Wartime Childhood in Memories of Residents of Urals about 1941-1945

Abstract

The article presents written and oral memories of residents of the Urals about their childhood during the Great Patriotic war. The sources are documents from regional archives, publications in periodicals, memoirs, written by “children of war,” expedition materials. Special attention is given to the realities of everyday parenting that is associated with the life of Ural families. Recollection of the beginning of the war, survival strategies in a difficult time, caring for loved ones are presented. Forms of labor participation of children in the life of the Ural collective farms and logging enterprises in which young people replaced adults are covered. Stories about assistance to the front, hospitals and evacuees are presented. Some activities and games of children during the war are described. Analysis of memories of certain period of history and difficult circumstances of growing up of children allows to highlight some peculiarities of childhood in the rear. Published material is part of the interdisciplinary, integrated study of history of wartime childhood in the Urals, one of the tasks of which is the study of childhood based on personal perception of events.