gone 78 years since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, and they still talk about "people's commissar's hundred grams". Too deeply remained in the memory of the people the issuance of state-owned vodka to servicemen.
22 August 1941 g. The State Defense Committee of the USSR adopted the famous resolution "On the introduction of vodka for supply in the active Red Army". So the official start was given to the supply of active combat units with vodka at the state expense.. But in fact, the history of the front-line hundred grams is much longer. It is rooted in Russia's imperial past.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the pernicious addiction to alcohol was ignored., but considered "bread wine" necessary for warming up and raising morale. For a century and a half, the lower ranks of the Russian army in wartime received 3 glasses of "bread wine" per week drill and 2 glasses - non-combat. The volume of one glass was 160 grams. In this way, the lower rank of the military service received a week 480 grams of "bread wine". In peacetime,, unlike periods of hostilities, soldiers received vodka on holiday dates, but not less 15 glasses a year.
Besides, regimental officers had the right to reward distinguished soldiers at their own expense, "Affixing" them with vodka. The navy relied 4 glasses of vodka a week, and with 1761 years, the dose to the lower ranks of the fleet was increased to 7 a glass of vodka a week. In this way, the sailors drank even more ground troops. The last vodka was, first of all, to maintain health during parades and drill exercises in the cold season, as well as during hiking.
Only by the end of the 19th century, doctors noticed the unhealthy situation in the army. They established, that the soldiers, returning from service, have a deep addiction to alcoholic beverages and can no longer return to a sober life. Therefore, doctors began to insist on the abolition of the prescribed charms., however, the generals of the Russian army did not immediately succumb to their persuasion. It was believed, that vodka helps soldiers to relax, it was also a cheap and popular way to reward soldiers for good behavior.
only in 1908 year, after the Russo-Japanese War, in which the Russian Empire was defeated, it was decided to cancel the issue of vodka in the army. This decision was due to the fact, that the command came to the conclusion about the influence of drunkenness of soldiers and officers on the decrease in the combat effectiveness of the army. It was forbidden not only to give out vodka to soldiers, but also sell it in regimental shops. In this way, in the Russian army was first introduced "dry law", which the, of course, not respected, but, at least, the state itself has ceased to be involved in issuing vodka to soldiers.
The situation changed later 32 of the year, at 1940 year. The then People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov "took care" of the Red Army men. Comrade Voroshilov himself knew a lot about alcohol and considered it useful for raising the health and morale of the personnel of the units of the active army. The Soviet-Finnish war was just going on, when the People's Commissar Voroshilov turned personally to Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin with a request to issue the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army combat units on 100 grams of vodka and 50 grams of lard per day. This request was motivated by severe weather conditions on the Karelian Isthmus, where the Red Army units had to fight. Frosts reached -40 ° C and Voroshilov considered, that vodka with bacon will at least slightly alleviate the situation of the military.
Stalin went to meet Voroshilov and supported his request. The troops immediately began to receive vodka, and the tankers received a double portion of vodka, and the pilots were supposed to issue 100 grams of cognac daily. As a result, only with 10 January 10 Martha 1940 years in the active units of the Red Army, more than 10 tons of vodka and 8,8 tons of cognac. The Red Army men began to call the alcoholic "bonus" "Voroshilov ration" and "People's Commissars 100 grams ".
As soon as the Great Patriotic War began, the leadership of the USSR and the command of the Red Army decided to return to the practice of issuing "Voroshilov rations". In July 1941 years, the troops began to receive vodka, although the decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR itself, signed by Joseph Stalin, appeared only in August 1941 of the year. The ruling emphasized:
Install, beginning with 1 September 1941 of the year, dispensing 40 ° vodka in quantity 100 grams per day per person to the Red Army and the commanding staff of the first line of the active army.
These words were signed by Comrade Stalin himself..
Three days after the adoption of the decree, 25 August 1941 of the year, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense for Logistics, Lieutenant General of the Quartermaster Service Andrei Vasilievich Khrulev signed order No. 0320, clarifying Stalin's resolution. In the order "On the issuance of vodka to the front line of the active army for 100 grams per day ”it was said, that in addition to the actual Red Army men and commanders, fighting on the front lines, pilots are entitled to receive vodka, performing combat missions, aerodrome engineers and technicians. The delivery of vodka to the troops was organized and put on stream. She was transported in railway tank cars. In total, every month the troops received at least 43-46 tanks of strong alcohol. Barrels and cans were filled from cisterns and vodka was delivered to units and subdivisions of the Red Army.
but, the massive distribution of vodka did not contribute to the combat successes of the Red Army. spring 1942 of the year, the command decided to slightly change the plan for issuing vodka to the personnel of the active army. It was decided to leave the issuance of vodka only for military units, operating on the front line and having success in battles. At the same time, the amount of vodka dispensed was increased to 200 grams per day.
But Stalin intervened, who personally amended the new document. He left the "Voroshilov ration" only for the Red Army men of those units and subunits, that they conducted offensive operations against enemy troops. As for the rest of the Red Army, then im vodka in size 100 grams per person relied only on revolutionary and public holidays as an incentive. 6 June 1942 year, a new GKO Resolution No. 1889s "On the procedure for issuing vodka to the troops of the active army", with the amendments made by Comrade Stalin.
Most of the Red Army soldiers could now see vodka only on the days of the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution (7 and 8 November), days of the International Workers Day (1 and 2 May), Red Army day (23 February), Constitution day (5 December), New Year (1 January), All-Union Day of the Athlete (19 July), All-Union Aviation Day (16 August), and also in the days of the formation of their parts. Interesting, that Stalin crossed out from the list of "vodka" days International Youth Day 6 September. Apparently Joseph Vissarionovich still believed, that a youth holiday and vodka are a little incompatible concepts.
Several months passed and 12 November 1942 year issue 100 grams of vodka was restored again for all Red Army units, operating on the front lines. Servicemen of reserve units, construction battalions, as well as wounded Red Army men received rations for 50 grams of vodka per day. Interesting, that in units and divisions, stationed in Transcaucasia, instead of vodka, it was supposed to give out 200 grams of port or 300 grams of dry wine. apparently, it was easier from an organizational point of view.
Nevertheless, after a few months, a reform of vodka dispensing followed again, associated with critical events at the front. So, 30 April 1943 year, the State Defense Committee of the USSR issued a new Resolution No. 3272 "On the procedure for issuing vodka to the troops of the army in the field". It stressed, that 1 May 1943 the delivery of vodka to the personnel of the RKKA and RKKF stops, excluding military personnel, participating in offensive operations. All other servicemen again received the opportunity to drink at public expense only on the days of revolutionary and public holidays.
In May 1945 of the year, after the victory over Nazi Germany, the dispensing of vodka in units and divisions was completely stopped. The only exception was the submariners, who received 100 grams of dry wine per day while submarines are on alert. But this measure was dictated, Firstly, health considerations.
It should be noted, that the Red Army men themselves were very ambiguous about the "Voroshilov ration". Of course, at first glance one would expect, that almost any Soviet soldier was insanely happy about the "People's Commissar's hundred grams". Actually, if you read the memories of people who really fought, it was not entirely true. Young and untrained soldiers drank, they were the first to die.
The older men understood perfectly well, that vodka only temporarily removes fear, does not warm at all, and its use before the fight can rather harm, How can I help you. Therefore, many experienced Red Army men refrained from drinking alcohol before the battle.. Some exchanged alcohol from especially drinking co-workers for some more needed food or things.
Director Petr Efimovich Todorovsky fought with 1942 of the year, hitting the front as a seventeen-year-old boy. AT 1944 year he graduated from the Saratov Military Infantry School and was assigned as a mortar platoon commander to the 2nd Battalion of the 93rd Infantry Regiment of the 76th Infantry Division. Participated in the liberation of Warsaw, Szczecin, the capture of Berlin. He ended the war with the rank of lieutenant, was injured, contoured, but before 1949 years continued to serve in the Red Army near Kostroma. I.e, he was quite an experienced officer, whose memories of the war can be trusted. Peter Todorovsky emphasized:
I remember, vodka was dispensed only before the attack. The foreman walked along the trench with a mug, and who wanted, poured himself. Drank primarily young. And then they climbed right under the bullets and died. they, who survived after several fights, treated vodka with great care.
Another famous director, Grigory Naumovich Chukhrai, was drafted into the Red Army before the start of the war, at 1939 year. He first served as a cadet in the 229th Separate Signal Battalion of the 134th Infantry Division, then was sent to the airborne units. He went through the entire war as part of the airborne units in the South, Stalingrad, Donskoy, 1-m and 2-m Ukrainian fronts. Served as commander of a communications company of the 3rd Guards Airborne Brigade, chief of communications of the guards regiment. Was wounded three times, received the Order of the Red Star. Chukhrai recalled about the "Voroshilov ration", that at the very beginning of the war, the soldiers of his unit drank hard and this ended in a deplorable way for the unit, there were big losses. After that, Grigory Naumovich refused to drink, lasted until the very end of the war. Chukhrai did not drink his "Voroshilov ration", but gave it to friends.
Philosopher and writer Alexander Alexandrovich Zinoviev during the Great Patriotic War in the spring 1941 g. was enrolled in a tank regiment, then sent to study at the Ulyanovsk military aviation school, I graduated in 1944 year in the rank of junior lieutenant and was assigned to the 2nd Guards Assault Aviation Corps. Zinoviev took part in battles in Poland and Germany, received the Order of the Red Star. The writer confessed, that it was after graduating from aviation school that he began to regularly "lay on the collar". Him, as a combat pilot, was supposed to 100 grams for sorties, and he, like the other officers of the squadron, used this opportunity:
Well, gradually I got involved. I drank a lot afterwards, but was not a physiological alcoholic. If there was no drink, I didn't want to.
However, many front-line soldiers treated vodka much more warmly. It is no coincidence that folk songs were composed about the People's Commissar's hundred grams, they were remembered in proverbs and sayings decades after the war. Some front-line soldiers, Unfortunately, the habit of drinking remained for the rest of my life, lay down on the experienced impressions, which often only exacerbated the situation.
Ilya Polonsky
