Difficult Situation with Electricity Supply in the First Period of World War II in Kyrgyzstan

On September 12, 1941, the Council of People's Commissars of the Kyrgyz SSR established a new housing norm in cities — 5 square meters instead of the previously accepted 8.25 square meters. This allowed for the accommodation of only 1,200 families of evacuees and military personnel in Frunze through densification. Alongside this, residential buildings of simplified types — barracks, dormitories, and semi-earth houses — were being constructed everywhere. Workers and employees of relocated enterprises were provided with long-term loans for individual housing construction. During the war years, a total of 12,000 apartments were built and 57,000 were repaired in the republic. Additionally, 4,500 workers were provided with barrack-dormitories.

Evacuated citizens, hand in hand with the working people of Kyrgyzstan, strengthened the power of the Red Army through high-performance labor in the name of the forthcoming victory over the enemy. Later, the Krasnodar Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) and the regional executive committee wrote to the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan about these memorable days: "The fraternal assistance from Kyrgyzstan during the temporary occupation of the Krasnodar region will never be forgotten by the Bolsheviks of Kuban. In your republic, many citizens of our region found shelter and work... This once again testifies that the fraternal friendship of the peoples of the USSR is a strong guarantee that the fascist gang that attacked our Soviet Union will be defeated and driven out of our sacred Soviet land."

The Energy System of Kyrgyzstan During WWII

The first period of the war, especially 1942, was the most difficult in meeting the increased energy needs of industry. The existing energy systems of Kyrgyzstan, even in peacetime, did not satisfy the needs of the republic's economy. The commissioning of evacuated enterprises, the establishment of two- and three-shift work at many of them, and the tasks of further expanding military production required a sharp increase in electricity generation. By the beginning of 1942, the demand for electricity was so great that, despite the intense load on the units of the operating power plants and network facilities, due to a lack of energy resources, some industrial enterprises in the republic were idle for hours, days, and even weeks.

The situation with electricity supply was particularly severe in the Frunze industrial hub. As of April 1942, the electricity demand of just the evacuated enterprises amounted to 3,226 kWh, while the entire industry of Frunze required 5,642 kWh. In addition, to meet the needs of military units, hospitals, medical institutions, and educational establishments, at least 1,780 kWh was necessary. Thus, the total demand for the city amounted to 7,422 kWh. The existing diesel power plants No. 1 and 2 and the Small Alamedin Hydroelectric Power Station were extremely weak and operated with significant interruptions due to equipment wear, lack of spare parts, and materials, generating only 2,860 kWh, which could not meet even the needs of the relocated enterprises in Frunze.

To overcome these difficulties, extraordinary measures were taken. The government of the republic established limits on the consumption and distribution of electricity. The use of electricity by the population was restricted to a minimum.

For example, the electricity supply for household needs to the workers of Frunze in March 1942 was only 38 kWh, and for city lighting — 15 kWh. Strict control over electricity consumption was established everywhere.

The FOGES Trust (Frunze Association of State Power Plants) was granted the right to impose fines on the heads of enterprises and electricity consumers for violating established consumption norms ranging from 100 to 5,000 rubles. All the capacity of the operating energy systems was directed to ensure the operation of industrial enterprises fulfilling orders for the front.

However, even these measures could not ensure the uninterrupted operation of factories and plants. Only at the Frunze agricultural machinery plant, downtime due to a lack of electricity in January 1942 amounted to: on the 7th — 3 hours 10 minutes, on the 14th — 5 hours 20 minutes, on the 30th — 6 hours 25 minutes, on the 31st — 2 hours 30 minutes. Additionally, in that same month, FOGES did not supply the plant with 50% of the required electricity. As a result, the total loss of working time in January 1942 amounted to 7,812 machine-hours.

Even greater downtimes were experienced in the light, textile, and local industries. For instance, at the Frunze woolen factory, downtimes in 1942 due to a lack of electricity amounted to 172 working days in the equipment shop, or 55.3% of the annual working time budget, 40.5% in the spinning shop, and 49.9% in the weaving shop.

Reception, accommodation, and employment of evacuees in Kyrgyzstan