Forest Settlements During the First Five-Year Plans
https://doi.org/10.69571/SSPU.2025.99.6.005
Abstract
The purpose of the article is to study the plans and practices of the construction of forest settlements during the first Soviet five-year plans. Forest settlements are settlements whose inhabitants are mainly engaged in harvesting and transporting timber. The relevance of the work is due to the formation of a large settlement network due to the employment of a large number of permanent and seasonal workers, prisoners and various categories of special settlers in the field of timber harvesting; the development of wooden housing construction; the disappearance of some forest settlements and the destruction of buildings in recent decades. The research was based on archival documents, materials from industry newspapers, magazines and books. When developing plans for the industrialization of the forest industry, the authorities, focusing on foreign experience, set the task of creating permanent staff of forest workers. Its decision took place in the context of the industrialization of the country, the reform of forestry and the forest industry, the increase in planned tasks, the formation of the People's Commissariat of the Forest Industry of the USSR, collectivization, «dispossession», and repression. Due to the voluntary and compulsory nature of the formation of the personnel potential of the forestry industry, the lack of financial and material resources, the remoteness of forest settlements from cities and transport routes, the construction of barracks has become the main way to solve the housing problem. In the third five-year plan, the housing problem in the field of timber harvesting was largely solved. This allowed business organizations to pay more attention to creating comfortable living conditions. Social transformations have also been reflected in the construction of forest settlements. The relatively high quality of individual settlements, neighborhoods, and buildings served as a tool to encourage leaders and promote the achievements of Soviet power. Most people faced material and household difficulties in their daily lives caused by a lack of resources, unsatisfactory supplies, maintenance, and the stable ideas of business managers about maintaining the seasonal nature of logging.
About the Author
I. V. Zykin
Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Zykin Ivan Valerievich — Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate Professor of the Department of Russian History
References
1. Averkieva K. V. Postsovetskaja transformacija lesnyh poselkov na severe Nechernozem’ja [Post-Soviet transformation of forest settlements in the north of the Non-Chernozem region] // Krest’janovedenie. 2021. Т. 6, № 3. S. 90–110. (In Russian).
2. Avtonomnaja Karel’skaja Socialisticheskaja Sovetskaja Respublika. Ezhegodnik 1932–1933 [Autonomous Karelian Socialist Soviet Republic. The Yearbook 1932–1933]. Petrozavodsk: Sojuzorguchet, 1934. 212 s. (In Russian).
3. Akisheva V. D. Derevjannye sooruzhenija «russkogo avangarda» v arhitekture Arhangel’ska [Wooden structures of the «Russian avant-garde» in the architecture of Arkhangelsk] // Mezhdunarodnyj studencheskij nauchnyj vestnik. 2018. № 5. S. 314. (In Russian).
4. Al’breht K. I. Racionalizacija i mehanizacija lesozagotovok / pod obsch. red. N. G. Smidovicha [Rationalization and mechanization of logging. Smidovich N. G., ed].Moscow; Leningrad: Novaja derevnja, 1929. 326 s. (In Russian).
5. Berdinskikh V. A., Berdinskikh I. V., Verem’ev V. I. Sistema specposeleniy v Sovetskom Sojuze 1930–1950-kh godov / nauch. red. I. L. Zherebcov [The system of special settlements in the Soviet Union of the 1930s and 1950s. Zherebcov I. L., ed.]. Syktyvkar: IJALI Komi NC UrO RAN, 2015. 244 s. (In Russian).
6. Bogoslovskij S. Problema truda v lesnom hozjajstve [The problem of labor in forestry] // Lesnoe hozjajstvo. 1929. № 7. S. 18–32. (In Russian).
7. Bushmanov V. K. Ispytanie vremenem [The test of time]. Perm’: Knizhnoe izd-vo, 1981. 157 s. (In Russian).
8. Buharova E. A., Nendza-Schikoniovska K. Igarka Ivana Leonidova — arhitekturnyj eksperiment 1920-h (gorod-linija) i predoschuschenie planetarnogo mifa 1950-h (gorod Solnca) [Igarka by Ivan Leonidov — an architectural experiment of the 1920s (city-line) and a premonition of the planetary myth of the 1950s (city of the Sun)] // Balandinskie chtenija. 2015. Т. 10, № 2. S. 116–124. (In Russian).
9. Bjulleten’ Narodnogo komissariata lesnoy promyshlennosti SSSR [Bulletin of the People’s Commissariat of Forestry of the USSR]. 1937. № 26. 8 s. (In Russian).
10. Bjulleten’ Narodnogo komissariata lesnoy promyshlennosti SSSR [Bulletin of the People’s Commissariat of Forestry of the USSR]. 1937. № 27. 8 s. (In Russian).
11. Valkin N. K. Kak my stroim doma v lesu [How we build houses in the forest] // Stakhanovec lesnoy promyshlennosti. 1937. № 9. S. 15. (In Russian).
12. Voejkov E. V. Zhilischnaja problema na lesozagotovkah nacional’nyh respublik Povolzh’ja v gody predvoennoj industrializacii [The housing problem in the logging operations of the national republics of the Volga region during the years of pre-war industrialization] // Vestnik NII gumanitarnyh nauk pri Pravitel’stve Respubliki Mordovija. 2024. Т. 16, № 2. S. 69–81. (In Russian).
13. Gerbek G. G. Lesnaja promyshlennost’ S.-A. S. SH [Forestry industry S.-A. S. S.]. Moscow; Leningrad: Gosudarstvennoe nauchno-tehnicheskoe izd-vo, 1931. 151 s. (In Russian).
14. Ginzburg M.JA. Zhilische. Opyt pjatiletnej raboty nad problemoj zhilischa [The dwelling. Five years of experience working on the housing problem]. Moscow: Gosstrojizdat, 1934. 191 s. (In Russian).
15. Gosudarstvennyy arhiv Krasnojarskogo kraja [The State Archive of the Krasnoyarsk Kray]. F. R-1042. Op. 1. D. 2.
16. Gosudarstvennyy arkhiv Rossiyskoy Federacii [The State Archive of the Russian Federation]. F. A-259. Op. 38. D. 538.
17. Gosudarstvennyy arkhiv Rossiyskoy Federacii [The State Archive of the Russian Federation]. F. R5446. Op. 23. D. 1303.
18. Davidan A. G. Tempov ne sdadim [We won’t give up the pace] // Stahanovec lesnoy promyshlennosti. 1937. № 1. S. 4–5. (In Russian).
19. Dement’ev D. A. Opyt proektirovanija derevjannogo zhil’ja v SSSR [The experience of designing wooden housing in the USSR] // Nauka, obrazovanie i eksperimental’noe proektirovanie. 2021. S. 326–331. (In Russian).
20. Zhilische v Rossii: vek XX. Arhitektura i social’naja istorija / red.-sost. U. Brumfild, B. Rubl [Housing in Russia: the XX century. Architecture and social history. Broomfield W., Ruble B., eds]. Moscow: Tri kvadrata, 2002. 192 s. (In Russian).
21. Zykin I. V. Sociokul’turnyj oblik rabotnikov lesopromyshlennogo kompleksa Sovetskogo Sojuza v konce 1929 g. — pervoj polovine 1941 g. [The socio-cultural appearance of the workers of the timber industry complex of the Soviet Union in late 1929 — the first half of 1941]. Moscow: Novyj Hronograf, 2022. 432 s. (In Russian).
22. Ignatova N. M., Obedkov A. P., Vishnjakova D. V., Silin V. I., Lytkina U. V. Formirovanie i razvitie sistemy rasselenija v Respublike Komi v konce XVIII — nachale HHI v.: istoriko-demograficheskie i istorikogeograficheskie issledovanija Rossiyskogo Severa: nauchnaja monografija. Vyp. 2 [Formation and development of the settlement system in the Komi Republic at the end of the XVIII — beginning of the XXI century: historical, demographic, historical and geographical studies of the Russian North: a scientific monograph. Issue 2]. Syktyvkar: FIC Komi NC UrO RAN, 2024. 234 s. (In Russian).
23. Ignatova N. M. Spec(trud)poselki kak naselennye punkty v 1930-e gody (na materialah Respubliki Komi) [Special (work) settlements as settlements in the 1930s (based on materials from the Komi Republic)] // Izvestija Komi nauchnogo centra Ural’skogo otdelenija Rossijskoj akademii nauk. Serija «Istoricheskaja demografija». 2023. № 7 (65). S. 52–60. (In Russian).
24. Isaev V. I. Byt rabochih Sibiri. 1926–1937 gg. [The life of Siberian workers. 1926–1937]. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1988. 241 s. (In Russian).
25. Istorija stalinskogo Gulaga. Konec 1920-h — pervaja polovina 1950-h godov: Sobranie dok. v 7-mi tomah. T. 5. Specpereselency v SSSR / otv. red. i sost. T. V. Carevskaja-Djakina [The history of Stalin’s Gulag. The end of the 1920s — the first half of the 1950s: A collection of documents in 7 volumes. Vol. 5. Special settlers in the USSR. Carevskaja-Djakina T. V., ed.]. Moscow: ROSSPEN, 2004. 824 s. (In Russian).
26. Kilin JU.M. Pogranichnaja okraina velikoy derzhavy: Sovetskaja Karelija v 1923–1938 gg. [The Border Outskirts of a Great Power: Soviet Karelia in 1923–1938]. Petrozavodsk: Izd-vo PetrGU, 2012. 143 s. (In Russian).
27. Mazur L. N. Kraj ssylki: osobennosti formirovanija i razvitija sistemy rasselenija na Urale v 1930–1950-e gg. [The edge of exile: features of the formation and development of the settlement system in the Urals in the 1930s and 1950s] // Dokument. Arhiv. Istorija. Sovremennost’. Ekaterinburg: Izd-vo Ural’skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2002. S. 176–208. (In Russian).
28. Mazur L. N. Sever Sverdlovskoj oblasti v XX veke: modeli razvitija sistemy rasselenija [The North of the Sverdlovsk oblast in the XX century: models of the development of the settlement system] // Materialy Pervoj regional’noj kraevedcheskoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii «Pohodjashinskie chtenija». Ekaterinburg, 2005. S. 72–89. (In Russian).
29. Meerovich M. G. Nakazanie zhilischem: zhilischnaja politika v SSSR kak sredstvo upravlenija ljud’mi (1917–1937 gody) [Punishment by housing: housing policy in the USSR as a means of managing people (1917–1937)]. Moscow: ROSSPEN; Fond Pervogo Prezidenta Rossii B. N. El’cina, 2008. 303 s. (In Russian).
30. Meerovich M., Bulgakova E. Baraki kak naibolee massovyj tip zhilisch v sovetskih industrial’nyh gorodahnovostrojkah pervyh pjatiletok [Barracks as the most widespread type of housing in Soviet industrial cities-new buildings of the first five-year plans] // Proekt Bajkal. 2019. № 60. S. 76–89. (In Russian).
31. Miljutin N. A. Problema stroitel’stva socialisticheskih gorodov. Osnovnye voprosy racional’noj planirovki i stroitel’stva naselennyh mest SSSR [The problem of building socialist cities. The main issues of rational planning and construction of populated areas of the USSR]. Moscow; Leningrad: Gosudarstvennoe izdvo, 1930. 82 s. (In Russian).
32. Nikitina T. A., Barashkov JU.A. Zhilischnyj krizis na Arhangel’skom Severe na primere Mezenskih lesozavodov (1920–1937 gg.) [Housing crisis in the Arkhangelsk North on the example of the Mezen timber mills (1920–1937)] // Zhilischnye strategii. 2018. Т. 5, № 1. S. 65–78. (In Russian).
33. Objavlenie [Advertisement] // Tihookeanskaja zvezda. 1930, 18 janvarja. S. 4. (In Russian).
34. Popov K. V novom dome Kirlesa [In Kirles’ new house] // Lesnaja promyshlennost’. 1935, 9 avgusta. S. 3. (In Russian).
35. Postojannye kadry lesnyh rabochih [Permanent staff of forest workers] // Pravda Severa. 1937, 2 avgusta. S. 1. (In Russian).
36. Rezoljucii soveschanija direktorov lespromhozov i lestranshozov Severnogo kraja 1–5 avgusta 1934 goda [Resolutions of the meeting of directors of lespromhoz and lestranshoz of the Northern Territory on August 1–5, 1934]. Arhangel’sk: Izdanie Upolnarkomlesa, 1934. 26 s. (In Russian).
37. Rosljakov Vzamen lesnoy izbushki — perenosnoy barak [Instead of a forest hut, a portable barracks] // Lesovod. 1929. № 10–11. S. 48–49. (In Russian).
38. Sabsovich L. M. Socialisticheskie goroda [Socialist cities]. Moscow: Moskovskij rabochij, 1930. 124 s. (In Russian).
39. Smeta po ukrupnennym izmeriteljam na rabochuju silu i materialy na postroyku derevjannogo rublennogo 2-kvartirnogo doma dlja ITR i rabochih stahanovcev, soglasno tipovogo proekta № 065 [Estimate for enlarged meters for labor and materials for the construction of a wooden log 2-apartment house for engineering and technical workers and Stakhanov workers, according to standard project no. 065]. Moscow, 1936. 6 s. (In Russian).
40. Sovetskaja lesnaja ekonomika. Moskva-Sever. 1917–1941 gg.: Sb. dok. i mat. / sost. V. G. Makurov, A. T. Filatova [The Soviet forest economy. Moscow is the North. 1917–1941: Collection of documents and materials. Makurov V. G., Filatova A. T., compilers]. Petrozavodsk, 2005. 442 s. (In Russian).
41. SSSR na stroyke [The USSR at the construction site]. 1931. № 6. (In Russian).
42. Suslov A. B. Speckontingent v Permskoj oblasti (1929–1953 gg.) [Special contingent in the Perm oblast (1929–1953)]. Moscow: ROSSPEN; Fond «Prezidentskij centr B. N. El’cina», 2010. 424 s. (In Russian).
43. Takala I. Severoamerikanskie finny v dovoennoy Karelii [North American Finns in pre-war Karelia] // Ustnaja istorija v Karelii: Sb. nauch. stat. i istochnikov. Vyp. II. Severoamerikanskie finny v Sovetskoy Karelii 1930-h godov / sost. i nauch. red. I. R. Takala, A. V. Golubev. Petrozavodsk: Izd-vo PetrGU, 2007. S. 32–51. (In Russian).
44. Filimonchik S. N. Stroitel’naja otrasl’ Karelii v period forsirovannoy industrializacii [Karelia’s construction industry during the period of accelerated industrialization] // Sibirskie stroiteli: sobytija i sud’by: Sb. st. vserossiyskoy nauch. konf. Kurgan: Kurganskiy Dom pechati, 2017. S. 442–454. (In Russian).
45. Fleyshic E. A. Pravovaja organizacija lesnoy promyshlennosti Sojuza SSR [The legal organization of the forest industry of the USSR]. Leningrad: Goslestehizdat, 1936. 99 s. (In Russian).
46. Hmel’nickij D. Zdorov’e barachnogo goroda [The health of barrack town] // Proekt Bajkal. 2019. № 60. S. 70–75. (In Russian).
47. Hozjaystvennoe i kul’turnoe stroitel’stvo na Urale [Economic and cultural construction in the Urals]. Sverdlovsk: Izdanie Uralplana, 1934. 209 s. (In Russian).
48. Jahkind S. I. Normy dlja zhilischa perioda Velikoj Otechestvennoj vojny 1941–1945 godov [Standards for housing during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945] // Academia. Arhitektura i stroitel’stvo. 2024. № 3. S. 26–36. (In Russian).
49. Jaschenko G. E. Zabotit’sja o kadrah [Take care of the staff] // Stahanovec lesnoy promyshlennosti. 1937. № 2. S. 42. (In Russian).
Review
For citations:
Zykin I.V. Forest Settlements During the First Five-Year Plans. Surgut State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2025;(6(99)):52-65. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.69571/SSPU.2025.99.6.005
Views:
49
Email this article 