Reforming Soviet History Education in 1920s – Early 1940s: Case of Khorezm Region of Uzbek SSR in Context of Rise of Nazism in Germany

This article examines the temporal parallels between Soviet state policy in the field of history education and the rise of Nazism in Germany during the 1920s and early 1940s. It is demonstrated that the intensification of history instruction in Soviet educational institutions correlated with key stages in the consolidation of power by Hitler’s party. The authors argue that the Nazi seizure of power in 1933–1934 marked a turning point, after which the discipline of “History” was introduced as a mandatory subject across all educational establishments in the USSR. The reform was implemented at an accelerated pace and continued throughout the Great Patriotic War, adapting to developments on the Eastern Front. The research draws on normative educational acts from the 1920s–1940s and archival documents from the State Archive of the Khorezm Region. The methodology combines Vilfredo Pareto’s theory of “non-logical action” with scholarly approaches to ideology formation based on the construction of a common external enemy. The authors conclude that the Soviet experience underscores not only the importance of historical knowledge for fostering stable patriotic values, but also the necessity of proactive state policy aimed at promptly identifying and responding to emerging ideological threats in neighboring states, thereby consolidating society to counter potential dangers.

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