The Soviet rear greatly depended and relied on the agriculture. The scope of cropped area was reduced by two times, the country was running out of labour forces. By the end of 1942 tractor capacity had lost 1/3 of its initial amount, lorry capacity had lost 4/5. Number of horses was cut by 2,5 times.
Youth of pre-induction age as well as women became the main source of labour forces. Many women took leading positions.
On the 13th of April 1942 officials adopted an Order “On the raise of compulsory labour days number for members of collective farms” In cereals cropping areas of Urals and Volga regions teenagers aged from 12 to 16 had to do 50 labour days, adults had to do 120 labour days. If the compulsory minimum was not performed and there was no reasonable ground, the People’s Court sentenced the person to correctional labour at the collective farm for the term up to 6 months. The sentenced also had to give away 25% of his labour days income in the favour of the collective farm.
During the war The Bashkir ASSR produced agriculture products worth 1479,5 million roubles and covered 2,2% of the USSR total production. The republic provided the front with 71 thousand horses, 750 tractors and countless amount of food.
In 1943 mobilization caused reduction of capable agriculture workers by 3%, e.i. 218 thousand people. But the republic kept providing the front with thousands of cars, tractors and horses.
People were mostly working at collective farms, growing cattle, planting vegetables, seeds and crops. Also, they were planting taraxacum kok-saghyz used to produce rubber.
The agriculture of the republic made its remarkable contribution into the victory. 300 collective farm members in Bashkortostan were awarded with orders and medals for their work during the war.
