Caucasian peoples in the Red Army (1941-1945)

This study, based on archive records of military and party bodies, has a comprehensive review of participation of Caucasian soldiers in the ranks of the Red Army and ddetermination of the national policy in the Caucasus region during World War II. In this context some light has been thrown on different aspects such as mobilization, recruitment and training soldiers for the army, problems raised by supply and dispatch activities, formation and military training of the national forces, the matters of language education and the ideological project of formation of the Soviet Human together with Russian nationalism and deportation of some Caucasian peoples during the second half of the war. During this period, the principle of distrust towards the Turkish - Muslim population, especially in the USSR, has been effective due to the influence of Russian national policy and later on it has formed the basis of decision to deport Caucasus peoples of from their historical homeland. In theory, starting from 1917 the Soviet ideology was based on the principles of eliminating the separation and applying the principles of equality between the nations. Although, contrary to this policy, it has been determined that during the examined period the Slavic nationalism was distinctly insulting other nations and marginalizing them. Likewise, in spite of the claims of the Soviet ideology to terminate all religious discriminations, members of the Christian religious communities were treated with tolerance while negative attitudes towards Muslim communities were observed. These facts determine the main features of the policies implemented to Caucasian peoples during the study period. Although not expressed in official documents, it can be said that in practice large ethnic cleansing operations against the non-Slavic people took place. The history of Caucasian national forces reflects like a mirror all the turning points of the national policy during the war and its analysis together with conditions and principles of their formation, the fields Caucasian national forces were used in and their combat training preparations shows that, unlike other military unions of the Red Army, they were in a specific and different position during the war. This study has required development of a specific research method which combined the study of national policies and political processes in the Caucasus during the war with the traditional military - historical approach. As a result, the study brings into the light of day the invaluable but ignored contribution of Caucasian peoples to the great victory days of the four-year bloody war. It is hoped that the study had made a little contribution to the objective examination of the issues of participation of Caucasian peoples in World War II. Keywords: World War II, Caucasian peoples, the Red Army, National Forces (National Unions)