THE MILITARISATION OF UZBEKISTAN'S INDUSTRY DURING THE ANTI-FASCIST WAR

During the years of the war against fascism, that is, throughout the Second World War, the militarization of industry in Uzbekistan became one of the significant historical processes of the period. With the outbreak of the war, the Soviet Union was compelled to reorganize its industrial system to supply the front with essential weapons, equipment, and materials. Uzbekistan played an important role in this nationwide mobilization. After the war began in June 1941, numerous industrial enterprises, including factories, plants, and heavy industry facilities connected to armaments, were evacuated from the frontline and vulnerable regions to the interior territories of the Soviet Union. A considerable number of these enterprises, including weapons-manufacturing plants and other strategic facilities, were relocated to the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, and others. These regions were considered safe zones and strategically important for sustaining wartime production. Significant changes also occurred in Uzbekistan’s light industry. The production of fabrics, footwear, clothing, and other goods was redirected to meet military needs. Key local industries, particularly the cotton and chemical industries, were reorganized to provide raw materials for military purposes. Cotton-based materials and chemical components derived from local resources were used in the production of weapons and military equipment. Foreign economic relations also shifted during the war, leading to the establishment of new enterprises responsible for manufacturing weapons, aircraft engines, tank components, and artillery parts. One of the major developments was the establishment of an aircraft engine plant in Tashkent, which specialized in producing technical equipment required at the front. Several light industry factories were also converted for military production, supplying uniforms, food products, and other essentials for frontline soldiers. Cotton, one of Uzbekistan’s most valuable resources, played a crucial role in both production and processing, contributing significantly to the wartime supply chain. Throughout the war, Uzbekistan supplied the front not only with militia and special military units but also with essential materials, weapons, and equipment necessary for military operations. Local and light industries were actively engaged in numerous production and processing activities that supported the Soviet war effort. Thus, during the Second World War, Uzbekistan demonstrated substantial support through both human resources and industrial capacity. The militarized sectors of industry, including light and local industries, played an essential role in meeting the wartime military demands.