Open AccessPower supply of urban residents in nazi occupied Ukraine (between 1941 – 1944)
Author(s) -
А Н Фомин
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
vìsnik shìdnoukraïnsʹkogo nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu ìmenì volodimira dalâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2664-6498
pISSN - 1998-7927
DOI - 10.33216/1998-7927-2020-259-3-99-107
Subject(s) - electricity , population , mains electricity , sanitation , energy supply , nazism , business , economy , power (physics) , german , economics , engineering , geography , energy (signal processing) , environmental engineering , sociology , statistics , physics , demography , mathematics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , electrical engineering
In this article, from the standpoint of anthropocentrism, social history, the history of everyday life, the problem of energy supply to residents of Ukrainian cities during the years of Nazi occupation is analyzed. Energy in an industrial society is one of the most important sectors of the economy, ensuring the functioning of industry, transport, water supply and sanitation, lighting and heating of homes. It plays a particularly important role in the life of cities, because the city’s infrastructure is the center of population, industry and transport, high-rise buildings, and its normal operation without electricity is impossible. The study reveals the features of the restoration and operation of power plants, street lighting in cities, the cost of electricity, its availability for different groups of the urban population. Aspects of the functioning of urban electric vehicles are also discussed in the article. It is proven that the lack of electricity was felt throughout the entire period of occupation. Its absence restrained the restoration of communal services. Electricity was used primarily by German military units, Volksdeutsche, enterprises and official institutions. The methods of lighting and heating homes that were used by citizens during the years of occupation are considered. In the most difficult period in the winter of 1942, the local population was completely deprived of the right to use electricity at home. Violent measures (up to the execution) were threatened for violation of the order. The reverse situation was observed among the Wehrmacht soldiers who did not save electricity. In general, energy supply could not meet the needs of either the civilian population or industry, especially in the cold periods of the year. The reasons for this situation were the Soviet scorched earth tactics, the evacuation of all resources to the east of the USSR, the Reich’s policy of looting and removal of electrical equipment, the lack of fuel and the general energy crisis in Germany as a result of the failure of the blitzkrieg. In their turn, the Nazis themselves, when retreating, also resorted to scorched earth tactics, which, along with heavy fighting and moving of the front line, completely deprived the population of electricity at the final stage of occupation and the Soviet-German war.