Kalmyk Everyday Life during WWI: Rear Service Mobilization across Kalmyk Steppe of Astrakhan Governorate in 1916

Abstract

Introduction. The paper examines traditional Kalmyk society during WWI. The Soviet-era historiography dealing with the issue in question is limited to few articles published in the 1960s–1980s. More attention has been paid to the topic relatively recently, and some of its aspects need further additions, since this tends to become relevant enough in the light of present-day international relations and the need to strengthen historical unity of peoples constituting our nation. Goals. The work specifically aims to provide additional insights into everyday life of Kalmyk nomads during WWI and primarily — the 1916 mobilization activities in Kalmyk uluses. Materials and methods. The article analyzes of a wide range of official documents stored at the National Archive of Kalmykia, the bulk of the latter be newly introduced into scientific circulation. The work employs a set of general scientific and special historical research methods, of which the principles of historicism, objectivity and system-oriented analysis are of paramount importance. The synthesis of sources involved and the selected research methods has yielded a reliable picture of Kalmyk realities in the face of war-driven anxiety. Results. Unlike many regions of Russia, the economy of Kalmyk Steppe (Astrakhan Governorate) was based on nomadic and semi-nomadic livestock breeding and did maintain its stability. However, this stability was ensured by large and medium-scale livestock breeders who were to increase food (and other) production to meet the increased demand of war time. For the poor and some middle-class peasants the war brought additional hardships, including the particularly burdensome mobilization for rear services in the front-line provinces.

Keywords

• nomads
• kalmyks
• astrakhan governorate
• kalmyk steppe
• uluses
• aimaks
• war
• economy
• mobilization
• requisitions
• zaisangs
• commoners