Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan "On the Development of the Stakhanov Movement During Wartime"

Assigning exceptional political and economic significance to the unprecedented rise in the creative activity of workers, the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan, in its resolution of April 7, 1942, "On the Development of the Stakhanov Movement During Wartime," recommended that party and economic organizations and enterprises make broader use of the experience of production innovators to prepare for a mass Stakhanov movement, as the main task—ensuring that all workers meet their shift norms. "The meticulous and persistent training of young workers and employees is the main focus of the everyday practical work of party, trade union, and economic organizations," the resolution stated. Warning against the danger of turning the movement of Stakhanovites into a race for records, the Central Committee recommended, following the lead of the front-runners, to achieve a general increase in labor productivity in each workshop, each brigade, and each machine. "To achieve this, it is necessary to further develop multi-machine operation, promote mass acquisition of related professions, ensure the transition of women to the 'most masculine' specialties, and help women master these specialties."

The resolution had a tremendous impact on transforming socialist competition into a truly mass movement of workers in the republic's industry. To widely popularize the experience of Stakhanovites, their tools, techniques, and methods of work, which led to outstanding successes, various courses and technical minimum circles were established at enterprises, and decades of technical propaganda were conducted. At the Frunze Meat Processing Plant alone, 60 Stakhanov schools were organized.

With each passing day, the ranks of production leaders multiplied. At the "Kapitalnaya" mine of the Tash-Kumyr deposit, miner Yanishev increased labor productivity fivefold by changing the arrangement of the drill holes. On April 9, 1942, he set a new record: on the shift in honor of May 1, together with his partner—miner Zamoldinov, he fulfilled the shift task at 1050%. A total of 236 tons of coal were extracted instead of the norm of 22 tons. In tunnel No. 39 of the Kok-Yangak mine, on April 22, 1942, miner M. Petrov produced more than 10 norms in a shift, while tunneler Provenko fulfilled the shift task at 750%.

By the end of April 1942, 3,019 Stakhanovites, 647 two-, three-, and five-hundred percent achievers, and 48 thousand percent achievers were working in industrial enterprises in Frunze. These were mainly skilled production masters who had accumulated significant work experience and skills, having mastered high technical culture perfectly.

In response to the May Day appeal of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in 1942, a nationwide socialist competition for the production of surplus products for the front was widely launched in the country. Transitioning Red banners from the State Defense Committee, the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, and the People's Commissariats were established for the winners of the competition, as well as monetary prizes. In the Kyrgyz SSR, five transitioning Red banners from the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan were established by industry, while in the regions—transitioning Red banners from the regional party committees and regional councils of workers' deputies. The results of the competition were summarized monthly and made widely public.

Development of Socialist Competition Among Workers in the City of Frunze

The All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, in its resolution adopted on May 22, 1942, called on all central, factory, workshop committees of trade unions and trade groups to take the most active part in the development and management of socialist competition among workers.

This powerful nationwide movement for increasing labor productivity, mobilizing internal resources, and better fulfilling and exceeding front orders involved the collectives of 43 industrial enterprises in the city of Frunze, and 72 in the Frunze region.

The number of workers and brigades fulfilling and exceeding production norms increased. At the Frunze Agricultural Machinery Plant by May 1, 1942, there were 480 production leaders—Stakhanovites, shock workers, two-, three-hundred percent achievers, and others; by June 1, their number increased to 539. Notable master-innovators exceeded the plan and commitments taken. For example, Stakhanovite Malikova fulfilled her daily task at 324%, Belyavtsev at 334%, and Tikhonov at 425%.

The number of workers producing surplus products particularly increased in the autumn of 1942, during the fiercest battles near Stalingrad. Thus, the collectives of the workshops led by P. A. Nagorny, F. G. Golovanov, and S. K. Prokhorenko provided significant volumes of surplus defense products in October. The labor productivity of the factory workers rose by 88% compared to the 30% stipulated by socialist commitments. The assignment for gross product output was fulfilled at 100.3%, including defense products at 123%. In November, the agricultural machinery workers achieved even higher rates. For successfully fulfilling the production program in October-November 1942, the factory was awarded the transitioning Red banner from the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan.

In the enterprises of four sectors of light industry—sewing, knitting, leather, and footwear—by June 1, 1942, 38.9% of workers produced at 1.5 norms and above. At the Frunze sewing factory named after Osoaviakhim, the combination of professions—a method tested in the pre-war years—was widely applied. By studying advanced labor methods, clarifying the workload of the working day, and ensuring the correctness of technological operations, many masters began to produce more products by combining professions. In July-August, for example, 33 workers combined two operations, freeing up more than 30 people for other production areas. The rest fulfilled 2-3 norms per day.

The pace of production increased. In the first quarter of 1942, the Frunze Knitting Factory No. 3 produced goods worth 120 thousand rubles (100%), in the second quarter—95.9%, in the third—265%, and in the fourth—332.5% more than in the first. In September-October 1942, Knitting Factory No. 3, and in November-December, Knitting Factory No. 2 won first place in the competition and received the transitioning Red banner from the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Kyrgyzstan.

At the Osh Silk Factory, when determining the fulfillment of production norms by female workers according to the plan and socialist commitments, only high-quality yarn was taken into account for calculations, while low-grade fabric was excluded from production. As a result, the production of high-quality parachute silk increased from 19% in 1942 to 54% in October and to 80.3% in December.

The food industry workers of Kyrgyzstan fought hard to provide maximum assistance to the front. Only from January to June 1942, they produced 5,481 tons of crackers and pasta against a plan of 3,163 tons, of which 5,142 tons were shipped to the front. The production of sausage products in 1942 amounted to 2,000 tons, and granulated sugar—38,100 tons.

The Selfless Labor of Kyrgyz Stakhanovites for the Eastern Front