefully - glasses (and where did they just get them?)". "And each speech ended with a toast, and it was considered a good sign to accompany each toast with a full glass" 23.
The war ended, people began to return to a peaceful life with its daily problems, worries and little joys. And miraculously obtained pre-war glasses have forever remained a symbol of the long-awaited Victory.
Notes (edit)
1. Nikulin N.N. Memories of the war. SPb., 2008.S. 177.
2. Pyltsyn A.V. Penalty Kick, or How the Officer Penalty Battalion Reached Berlin. SPb., 2003.S. 94, 88, 129.
3. Russian archive. The Great Patriotic War. Orders of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR on June 22, 1941-1942. T. 13 (2-2). C 73, 228, 252-253, 365-366; Orders of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR 1943-1945. T. 13 (2-3). P. 145.
4. Save my letters ...: Collection of letters and diaries of Jews during the Great Patriotic War. Issue 2.Moscow, 2010.S. 251.
5. Archives of the Scientific and Educational Center "Holocaust". F. 9. Op. 2.D. 160.L. 10.
6. RGASPI. F. M-33. Op. 1.D. 1454.L. 28-28ob.
7. Heroes of patience. The Great Patriotic War in sources of personal origin. Sat. doc. Krasnodar, 2010.S. 117.
8. Archive of the SPC "Holocaust". F. 9. Op. 2.D. 118.L. 7.
9. Ibid.
10. RGASPI. F. M-33. Op. 1.D. 1400.L. 102.
11. Heroes of patience. P. 228.
12. Lebedintsev A.Z., Mukhin Yu.I. Fathers-commanders. M., 2006.S. 142.
13. Nikulin N.N. Decree. op. P. 143.
14. From soldier to general. Memories of the war. T. 9.M., 2008.S. 207.
15. Memory of the Great Patriotic War in the socio-cultural space of modern Russia: materials and research. SPb., 2008.S. 206-207.
16. Ibid. S. 195, 198, 200.
17. Lebedintsev A.Z. Mukhin Yu.I. Decree. op. S. 162, 180.
18. Senyavskaya E.S. 1941-1945: Frontline generation. Historical and psychological research. M., 1995.S. 199-201, 210-211.
19. Nikulin N.N. Decree. op. P. 176.
20. RGALI. F. 2855. Op. 1.D. 38.L. 37ob.
21. Lebedintsev A.Z., Mukhin Yu.I. Decree. op. P. 242.
22. Save my letters ... Vol. 1.M., 2007.S. 283.
23. Pyltsyn A.V. Decree. op. P. 243.
This day in history:
ATTENTION! TODAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT DATE! DO NOT MISS!
On August 22, 1941, the USSR State Defense Committee adopted a resolution "On the introduction of vodka for supply in the active Red Army"
August 22, 1941 went down in history as the "birthday" of the famous "People's Commissar's hundred grams." On this day, the Chairman of the State Defense Committee (GKO) of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, signed Decree No. 562 on the daily issuance of half a glass of "fuel" to soldiers.
The text of the document read: "Starting from September 1, 1941, those who are on the front line of the active army will be given 100 grams of vodka (with a strength of 40 degrees) per day."
The supply of the army with vodka was personally supervised by Anastas Mikoyan, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, People's Commissar of the Food Industry of the USSR, who did a lot to ensure that the Soviet soldier did not feel the need for the essentials at the front. The distribution of the drink had to be monitored personally by the front commanders.
Subsequently (from May 1942 to November 1943) the order of supplying the Red Army soldiers with "fuel" changed several times. The circle of fighters who have the right to vodka allowance, who served in various branches of the armed forces and in various combat positions: either narrowed or expanded; and the rates of delivery of the coveted "drink": sometimes increased, then decreased.
From November 25 to December 31, 1942, with the beginning of a radical change during the Great Patriotic War, at the time of our first victories at Stalingrad, the Transcaucasian Front drank 1.2 million liters of vodka, the Western Front - about 1 million, the Karelian Front 364 thousand , and the Stalingrad front - 407 thousand liters.
On November 23, 1943, 3 months after the Battle of Kursk and the crossing of the Dnieper, which marked the end of the turning point, Stalin finally approved the "People's Commissars" norms: 100 g for soldiers on the front line and 50 g for the rest. And it was so until the very Victory.
Comrades! Note! From the People's Commissar of STO grams. Everything else is from the evil one.
"Narkomovskie hundred grams" is a well-known expression from the description of the life of the wartime. It is present in today's memories of veterans of the Great Patriotic War (especially fake veterans). Writers working in the field of the military theme relishly write about front-line vodka; commanders like to treat distinguished soldiers with it in feature films. For pseudo-historians, blackening both our army and our war, vodka is an excellent occasion to colorfully paint stories about drunken Red Army soldiers going on the attack, mocking cute German women.
Some people blame vodka, and at the same time Stalin, that, accustomed to daily drunkenness at the front, the soldiers, having returned home, got drunk, became alcoholics, lost their human appearance.
Yes, and true front-line soldiers about the People's Commissar's hundred grams tell a lot of different things. There is no unity in their memories. Some of them prove that they did not even smell of vodka at the front, others boast about the liters they drink.
And how was it really? In order not to argue and not to prove that it was all so, or quite the opposite, I will cite several documents from the period of the war. Basically, these are original documents from 1941-42. For 43-45 years, there are few documents on this matter, mainly minor clarifications of the type of vodka issuance to scouts.
It is possible that the GKO decree of November 42. operated without significant changes until the end of the war. Maybe there were subsequent decisions. But be that as it may, but read what is and draw your own conclusions.
I just want to draw the reader's attention to the fact that the People's Commissar of Defense has nothing to do with it, this is the decision of the State Defense Committee that vodka was issued only in the army and only to those who are in the front line. In the rear districts one could only dream of vodka.
And where did the famous expression "People's Commissar's hundred grams" come from? And why exactly the "People's Commissars"?
Perhaps because the army was usually more familiar with the orders of the People's Commissar of Defense than with the decisions of the State Defense Committee. Following the Resolution of the State Defense Committee, an order of the NKO comes out, which was probably brought to the attention of the personnel:
| Secret Ex. No. 1 |
|||||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | |||||
| August 25, 1941 | №0320 | Moscow city | |||
On the issue of 100 grams of vodka a day to servicemen in the front line of the active army.
In pursuance of the resolution of the State Defense Committee of August 22, 1941, No. 562ss, I order:
1.From September 1, 1941, to issue 40 ° vodka in an amount of 100 grams per day per person to the Red Army and the commanding staff of the front line of the active army. The air force of the Red Army Air Force, performing combat missions, and the engineering and technical personnel serving the field airfields of the active army, should be dispensed with vodka on a par with units of the front line.
2. Military councils of fronts and armies:
a) organize the issuance of vodka only for those contingents that are determined by the decree of the State Defense Committee, and strictly monitor its exact implementation:
b) ensure the timely delivery of vodka to the front lines of active troops and organize reliable protection of its reserves in the field;
c) at the expense of the economic apparatus of the units and subdivisions, allocate special persons, who will be responsible for the correct distribution of vodka portions, accounting for vodka consumption and maintaining income and expense reporting;
d) order the front-line quartermasters to submit once every ten days to the Main Quartermaster Directorate information about the remnants and, by the 25th, every month, an application for the required amount of vodka. The application is based on the exact number of active forces in the front line, approved by the military councils of the fronts and armies.
3. The need for vodka for the month of September to determine the Chief Quartermaster of the Red Army without the submission of applications by the fronts. The order is put into effect by telegraph.
signature Khrulev
In the spring of 1942. the order of dispensing vodka is changing. An order of the People's Commissar of Defense is issued, announcing a new resolution of the State Defense Committee:
| Secret Ex. No. 1 |
|||||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | |||||
| May 12, 1942 | №0373 | Moscow city | |||
On the procedure for issuing vodka to the troops of the army in the field.
1. I declare for accurate and unswerving implementation of the Resolution of the State Defense Committee No. GOKO-1727s dated May 11, 1942 “On the procedure for issuing vodka to the troops of the army in the field” (attached).
2. On the military councils of fronts and armies, the commanders of formations and units, I place the responsibility for the correct appointment and delivery of vodka for the ration of servicemen in accordance with the announced Resolution of the State Defense Committee.
3. The order and the Resolution of the GKOK shall be put into effect by telegraph.
4. To cancel the order of NCO No. 0320 of 1941.
Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
Lieutenant General of the Quartermaster Service signature Khrulev
Application:
| Secret |
| Resolution of the State Defense Committee No.GOKO 1727s May 11, 1942 |
1. To cease from May 15, 1942. mass daily delivery of vodka to the personnel of the army in the field. 3. All the rest of the front line servicemen are given 100 g of vodka. per person to produce on the following revolutionary and national holidays: November 7-8, December 5, January 1, February 23, May 1-2, July 19 (National Athletic Day), August 16 (Aviation Day), September 6 (International Youth Day ), as well as on the day of the regimental holiday (formation of the unit). |
Note that now vodka is only on the front line, and only to those who have achieved success that day, i.e. attacked and to no avail. Everyone else is only on holidays. In units outside the rear of the front, there are only gulls.
That's it. 200g each. on the day Stalin found it too much, and vodka is now only in the offensive.
Next comes the order of the People's Commissar of Defense on this matter:
| Secret Ex. No. 1 |
|||||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | |||||
| June 12, 1942 | №0470 | Moscow city | |||
On the procedure for storing and issuing vodka to the troops of the army in the field
Despite repeated instructions and categorical demands on the issuance of vodka in the active army strictly according to the intended purpose and according to the established norms, cases of illegal issuance of vodka still do not stop.
Vodka is issued to headquarters, command personnel and units that do not have the right to receive it. Some commanders of units and formations and command personnel of headquarters and directorates, taking advantage of their official position, take vodka from warehouses, regardless of orders and established order. Control over the consumption of vodka by the military councils of the fronts and armies is poorly established. Accounting for vodka in parts and warehouses is in an unsatisfactory state.
In accordance with the decree of the State Defense Committee of June 6 of this year. No. GOKO-1889s, I order:
1. Issuance of vodka at 100 grams per day per person shall be made to servicemen of only those parts of the front line that conduct offensive operations.
2. All the rest of the front line servicemen should receive vodka in the amount of 100 grams per person on the following revolutionary and public holidays: on the days of the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution - November 7 and 8, on the day of the Constitution - December 5, on New Year's Day - January 1 , on the day of the Red Army - February 23, on the days of the International Workers' Day - on May 1 and 2, on the All-Union Day of the Athlete - on July 19, on the All-Union Day of Aviation - on August 16, as well as on the day of the regimental holiday (formation of the unit).
3. The release of vodka to armies and formations shall be carried out only with the permission of the chief of the rear of the Red Army on the instructions of the General Staff of the Red Army, on the proposals of the military councils of the fronts and armies.
4. To store vodka, organize special storage facilities at the front-line and army food warehouses. Appoint the head of the warehouse and one storekeeper from among the specially selected honest, trusted persons who can ensure the complete safety of vodka. Seal the storehouses after receiving and consumable operations, set up a guard. In the composition of the guard to allocate strictly verified persons.
5. The chiefs of the food supply departments of the fronts and the chiefs of the food supply departments of the armies take all the available availability of vodka in the troops and warehouses as of June 15th on a strict record and immediately transfer them for storage to the appropriate front-line and army warehouses.
6. Registration of vodka dispensing shall be carried out by the head of the Main Directorate of Food Supply of the Red Army through the heads of directorates and departments of food supply of the fronts and armies on the basis of instructions from the chief of the rear of the Red Army on the timing and number of the composition of formations that are allowed to issue vodka.
7. On the military councils of fronts and armies, commanders and military commissars, I assign responsibility for the correct storage, consumption and accounting of vodka, vodka utensils and containers.
8. The order is put into effect by telegraph.
9. NCO order No. 0373 of 1942 to be canceled.
Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
Lieutenant General of the Quartermaster Service signature Khrulev
In November 1942. the order of dispensing vodka changes again. First, the GKO decree comes out, and then the new order of the People's Commissar of Defense
| GKO Resolution No. 2507 November 12, 1942 On the issue of vodka to military units of the active army from November 25, 1942. |
| 1.Start on November 25, 1942. delivery of vodka to the army in the field in the following order: a) 100g each. per person per day: to units conducting direct hostilities and located in trenches at the forefront; intelligence units; artillery and mortar units attached to and supporting the infantry and located in firing positions; to the crews of combat aircraft on the fulfillment of their combat mission; b) 50g each. per person per day: regimental and divisional reserves; subunits and units of combat support, performing work at the forefront; to units performing important tasks in special cases, and to the wounded, who are in the institutions of the field sanitary service, at the direction of doctors. 2. All other servicemen of the active army will receive vodka in the amount of 100 g. per person per day to produce on the days of revolutionary and national holidays, indicated by the decree of the State Defense Committee No. 1889 of June 6, 1942. 3. On the Transcaucasian front instead of 100g. give out vodka 200g. fortified wine or 300g. table wine. 4. Military Councils of fronts and armies to establish monthly limits for the issuance of vodka. |
| Secret Ex. No. 1 |
|||||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | |||||
| November 13, 1942 | №0883 | Moscow city | |||
1. In accordance with the decree of the State Defense Committee of November 12, 1942 No. 2507s from November 25, p. d. start issuing vodka to military units of the active army in the following order:
a) 100 grams per person per day: to subunits of units conducting direct hostilities and located in the trenches at the forefront; intelligence units; artillery and mortar units attached to and supporting the infantry and located in firing positions; to the crews of combat aircraft on the fulfillment of their combat mission;
b) 50 grams per person per day: regimental and divisional reserves; subunits and units of combat support, performing work at the forefront; units performing important tasks in special cases (construction and restoration of bridges, roads, etc. in especially difficult conditions and under enemy fire), and the wounded, who are in the institutions of the field sanitary service, at the direction of doctors.
2. All servicemen of the active army shall issue vodka in the amount of 100 grams per person per day on the days of revolutionary and public holidays specified by the GKOK decree No. 1889 of June 6, 1942.
3. On the Transcaucasian Front, instead of 100 grams of vodka, issue 200 grams of fortified wine or 300 grams of table wine; instead of 50 grams of vodka, 100 grams of fortified wine or 150 grams of table wine.
4. The military councils of the fronts and armies, by orders of the front, the army, establish monthly limits for the issuance of vodka to armies - units and make expenditures within the limits set for each month.
5. In using up the monthly limit of vodka, the fronts should report to the Main Directorate of Food Supply of the Red Army to obtain the limit for the next month. If the fronts fail to submit a report and vodka is used up by the 10th of the past month, the head of the Main Directorate of Food Supply of the Red Army for the next month will not ship vodka to the fronts that did not submit a report.
6. Establish a limit on the consumption of vodka for the fronts from November 25 to December 31, 1942 according to the appendix.
7. To the head of the Main Directorate of Food Supply of the Red Army, brigade engineer comrade Pavlov and the head of the Military Communications of the Red Army, Major General of the Technical Troops, Comrade Kovalev vodka in the quantities provided for by the limit, deliver:
Southwestern, Don and Stalingrad fronts - by November 16,
the rest of the fronts - by November 20 of this year. G.
8. The head of the Main Directorate of Food Supply of the Red Army shall establish constant control over the consumption of vodka in strict accordance with this order.
9. The military councils of the fronts and armies organize the return of empty vodka containers to vodka factories and bottling centers of the People's Commissariat for Food Industry attached to the fronts. The military units that have not returned the container should not be allowed to release vodka.
10. The order is put into effect by telegraph.
Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
Lieutenant General of the Quartermaster Service signature Khrulev
Application.
| LIMIT CONSUMPTION OF VODKA FOR MILITARY UNITS OF THE OPERATING ARMY FROM NOVEMBER 25 TO DECEMBER 31, 1942 |
|
| Names of fronts and individual armies | Vodka consumption limit (in liters) |
| Karelian front | 364000 |
| 7th Army | 99000 |
| Leningrad front | 533000 |
| Volkhov front | 407000 |
| North-Western Front | 394000 |
| Kalinin front | 690000 |
| Western front | 980000 |
| Bryansk front | 414000 |
| Voronezh front | 381000 |
| Bgo-Western Front | 478000 |
| Don front | 544000 |
| Stalingrad front | 407000 |
| Total 5,691,000 | |
| Transcaucasian Front 1200000 (wine) | |
| Secret Ex. No. 1 |
|||||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | |||||
| January 13, 1943 | №031 | Moscow city | |||
With the announcement of the norms and procedure for issuing vodka to the technical personnel of the air force units of the active army
In addition to the order of the NKO of 1942 No. 0883 * with the announcement of the norms and "the procedure for issuing vodka to the personnel of the units of the active army, I order:
1. In the air force units of the active army and in the air force units based on the territory of military districts, but equated by the orders of the NKO to the units of the active army, vodka should be issued at 50 grams per day per person and technical personnel only on the days of flights on combat missions of aircraft directly serviced them at the airfields.
2. The procedure for issuing vodka shall be established according to a personal list drawn up by the command of the air unit, approved by the commander of the air division.
3. The order is announced by telegraph.
Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
signature Khrulev
| Secret Ex. No. 1 |
|||||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | |||||
| May 2, 1943 | №0323 | Moscow city | |||
On the procedure for issuing vodka to the troops of the army in the field
In pursuance of the Resolution of the State Defense Committee No. GOKO-3272s dated 04/30/43 I order:
1. To stop, from May 3, 1943, the mass daily distribution of vodka to the personnel of the army in the field.
2. Issuance of vodka at 100 grams per day per person should be made to servicemen only of those parts of the front line that conduct offensive operations, and it is the responsibility of the military councils of fronts and individual armies to determine which armies and formations to issue vodka to.
3. All other servicemen of the active army shall issue vodka in the amount of 100 grams per person per day on the days of revolutionary and public holidays specified in the GKOK Decree No. 1889, paragraph 3 of June 6, 1942.
Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR
Colonel General of the Quartermaster Service signature Khrulev
| Secret copy # 107 |
||
| Order of the NCO of the USSR | ||
| June 22, 1943 | №0384 | Moscow city |
On the establishment of an additional allowance rate for military intelligence units at the front.
Taking into account a number of motions of the military councils of the fronts and the request of the head of the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Red Army, Lieutenant General F.F. G.
I order:
Troop reconnaissance units at the front should be satisfied not according to the norm No. 9, as indicated in the order, but according to the norm No. 1, with the issuance, in addition to the norm No. 1, of:
Sugar - 15 grams
Sala-shpig - 25 - "-
Bread - 100 - "-
Vodka - 100 - "-
Give out vodka only on the days of combat missions.
People's Commissar for Defense
Marshal of the Soviet Union I. STALIN
That's it. It won't hurt to take a walk. It seems that there is no reason to blame the front-line vodka for the fact that the men got drunk after the war. Under such and such conditions of issue, you will not forget the taste of vodka for the war. And it does not seem that the fighters were drunk before the attack. Where else can you get vodka in the war? There are no shops at the front. The local population has nothing to eat, but will they transfer products to moonshine?
Sources and Literature
1. Russian center for storage and study of documents of recent history (RCKHIDNI). Fund 644, inventory 1, files 7.34, 43, 69, 303.
2. Military history magazine №5-1995.
3.Institute of Military History of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Fund 4, inventory 11, file 65, fol. 413-414.
4. Institute of Military History of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Fund 4, inventory 11, file 71, fol. 191 - 192.
You can find many references to the use of alcoholic beverages by soldiers to achieve one or another effect in battle. But where did this habit come from in the Russian army, who approved it, and how did alcohol affect the fighting efficiency of soldiers? And what is the "People's Commissar's 100 grams"? It is worthwhile to figure it out, because the fact that vodka was in the Red Army from the very beginning is a fact that cannot be doubted.
The history of the emergence of the alcohol norm
It is known that the emperor ordered the first soldiers in Russia to give alcohol to the soldiers. Then it was called. The bottom line was that during the campaign, the soldiers periodically drank wine, while the officers, if desired, could replace it with brandy. Depending on the severity of the campaign, this rate could be increased or decreased. With this, everything was pretty strict. So, the intendant, who did not take care of the supply of alcohol in a timely manner, could even be deprived of his head. This was believed to undermine the morale of the troops.
The tradition was taken up by many Russian tsars and emperors, while it was changed and supplemented many times. For example, wine was given to guard units in fortresses and cities. At the same time, combatant ranks received three portions a week, non-combatant - two. On the hikes, they drank vodka, which was previously diluted with water and seized with breadcrumbs. It was customary for officers to give out tea with rum. In winter, sbiten and wine were more relevant.
It was a little different in the navy - here the sailor was necessarily given a glass, that is, 125 grams of vodka per day, but for misdeeds the sailor was deprived of this opportunity. For merit, on the contrary, they gave out a double or triple dose.
How did the "People's Commissars gram" appear?
The history of the emergence of the alcohol norm in the Soviet Army, which was called "People's Commissar's 100 grams", originates from the People's Commissar (People's Commissar) of military and naval affairs of the USSR - During the Finnish War, he asked Stalin to allow the issuance of alcohol to the troops in order to warm the personnel in severe frosts. Indeed, then temperatures on the Karelian Isthmus reached 40 degrees below zero. The People's Commissar also argued that this could raise the morale of the army. And Stalin agreed. Since 1940, alcohol has been supplied to the troops. Before the battle, the soldier drank 100 grams of vodka and seized it with 50 grams of lard. Then the tankmen were supposed to double the rate, and the pilots were generally given cognac. Since this aroused approval among the soldiers, the norm was called "Voroshilov". From the time of the introduction (January 10) to March 1940, the soldiers drank about 10 tons of vodka and about 8 tons of brandy.
In the great Patriotic war
The official "birthday" of the People's Commissars is June 22, 1941. Then a terrible war of 1941-1945 came to our land - the Great Patriotic War. It was on its first day that Stalin signed order number 562, which authorized the issuance of alcohol to soldiers before the battle - half a glass of vodka per person (fortress - 40 degrees). This concerned those who were directly on the front line. The same was supposed to be true for pilots performing combat missions, as well as for airfield maintenance personnel and engineers with technicians. The People's Commissar of the Food Industry A.I. Mikoyan was responsible for the execution of the order of the Supreme Commander. It was then that the name "People's Commissar's 100 grams" was first heard. Among the prerequisites was the distribution of the drink by the front commanders. The regulation provided for the supply of alcohol in tanks, after which the vodka was poured into cans or barrels and transported to the troops. There was, of course, a limitation: it was allowed to transport no more than 46 tanks per month. Naturally, in the summer such a need disappeared, and in the winter, spring and autumn, the norm was relevant.
It is possible that the idea of giving out vodka to the retreating units was prompted by the psychological attacks of the Germans: drunk soldiers went to machine guns in full growth, not hiding. This had a profound effect on the already disadvantaged Soviet troops.
Further application of the norm in the troops
In connection with the defeat of the Red Army near Kharkov, adjustments were made to the order. Now it was decided to differentiate the issue of vodka. From June 1942, it was planned to issue alcohol only to those units that achieved success in battles with the Nazi invaders. At the same time, the "People's Commissar" norm was to be increased to 200 grams. But Stalin decided that vodka could only be dispensed to offensive units. The rest could only see her on holidays.
In connection with the battles at Stalingrad, the State Defense Committee decided to restore the old norm - from now on, 100 grams were issued to everyone who went into the attack on the front line. But there were also innovations: the dose was also received by the artillerymen with mortarmen, who provided support for the infantry during the offensive. A little less - 50 grams - was poured into the rear services, namely the reservists, construction troops and the wounded. The Transcaucasian Front, for example, used, due to its location, wine or port (200 and 300 grams, respectively). During the last month of fighting in 1942, a lot was drunk. The Western Front, for example, “destroyed” about a million liters of vodka, the Transcaucasian Front 1.2 million liters of wine, and the Stalingrad Front 407,000 liters.
Since 1943
Already in 1943 (April), the norms for dispensing alcohol were changed again. The GKO decree No. 3272 stated that the mass distribution of vodka in units would be stopped, and the norm would be imposed only on those units that conduct offensive operations on the front line. All the rest received "People's Commissar's gram" only on holidays. Dispensing alcohol was now on the conscience of the councils of the fronts or armies. By the way, such troops as the NKVD and the railway were under the limit, since their consumption of alcohol was very high.
Many veterans, indulging in memories, said that this norm did not exist everywhere. In some parts, for example, it was issued only on paper, but in reality there was no distribution of alcohol. Others, on the contrary, testify that this was practiced, and on a massive scale. So the true state of affairs is not known for certain.
Finally, the issuance of the norm was abolished in connection with the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. However, the Soviet troops loved this kind of norms so much that the tradition survived until the collapse of the USSR. In particular, this was done by the military personnel of the Afghan contingent. Of course, such things were done covertly, since the command would not pat the soldiers on the head for drinking alcohol during the fighting.
Referring to a similar alcohol norm in the Red Army, it should also be said that the Wehrmacht, against which she fought, was also not particularly sober. Among the soldiers, schnapps was the most popular alcoholic drink, and the officers drank champagne, which was supplied from France. And, if you do not take into account alcohol, they did not disdain other substances either. So, in order to maintain vigor during the hostilities, the soldiers took medications - "Pervitin", for example, or "Isofan". The first was called "Penzshokolade" - "tank chocolate". It was sold openly, while the soldiers often asked their parents to send them "Pervitin".
Results and consequences of application
Why was alcohol given in the war? On close examination, there are dozens of different answers to this question. Which of them will be the closest to the truth?
As stated in the decree, alcohol was dispensed in winter in order to warm the frozen soldiers. However, any physician will confirm that alcohol only creates the appearance of warming, in fact, the situation does not change in any way.
Also, knowing what effect alcohol has on the human brain, it can be argued that it was taken to raise morale. Indeed, in many situations, when the initiative or recklessness of the soldiers was necessary, they were extinguished by the instinct of self-preservation. People's Commissar's vodka effectively suppressed along with basic fears. But she also dulls reflexes, perception, and being drunk in combat is not a good idea. That is why many experienced fighters deliberately refused to drink before the fight. And, as it turned out later, they did the right thing.
The effect of alcohol on the psyche and physical condition
Among other things, vodka had an effective effect if the human psyche was subjected to severe stress, as is often the case in war. Alcohol saved many fighters from severe nervous shocks or even insanity. However, it is impossible to say with confidence whether alcohol has a positive or negative effect on the army in the war.
Yes, vodka, even though it possesses all the above-described positive qualities, was still harmful. One can only imagine the scale of the losses of the army, because alcoholic intoxication in battle almost always meant certain death. In addition, one must not lose sight of the very fact of constant use of alcohol, which can cause alcoholism, and in some cases, death. also shouldn't be written off. So the "People's Commissar's 100 grams" have both positive and negative sides.
Drunkenness was never supported in the USSR. It is all the more surprising that it, albeit in a limited form, was practiced in the troops. Indeed, since 1938, several times there have been large campaigns against drunkenness in the army. Many of the highest command or party ranks underwent investigative cases precisely on the fact of excessive drinking. Accordingly, both the issue and the consumption of booze were kept under strict control. For drunkenness at the wrong time, they could easily be sent to the penal battalion, or even be shot without trial or investigation, especially at such a time as the war of 1941-1945.
Post-war use in the army
In addition to illegal cases, there was still an official alcohol norm - in the Navy. The combat crews of nuclear submarines were supposed to have a daily norm of dry wine (also 100 grams). But, like under Stalin, they gave him away only during a military campaign.
Reflection of the term in art
For some reason, the "People's Commissar's 100 grams" are very firmly entrenched in art. Already at that time it was possible to hear songs with a mention of the alcohol norm. Yes, and the cinema did not bypass this phenomenon - in many films you can see how soldiers throw over a glass before the battle and shouting "For the Motherland! For Stalin!" go on the offensive.
More than seventy years have passed since the end of the Great Patriotic War, but the "People's Commissar's hundred grams" are still remembered to this day. There are many opinions about how and how much the Red Army men drank on the military fronts, and they are all contradictory.
Some say that vodka almost helped the Russians defeat the Germans, while others are more conservative. So what really happened? 
Drank first in the navy
The fact that "forty-degree" firmly entered Russian culture many years ago, we think, is no secret to anyone. Already at the beginning of the 17th century, the military command began to give out 480 grams of "bread wine" to soldiers every week to cheer up. The Navy relied on four "glasses" (160 grams) of vodka per week, and from 1761 this rate was increased to seven. It is noteworthy that at first alcohol was dispensed to promote health and improve well-being. 
Promoted health and well-being
And only by the end of the 19th century, doctors discovered that vodka has an extremely detrimental effect on soldiers both during the war and after it. In most cases, the soldiers who served had a serious alcohol dependence. And only after the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War in 1908, it was decided to finally stop issuing alcohol to the soldiers. 
And the women drank
Prohibition lasted until January 1940, when the legendary military leader Kliment Voroshilov personally turned to Stalin with a request to give out fifty grams of lard and one hundred grams of vodka to the soldiers of the Red Army every day. For tankers this rate was doubled, and for pilots it was even tripled. This is how the concept of "People's Commissar's hundred grams" appeared in the military ranks, about which they soon began to make up legends.
Stalin personally signed the order, which immediately took effect. During the war, this decree was revised several times. So, on August 25, 1941, adjustments were made, according to which one hundred grams was relied only on soldiers fighting on the front line. This list also includes pilots and flight technical personnel. 
Maybe in a mug and tea
On June 6, 1942, a new order was issued, and the mass distribution of alcohol in the Red Army was stopped to all soldiers, with the exception of those who participated in offensive attacks. The rest were given vodka on official holidays. Stalin himself deleted International Youth Day from this list. On November 12, 1942, the soldiers who fought on the front line began to receive one hundred grams of vodka again. In Transcaucasia, instead of vodka, port or dry wine was poured. In May 1945, the distribution of alcohol to all troops was completely stopped. 
Front one hundred grams
Everything is clear from the documents, but how the situation was in reality. Here, as mentioned earlier, the opinions of the veterans are very different. For example, participants in the Battle of Stalingrad claimed that it was very tight without vodka in the terrible frost. Marine Dmitry Vonlyarsky later recalled that vodka was given out, but not on a regular basis. Usually the "People's Commissars' hundred grams" were drunk before the attack by young soldiers, and in most cases they were the first to die. Experienced Red Army men tried to avoid alcohol during the battle, as it greatly slowed down the reaction and reduced fighting qualities. According to the recollections of the veteran tanker Vladimir Trunin, vodka was given out only in rifle units, and even then not always.
It is stupid to say that the notorious "front-line hundred grams" helped win the Russians a victory. As General of the Army Nikolai Lyashchenko wrote in his memoirs, only poets enthusiastically called these treacherous hundred grams "battle". Vodka objectively reduced the fighting efficiency of the Red Army.
