The Georgian SSR was in a special position within the Soviet Union. This was caused by objective factors. Firstly, Joseph Stalin was born in Georgia. In addition, other Georgians, such as Grigory Ordzhonikidze and Lavrenty Beria, were part of the supreme power in the USSR. Political activity in the Georgian SSR has always been very high, and the cult of Stalin, for obvious reasons, was especially strong.

Special position

A favorable economic regime was created in the Georgian SSR. The Republic annually received substantial subsidies from the Union budget. The per capita consumption level in Georgia was 4 times higher than the same production indicator. In the RSFSR, the consumption rate was only 75% of the production level.

After Nikita Khrushchev's famous report on February 14, 1956, exposing the cult of personality, mass uprisings began in Tbilisi. Already on March 4, people began to gather at the monument to Stalin in the Georgian capital, the communist Parastishvili climbed onto the pedestal of the monument, drank wine from a bottle and, breaking it, said: “Let Stalin’s enemies die just like this bottle!”

Peaceful rallies took place for five days. On the night of March 10, wanting to send a telegram to Moscow, a crowd of thousands headed to the telegraph. Fire was opened on her. According to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, during the suppression of the unrest, 15 people were killed and 54 were wounded, 7 died in hospitals, 200 people were arrested.

Throughout the Union, the dismantling of monuments to Stalin began, only in Gori, in the homeland of the “leader of the peoples,” with the special permission of Khrushchev, the monument was left. For a long time it remained the most famous monument to Stalin, but it was also dismantled in our time, on the night of June 25, 2010. By order of Mikheil Saakashvili.

Guilt

Georgia cannot help but be associated with wines, and Georgians in the cultural field of the Soviet Union invariably acted as a toastmaster and a connoisseur of long, beautiful toasts. The Georgian SSR was one of the main and oldest wine-producing regions of the Soviet Union, and Georgian wines became an internationally recognized brand. It is known that at the Yalta Conference, Stalin treated Winston Churchill to Georgian Khvanchkara wine, after which the British minister became a devoted connoisseur of this brand.

Stalin himself loved the wines “Kindzmarauli”, “Khvanchkara” and “Majari”.

High-quality table and fortified wines were produced in Georgia. The production of grape wines was carried out by Samtrest enterprises, which included exemplary state farms: Tsinandali, Napareuli, Mukuzani, Kvareli in Kakheti and Vartsikhe in the western part of Georgia. The champagne wine factory produced Soviet champagne and grape wines. By the 1960s, 26 brands of wine were produced in Georgia: 12 dry table wines, 7 semi-sweet wines, 5 strong brands, 2 sweet dessert wines.

Tourism

Due to optimal climatic conditions, the Georgian SSR was a real tourist Mecca of the Soviet Union. For Soviet citizens, Georgian resorts replaced Turkey, Egypt, and other hot foreign countries. In the resort of Abkhazia, which was part of the Georgian SSR, there were the most fashionable resorts of the USSR, Pitsunda and Gagra.

During the Soviet era, Georgia was the best training base for Soviet alpine skiers. Also, Georgia in general and Svaneti in particular became the main mountaineering bases of the Soviet Union.

Mountain climbs and climbs to the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains were periodically held here. A great contribution to the development of Soviet mountaineering and rock climbing was made by Mikhail Vissarionovich Khergiani, 7-time champion of the USSR and Honored Master of Sports of the Soviet Union.

Georgian tea

In addition to wine, the Georgian SSR was famous for its tea. Its quality, according to William Pokhlebkin, was competitive (at the global level), although with reservations.
Despite the fact that attempts to establish and organize tea production have been made in Georgia since the middle of the 19th century, its quality left much to be desired, and the volume of plantations did not even reach 900 hectares.

In the early 1920s, young plantations were planted in Georgia, and active and fruitful breeding work began. In 1948, Ksenia Bakhtadze managed to develop artificial hybrid varieties of tea: “Gruzinsky No. 1” and “Gruzinsky No. 2”. For them she was awarded the Stalin Prize. The later variety “Georgian selection No. 8” was able to withstand frosts down to -25. This variety became a real sensation.

During Soviet times, Georgian tea became a brand known outside the Union. At the end of the 70s, it was already exported to Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, East Germany, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, South Yemen and Mongolia.

Flowers, tangerines and the shadow economy

Soviet people did not understand much about the specifics of the ethnic diversity of the Caucasian peoples, so the image of a Georgian, a resourceful and wealthy businessman, was rather collective. However, in some ways he was correct.

In terms of industrial production, the Georgian SSR did not give the Soviet Union much, but the Georgians provided Soviet citizens with everything they needed for holidays: citrus fruits, wine, tea, tobacco, mineral water.

The Georgian SSR, according to economist Kennan Eric Scott of the Washington Institute, supplied 95% of tea and 97% of tobacco to Soviet shelves. The lion's share of citrus fruits (95%) also went to the regions of the USSR from Georgia.

In his report at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, Eric Smith also noted that Georgians played a significant role in the formation of the shadow economy of the Soviet Union, shaping the market of the late USSR along the lines of “diaspora competition.”

On May 21, 1921, the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic concluded an agreement with the RSFSR on a military-economic union. The Constitution of the Georgian SSR was adopted by the First All-Georgian Congress of Soviets (February 25 - March 4, 1922); At the same time, the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets was elected, which created the government of Georgia. In July 1921, the Adjara Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed as part of Georgia (Adjara was annexed to Russia in 1878). The Abkhaz SSR became part of Georgia in December 1921 on the basis of a “union treaty”. In April 1922, the South Ossetian Autonomous Region was created as part of Georgia.

On March 12, 1922, the GSSR became part of the Federal Union of Socialist Soviet Republics of Transcaucasia (FSSSR), which on December 13 was transformed into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (ZSFSR). As part of the latter, on December 30 of the same year, Georgia became part of the USSR. On December 12, 1936, the Georgian SSR became an independent union republic within the USSR. At this time, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Georgia was L.P. Beria (1931-1938). On his initiative and with the consent of I.V. Stalin, in 1931 the decision was implemented to downgrade the status of the Abkhaz SSR to an autonomous republic.

In February 1937, at the extraordinary Eighth All-Georgian Congress of Soviets, a new constitution of the Georgian SSR was adopted, according to which the unicameral Supreme Council, elected for 4 years, became the highest body of state power in the republic. In the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Georgian SSR was represented by 32 deputies, and the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, the Adjarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and the South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug, which were part of it, had independent representation in the Council of Nationalities: Abkhazia and Adjara - 11 deputies each, South Ossetia - 5 deputies. In general, the governing bodies of the Georgian SSR functioned according to the same scheme as in other Soviet republics.

During the Great Patriotic War, the territory of Georgia was not directly affected by hostilities. According to official statistics, almost 20% of its population fought at the front, more than half of them died. In 1944, about 100 thousand Meskhetian Turks were deported from southern Georgia to Central Asia. During the same period (or a little later) Greeks, Kurds, Hemshins, Laz and others were also deported. According to some reports, the total number of people deported from Georgia exceeded 200 thousand people.

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

The Georgian SSR (Georgia) is located in the central and western part of Transcaucasia. Borders on the southwest. with Turkey. In the west it is washed by the Black Sea. Area 69.7 thousand. km 2. Population 4954 thousand people. (as of January 1, 1976). National composition (according to the 1970 census, thousand people): Georgians 3131, Ossetians 150, Abkhazians 79, Armenians 452, Russians 397, Azerbaijanis 218, Greeks 89, Jews 55, Ukrainians 50, etc. Average population density 71.1 people. by 1 km 2(as of January 1, 1976). The capital is Tbilisi (1,030 thousand inhabitants as of January 1, 1976). Large cities (thousands of inhabitants): Kutaisi (177), Sukhumi (118), Batumi (117). New cities have grown: Rustavi (127), Tkvarcheli, Chiatura, Zestafoni, Tkibuli, Vale, Kaspi, etc. Georgia includes the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, the Adjarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and the South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug. There are 66 districts, 51 cities and 60 urban-type settlements in the republic.

Nature. Up to 2/3 of the territory is occupied by mountains and foothills. In the north is the Greater Caucasus mountain system (the highest points are the city of Shkhara, 5068 m, Kazbek, 5033 m), in the south - the Lesser Caucasus (South Georgian Highlands). Between them are intermountain lowlands - the Colchis Lowland, the Inner Kartli, Lower Kartli and Alazani plains and the Iori Plateau. Minerals: coal, oil, manganese, copper and polymetallic ores, barite. The climate and soil and vegetation cover are characterized by altitudinal zonation. In the western part the climate is humid-subtropical. Average January temperature (up to a height of 500-600 m) 3-7 °C, August 23-26 °C; precipitation up to 3000 mm in year. In Eastern Georgia, on the plains and plateaus, the average temperature in July is 24-25 °C, in January from 0 to -3 °C; precipitation from 300 to 1000 mm per year, in the mountains - up to 1800 mm. Main rivers: Kura, Rioni. Lakes - Paravani, Ritsa, etc. In the coastal zone, the soils are subtropical podzolic, red soil and yellow soil; in the lowland part of Eastern Georgia - chernozems, chestnut and brown. In the mountains there are brown, brown forest, humus-carbonate and mountain-meadow soils. About 39% of the territory is occupied by forests (mainly on the mountain slopes) - broad-leaved (beech, chestnut, oak, hornbeam) and coniferous (spruce, fir, pine). In certain regions of the republic, Pitsunda and Eldar pine, yew, boxwood, and zelkova have been preserved. A significant territory of the eastern part of Georgia is occupied by steppes and thickets of thorny bushes. In the high mountain zones of the Greater Caucasus and the South Georgian Highlands there are subalpine and alpine meadows.

Historical reference. Class society on the territory of Georgia arose at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. In the 6th century. BC e. There was a slave-owning kingdom of Colchis in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. Iberia. At the beginning of the 6th - beginning of the 10th centuries. n. e. the territory was under the rule of the Iranian Sassanids, Byzantium and the Arab Caliphate. In the 6th-10th centuries. The Georgian nationality was mainly formed. In the 8th - early 9th centuries. The Kakheti, Ereti, Tao-Klarjet feudal principalities and the Abkhazian kingdom arose. 11th-12th centuries were characterized by the economic and cultural prosperity of Georgia. By the 13th-14th centuries. include the invasions of the Mongol-Tatars and Timur. In the 15th - early 17th centuries. independent kingdoms and principalities were formed: Kartli, Kakheti, Imereti, Samtskhe-Saatabago, Megrelia, Guria and Abkhazia. In the 16th-18th centuries. the territory was the object of a struggle between Iran and Turkey; During this period, anti-feudal and people's liberation movements took place against the Iranian-Turkish yoke (in 1625 under the leadership of G. Saakadze, the uprising of 1659, etc.). In 1801 Eastern, in 1803-64 Western Georgia was annexed to Russia (Tiflis and Kutaisi provinces). The people opposed social and national oppression (the Gurian uprising of 1841, the Megrelian uprising of 1857, etc.). The peasant reform of 1864 accelerated the development of capitalism; in the 90s 19th century The first social democratic organizations appeared. The proletariat waged a strike struggle (the Batumi strike and demonstration of 1902, the General Strike in the South of Russia of 1903). The working people of Georgia took part in the Revolution of 1905-07, the February Revolution of 1917 and the Great October Socialist Revolution. In November 1917, petty-bourgeois parties seized power. In 1918-20 it was occupied by German, Turkish, and British troops. With the help of the Red Army, the working people of Georgia established Soviet power in 1921; On February 25, 1921, the Georgian SSR was formed. On March 12, 1922 it became part of the TSFSR; from December 5, 1936 directly within the USSR as a union republic. As a result of industrialization, collectivization of agriculture and the cultural revolution carried out under the leadership of the Communist Party, a basically socialist society was built in the republic.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Georgian people mobilized all their forces to repel fascist aggression.

As of January 1, 1976, the Communist Party of Georgia had 307,929 members and 10,442 candidate party members; in the ranks of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Georgia there were 606,324 members; There are over 1826.7 thousand trade union members in the republic.

The Georgian people, together with all the fraternal peoples of the USSR, achieved new successes in communist construction in the post-war decades.

The Georgian SSR was awarded 2 Orders of Lenin (1935, 1965), the Order of the October Revolution (1971) and the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1972).

Economy. During the years of socialist construction, Georgia became an industrial-agrarian republic. In the national economy of the USSR, it is distinguished by the extraction of manganese ores, the production of ferroalloys, steel pipes, electric locomotives, trucks, metal-cutting machines, some electrical products and instruments, specific food products - tea, citrus fruits, tobacco, wines, essential and tung oils. Georgia is the main base of the subtropical economy of the USSR.

The Georgian SSR has developed economic ties with all union republics.

In 1975, the volume of industrial output exceeded the level of 1940 by 12 times, and the level of 1913 by 118 times.

For the production of the most important types of industrial products, see the data in table. 1.

Table 1. - Production of the most important types of industrial products

Electricity, billion. kWh
Coal, thousand T
Steel, thousand T
Rental, thousand T
Manganese ore, thousand T
Mineral fertilizers (in conventional units), thousand. T
Cement, thousand T
Cotton fabrics, million. m
Woolen fabrics, million. m
Silk fabrics, million. m
Leather shoes, million pairs
Primary processed long tea, thousand. T.
Canned food, million conventional cans
Grape wine, million. gave*
Meat, thousand T

* Without wine, the processing and bottling of which is carried out on the territory of other republics.

In 1977, the Enguri hydroelectric power station, the largest in Transcaucasia, was under construction in Georgia. Coal is mined; Manganese, polymetallic ores, barite, etc. are being developed. Ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, light and food industries play an important role.

Gross agricultural output in 1975 compared to 1940 increased by 3.3 times. At the end of 1975 there were 310 state farms and 877 collective farms. In 1975, 20.8 thousand tractors (in physical units; 3 thousand in 1940), 1.4 thousand grain harvesters (0.5 thousand in 1940), 19.1 thousand trucks (2 .7 thousand in 1940). Agricultural land in 1975 amounted to 3.1 million. ha(44.3% of the entire territory), including arable land - 0.8 million. ha, hayfields - 0.15 million ha and pastures - 1.8 million. ha. Irrigation is of great importance. Large irrigation systems: Alazani, Samgori, Tiripon; under construction (1977) Upper Alazan irrigation system. A significant part of the Colchis lowland has been drained. At the end of 1975, the area of ​​irrigated land was 368 thousand. ha, drained - 151.3 thousand. ha. Agriculture provides about 70% of gross agricultural output (1975). The main branches of agriculture are tea growing, fruit growing (especially citrus growing), and viticulture. The area of ​​tea plantings is 66 thousand. ha in 1975 (50 thousand ha in 1940), vineyards - 126 thousand. ha(70 thousand ha in 1940), fruit and berry plantings - 177 thousand. ha(109 thousand ha in 1940). Gross tea harvest - 335 thousand. T in 1975 (51 thousand t in 1940), grapes - 563 thousand. T(150 thousand T in 1940), fruits and berries - 500 thousand. T(143 thousand T in 1940). Mainly corn and wheat are sown among grain crops, and tobacco and essential oil crops are among industrial crops. For data on sown areas and gross harvest of agricultural crops, see table. 2.

The main branch of livestock farming is cattle breeding. Sheep farming (based on natural feeding grounds), as well as sericulture, are developed. On the number of livestock and poultry and the production of livestock products, see the data in table. 3 and 4.

Table 2. - Sown areas and gross harvest of agricultural crops

Total sown area, thousand. ha
Cereals
Industrial crops
Vegetables and potatoes
Forage crops
Gross collection, thousand T
Cereals
Sugar beets (factory)
Potato

Cattle
including cows
Sheep and goats
Poultry, million

Table 4. - Production of basic livestock products

Meat (in slaughter weight), thousand. T
Milk, thousand T
Eggs, million pieces
Wool, thousand T

The main mode of transport is railway. The operational length of the railways is 1.42 thousand. km(1975). The length of roads is 21.5 thousand. km(1975), including hard surface 17.7 thousand. km. Marine (main ports are Batumi, Poti) and air transport are developed. Oil pipeline Baku - Batumi, gas pipelines from Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus.

The standard of living of the population of the republic is steadily increasing. National income for 1966-75 increased 1.9 times. Real income per capita in 1975 compared to 1965 increased 1.6 times. Retail turnover of state and cooperative trade (including public catering) increased from 333 million rubles. in 1940 to 3210 million rubles. in 1975, while trade turnover per capita was 5.5 times. The amount of deposits in savings banks in 1975 reached 1,797 million rubles. (13 million rubles in 1940), the average deposit is 1279 rubles. (44 rubles in 1940). At the end of 1975, the city's housing stock amounted to 33.3 million. m 2 total (useful) area. During 1971-75, 8.9 million were put into operation at the expense of the state, collective farms and the population. m 2 total (usable) area.

Cultural construction. According to the 1897 census, 23.6% of the population were literate, including 29.1% among men and 17.1% among women. In the 1914/15 school year. There were 1,765 secondary schools of all types (157 thousand students) and 5 secondary specialized educational institutions. After the establishment of Soviet power, a new school was created with teaching in the native language. By 1939, literacy of the population had risen to 89.3%; according to the 1970 census it reached 99.9%.

In 1975, 143 thousand children were educated in permanent preschool institutions.

In the 1975/76 school year. 1 million students studied in 4.4 thousand comprehensive schools of all types, 41.5 thousand students studied in 88 vocational schools (including 39 vocational schools providing secondary education, - 18.5 thousand students), in 97 secondary specialized educational institutions - 49.4 thousand students, in 19 universities - 82.8 thousand students. The largest universities: Tbilisi University, Georgian Polytechnic Institute, Georgian Agricultural Institute, Conservatory, Academy of Arts, Pedagogical Institute.

In 1975, per 1000 people employed in the national economy, there were 802 people. with higher and secondary (complete or incomplete) education (163 people in 1939).

The leading scientific institution is the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR. In 1975, there were 25 thousand scientific workers in the republic.

The network of cultural institutions has received significant development.

In 1975, 23 musical and drama theaters operated, including the Georgian Opera and Ballet Theater. Z. P. Paliashvili, Drama Theater named after. Shota Rustaveli, Drama Theater named after. L. Meskhishvili, Drama Theater named after. K. A. Marjanishvili; 2 thousand stationary film installations; over 2 thousand club institutions. The largest libraries are the State Library of the Georgian SSR named after. K. Marx (founded in 1923, in 1975 there were 5,603 thousand copies of books, brochures, magazines, etc.), Central Scientific Library of the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR (2.4 million copies of books, brochures and magazines), in 1975 there were 3858 public libraries (25,696 thousand copies of books and magazines); 81 museums.

In 1975, 1,964 book titles and brochures were published with a circulation of 15.6 million copies. (1639 titles with a circulation of 5618 thousand copies in 1940). Books are published in Georgian, Russian, Azerbaijani, Abkhazian, Ossetian languages, as well as in foreign languages

133 magazine publications were published with an annual circulation of 30.0 million copies, including 84 publications in Georgian with a circulation of 25.2 million copies. (77 publications with an annual circulation of 1.7 million copies in 1940). 141 newspapers were published with an annual circulation of 678 million copies. The Georgian Telegraph Agency (GruzTAG, since 1972 - Gruzinform) has been operating since 1936. The Book Chamber was founded in 1924. Regular radio broadcasting began in 1927. Broadcasts are conducted in Georgian, Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian; television broadcasts - since 1956 in Georgian and Russian languages ​​Television Center in Tbilisi.

In 1975, there were 500 hospital institutions in the republic with 48.0 thousand beds (314 hospitals with 13.3 thousand beds in 1940); 20.4 thousand doctors and 49.9 thousand paramedical personnel worked (4.9 thousand doctors and 9.4 thousand paramedical personnel in 1940). Popular balneological and climatic resorts: Bakuriani, Borjomi, Gagra, New Athos, Pitsunda, Sukhumi, Tskhaltubo and etc.

Abkhaz ASSR

The Abkhaz ASSR (Abkhazia) was formed on March 4, 1921. It is located in the north-west. Transcaucasia. To the south-west washed by the Black Sea. Area 8.6 thousand. km 2. Population 500 thousand people. (as of January 1, 1976). National composition (according to the 1970 census, thousand people): Abkhazians 77, Georgians 200, Russians 93, Armenians 75, Greeks 13, etc. Average population density 58.1 people. by 1 km 2(as of January 1, 1976). The capital is Sukhumi (118 thousand inhabitants as of January 1, 1976).

In 1975, the volume of industrial output exceeded the level of 1940 by 8.8 times. Coal is mined. An important role is played by the industries for processing agricultural raw materials - tea, tobacco and tobacco, canning, and wine. There are enterprises in the mechanical engineering, leather and footwear, woodworking and construction materials industries. In 1975 there were 38 state farms and 103 collective farms. Agriculture mainly specializes in the cultivation of tea, tobacco, citrus fruits, tung, and essential oil crops. Viticulture and fruit growing, including subtropical, are developed. In 1975, the harvest of high-quality tea leaves amounted to 63 thousand. T. The sown area of ​​all agricultural crops is 42 thousand. ha(1975); sow grains, vegetables, melons and tobacco. Livestock farming mainly for dairy and dairy-meat production; poultry farming is developed. Livestock (as of January 1, 1976, thousand): 141 cattle, 28 sheep and goats, 75 pigs. The main seaport is Sukhumi.

In the 1975/76 school year. 103.1 thousand students studied in 416 general education schools of all types (in the 1914/15 academic year in 156 schools - 8.7 thousand), in 6 secondary specialized educational institutions - 2.9 thousand students, in Institute of Subtropical Economy and Pedagogical Institute (both in Sukhumi) - 6.2 thousand students (before the October Revolution there were no secondary specialized and higher educational institutions).

For every 1000 people employed in the national economy, in 1974 there were 783 people. with higher and secondary (complete and incomplete) education.

Among the scientific institutions are the Institute of Experimental Pathology and Therapy (with a monkey nursery), the Abkhaz branch of the Research Institute of Balneology and Physiotherapy.

In 1975, the volume of industrial output exceeded the 1940 level by 4.2 times. Main industries: oil refining, mechanical engineering, food. In the Adjarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1975 there were 18 state farms and 92 collective farms. 70% of the area of ​​perennial plantings is occupied by subtropical crops, cultivated mainly in the coastal zone. The main ones are tea and citrus fruits. In 1975, the collection of high-quality tea leaves amounted to 48.2 thousand. T. Subtropical fruit trees, tung, laurel, eucalyptus, and bamboo are also common. The sown area of ​​all agricultural crops is 13.4 thousand. ha(1975); sow grains, tobacco, potatoes and vegetable and melon crops. They raise sheep and goats (11 thousand heads as of January 1, 1976), and cattle (116 thousand). The main seaport is Batumi.

In the 1975/76 school year. 75.9 thousand students studied in 434 general education schools of all types (in the 1921/22 academic year in general education schools - 10.1 thousand), over 2 thousand students studied in 3 vocational schools, in 8 secondary specialized educational institutions - 3.3 thousand students, at the Pedagogical Institute named after. Sh. Rustaveli (in Batumi) - 2.4 thousand students (before the October Revolution there were no secondary specialized and higher educational institutions). For every 1,000 people employed in the national economy, in 1975 there were 798 people. with higher and secondary (complete and incomplete) education. Among the scientific institutions is the Batumi Research Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR. In 1975 there were: 1 theater, 276 public libraries, 2 museums, 183 club institutions, 212 stationary film installations.

In 1975, 1.1 thousand doctors worked, i.e. 1 doctor for 323 inhabitants. (270 doctors, i.e. 1 doctor per 774 inhabitants, in 1940); there were 3.7 thousand hospital beds (0.9 thousand beds in 1940).

The Adjarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was awarded the Order of Lenin (1967), the Order of the October Revolution (1971) and the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1972).

South Ossetian Autonomous Region

South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug (South Ossetia) was formed on April 20, 1922. It is located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Area 3.9 thousand. km 2. Population 103 thousand people. (as of January 1, 1976). Average population density 26.3 people. by 1 km 2. Center - Tskhinvali.

In 1975, the volume of industrial output exceeded the 1940 level by 27 times. Mining (extraction of polymetallic ores), forestry and woodworking, mechanical engineering, food industry and production of building materials are developed. In 1975 there were 11 state farms and 20 collective farms. The sown area of ​​all agricultural crops in 1975 amounted to 22.2 thousand. ha. They cultivate grains (wheat, corn, barley), sugar beets and vegetables. Fruit growing and viticulture are developed. An important branch of agriculture is animal husbandry. They raise sheep and goats (139.6 thousand heads as of January 1, 1976), and cattle (67.7 thousand).

In the 1975/76 school year. In 214 general education schools of all types, 24.3 thousand students studied, in 1 vocational school - 210 students, in 4 secondary specialized educational institutions - 0.6 thousand students, in the Pedagogical Institute in Tskhinvali - 2.3 thousand .students.

In 1975 there was 1 theater, 163 public libraries, a museum, 89 club institutions, 66 stationary film installations.

In 1975, 0.3 thousand doctors worked, i.e. 1 doctor for 308 inhabitants, there were 1.1 thousand hospital beds. Jasa resort.

The South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug was awarded the Order of Lenin (1967) and the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1972).

The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic existed until the spring of 1991. Having restored the constitution of 1918, the Supreme Council in Tbilisi declared sovereignty. During the Soviet era, the Georgian population, along with the country, experienced both the post-revolutionary devastation and the hardships of the Second World War, and shared the joy of victory and post-war upsurge.

Stormy times

The revolution in Petrograd destroyed the Empire. Concluding the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the new government transferred to Turkey the lands conquered in the First World War and Kars and Ardahan. Disagreement with the Brest-Litovsk Treaty led to the creation of the Transcaucasian Independent Federative Democratic Republic. However, the ZNFDR existed for two months. At the end of May 1918, the Georgian side left the federation.

Non-recognition of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty led to the invasion of Turkish troops. During short battles, a number of regions were occupied, including Batumi, Ozurgeti, and Akhaltsikhe. According to an agreement with the German government, German troops enter the territory of Georgia for protection from Turkish troops. But the result of this was the signing of peace with the Turkish side on conditions unfavorable for the Georgian republic. Georgia lost more territories than during the Brest Peace Treaty.

In December 1918, British troops came to replace German troops. In 1920, the Georgian government signed a peace agreement with the Soviets. But in the winter of 1921 the Red Army entered. Then events developed at lightning speed:

• 07/16/1921 – the Adjarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was founded in the Georgian SSR
• 12/16/1921 – Abkhazia was included in Georgia
• 04/20/1922 South Ossetian Autonomous Region was formed
• 12/30/1922 The Georgian Federative SSR, as part of the Trans-SFSR, joined the USSR

The Transcaucasian Federation contained the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR. After the dissolution of the TSFSR (1936), the Georgian, without the word “federal”, SSR entered the Union as an independent Soviet Socialist Republic.

After the revolution

The Georgian SSR was considered to be in a special position. Additional subsidies were poured into the GSSR. The reason for this is that Joseph Stalin was born in Georgia. Besides him, people from Georgians include Georgy (Sergo) Ordzhonikidze and Lavrenty Beria.

The Georgian people did a lot for the country. 700 thousand Georgians fought on the fields of the Second World War. 137 residents of Georgia are Heroes of the Soviet Union, more than 240 thousand received military awards. Georgian soldiers fought bravely in the Battle of the Caucasus, which lasted from July 25, 1942 to October 9, 1943. In memory of this, a medal “for the defense of the Caucasus” was issued. The award was received by 870 thousand citizens of the country.

On May 1, 1945, Georgians Meliton Kantaria and Russian Mikhail Egorov raised the Victory Banner over the Reichstag. They were awarded the titles of Heroes of the Soviet Union.

After the death of Joseph Vissarionovich, at the 20th Congress of the CPSU, Nikita Khrushchev made a report on exposing Stalin’s personality cult. When the demolition of the monuments to Stalin was announced, unrest among the Georgian people began and on the night of March 10, 1956, clashes between indignant citizens and the Ministry of Internal Affairs took place in Tbilisi. As a result of the conflict:

• 22 people died
• 54 people injured
• 200 people were detained by law enforcement forces

Post-war years

Georgia, as part of the USSR, received industrial growth. In addition to the food industry, the oil refining industry, mechanical engineering, and energy developed. The largest in Transcaucasia was built in Georgia.

Georgian enterprises assembled airplanes and built locomotives. The leading industries were ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry, electric power, and light industry. An automobile plant producing KAZ trucks and tractors operated in Kutaisi. In 1967, the KAZ 608 “Kolkhida”, widely known in Soviet times, rolled off the assembly line.

The Georgian food industry provided the country with tea, mineral water, tobacco and wines. Citrus fruits from Georgia were on the New Year's table of citizens of the country of the Soviets. Georgian cognac and chacha are still in great demand today.

The private sector was in a good economic position. 6% of fertile land was owned by private owners. The sale of flowers and citrus fruits grown by private owners in the markets of central Russia provided a large income. During the season you could earn money for a new car.

Georgia grew 95% of all tea in the USSR.

Health resort

Socialist Georgia - All-Union. People came from all over the country for treatment at mineral springs and to relax at ski resorts. Holidays in cities on the Black Sea coast of Georgia are popular. Borjomi, Batumi, Bakuriani – the whole country knew these names. In the Abkhaz ASSR, which was part of Georgia, Gagra thundered throughout the entire Union.

During the Soviet era, sports bases of union significance were located on the territory of Georgia. Skiers and climbers trained there. The Central Olympic Base of the USSR was built in Esher. Competitions in various sports were held there, football players, archers, and basketball players trained. Even teams for which there were no specialized facilities came there for training camps. So hockey players came to Esher, although no ice rink was built for them.

In 1978, not far from Tbilisi, the Rustavi racing complex was created. It included a ring track for auto racing, a motorcycle track, a karting track, and a motorball field. All-Union road-circuit racing competitions were held on the track. When there were no big races, local competitions were held.

The sports complex in Esher was damaged during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and is now not functioning.

Georgian cinema

Soviet people began to get acquainted with Georgian culture, first of all, through films. 1921 year of formation under the People's Commissariat of Education. Since 1953, the studio has been called “Georgia Film”. An animation department (1930) and a department of documentary and popular science films (1958) were also opened.

The older generation remembers the queues at the cinemas for the film “Georgiy Saakadze”. This is a large-scale film shot by the Tbilisi film studio during the war years. The first episode was filmed in 1942, the second in 1943. Many people love the movie “Father of a Soldier.” The main role was played by People's Artist of the USSR Sergo Zakariadze. Georgian short films, like “The Zealous Pig,” leave only warm impressions.

The names of Georgian actors, directors, and performers are known throughout the Union. And now, almost everyone knows who Vakhtang Kikabidze or Georgy Danelia are. The older generation can tell you in which films Leila Mikhailovna Abashidze or Akaki Khorava played.

Conclusion

A number of modern political forces call the period of existence of the Georgian SSR an occupation, citing as evidence the entry of the Red Army into the territory of Georgia in 1921. However, they do not take into account the revolutionary sentiments of the masses of that time. What was an intervention for the ruling bourgeois class was liberation for the proletariat and peasantry.

Georgia's presence in the USSR gave the region economic development. The creation of new industries was the result of industrialization carried out by the state. Experts believe that Georgia was the richest republic in the USSR during the “Stagnation”.

Georgia after the collapse of the unified state in 1466

1) Borders of the Georgian kingdoms. (Solid thick line).

2) Capitals of the Georgian kingdoms. (Circles).

3) The borders of the Principality of Sabediano during the period of greatest expansion in the 17th century. (Dotted line).

Map 2. Georgian SSR.

Georgian SSR

1) Borders of autonomous entities. [dotted line]

Map 3. Georgia in the first half of 1992

Georgia in the first half of 1992

1) Borders of Georgia. [bold line]

2) Borders of autonomous regions. [dotted line]

4) Zone of the first Zviadist uprising in Mingrelia (January 1992) [highlighted by dots]

5) Zone of the second and third Zviadist uprisings (April and June 1992) [shaded]

6) Actions of the troops of the State Council of Georgia against the Zviadists in January - February 1992 and against the Ossetians in April - June 1992 [arrows]

Map 4. Georgia at the beginning of the Georgian-Abkhaz war.

Georgia at the beginning of the Georgian-Abkhaz war

2) Territory controlled by the State Council of Georgia by the end of August 1992 [thick line]

3) Areas of active armed struggle of Zviadists against the State Council of Georgia. [dots]

Map 5. Administrative regions of Abkhazia.

Administrative regions of Abkhazia

1) Borders of the administrative regions of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. [less bold lines]

2) Centers of administrative districts. [Underlined cities]

Map 6. Abkhazia during the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993. before the signing of the Sochi agreements.

Abkhazia during the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993. before the signing of the Sochi agreements

1) Territory taken under control by Georgian government forces in August 1992 [diagonal strokes]

2) The main fronts [thick line] (Bzybsky, Gumistinsky, Vostochny) and lines of confrontation in secondary sectors. [lines are shown as dots]

3) Territory conquered by Abkhaz forces by October 6, 1992 [Gagra zone, territory shown by dots]

4) Territory recaptured by the Abkhaz army as a result of the July offensive (before the conclusion of the Sochi agreements on July 27, 1993) [over Sukhumi; diagonally intersecting strokes]

Notes

NB! The Abkhaz army was officially created on October 11, 1992, so only after the capture of Gagra can the corresponding term be used.

Map 7. Western Abkhazia.

Western Abkhazia.

Map 8. Eastern Abkhazia.

Eastern Abkhazia

Map 9. Military operations in Sukhumi and its environs.

Military operations in Sukhumi and its environs

1) The most important strategic heights. [mountains shown]

2) The most important highways.

in November 1992 [top arrow]

in January 1993 [lower arrow]

in March 1993 [middle arrow]

The numbers on the map indicate the mountains: 1 - Apianda, 2 - Shroma, 3 - Akhbyuk, 4 - Yashtukharkhu, 5 - Birtskha.

Map 10. Military operations in Western Georgia during the fourth uprising in Mingrelia (September - November 1993).

Military operations in Western Georgia during the fourth uprising in Mingrelia (September - November 1993)

1) Territory controlled by Zviadist formations under the command of Loti Kobalia at the time of the resumption of the war in Abkhazia on September 16, 1993 [bold line]

2) The main centers of the Zviadist movement. [cities in black]

3) Actions of the Zviadist troops. [bold arrows]

4) Actions of the Abkhaz troops. [dotted arrows]

5) Gali region, taken by the Abkhazians from the Zviadists on September 30, 1993 [shaded area]

6) Actions of Russian units together with Georgian troops against the Zviadists October 19 - November 7, 1993 [arrows consisting of bold dots]

Map 11. Fighting in Abkhazia from September 16, 1993 until the signing of the Moscow Agreements on April 4, 1994.

Fighting in Abkhazia from September 16, 1993 until the signing of the Moscow Agreements on April 4, 1994.

1) Front lines at the time of signing of the Sochi agreements on July 27, 1993 [dotted lines]

3) Territory under the control of Svan and Mingrelian armed formations after September 30, 1993 [shown by dots]

4) Actions of Abkhaz troops in the Kodori Gorge in October 1993 - March 1994. [short arrows]

5) The territory that remained under the control of Svan formations after the end of hostilities. [shaded area]