PANEM ET CIRCENSES: REGIMUL SOVIETIC ŞI STUDENŢII ŞCOLILOR SUPERIOARE DIN RSS MOLDOVENEASCĂ ÎN ANII FOAMETEI (1946-1947)

Abstract

The problem of overcoming the famine phenomenon (1946-1947) by the urban population of the Moldovan SSR remained less studied compared to the famine of the rural population, where the phenomenon was carried out with an ostentatious drama. The present study reveals the policy of the Soviet authorities towards one of the least representative demographic categories of the Moldovan cities – the students of the higher education institutions and the reasons why the Soviet authorities had a special attitude towards them in the years of famine, a study which, along with further research, completes the information about organized famine in Soviet Moldova. Based on the information from the archive files and memories of former students in the years of famine, we find that the Soviet regime was deeply concerned about the material and living conditions of students, regulating their food in the years of fa mine through several decisions of the state and party authorities. At the same time, the regime ordered the total involvement of students in political and ideological education activities, including their free time. The Soviet State had the intention to create social and national loyalties, and thus created for students, in 1946-1947, concerted conditions in order to not distract them from the process of educating the Soviet man, who later built the communist society in Moldovan SSR.