Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)

Abstract. The article deals with the problem of organizing public catering for workers of large industrial enterprises in Stalingrad in the late 1920s – early 1930s, during the first five-year plan. Methods and materials. In this study traditional methods (historical-descriptive, historical-genetic,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andrei V. Lunochkin, Ekaterina L. Furman
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Volgograd State University 2022-02-01
Series:Вестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/2737
_version_ 1797694124326912000
author Andrei V. Lunochkin
Ekaterina L. Furman
author_facet Andrei V. Lunochkin
Ekaterina L. Furman
author_sort Andrei V. Lunochkin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. The article deals with the problem of organizing public catering for workers of large industrial enterprises in Stalingrad in the late 1920s – early 1930s, during the first five-year plan. Methods and materials. In this study traditional methods (historical-descriptive, historical-genetic, historical-comparative) and the principles of historical research (historicism, systemacity) were used, which made it possible to restore the stages of organizing workers’ catering in Stalingrad at the first stage of industrial modernization, as well as to identify and analyze reasons for the manifestation of crisis phenomena in the public catering system. Analysis and results. As early as the initial stage of industrialization, the food problem sharply worsened. However, largely generated by the problems of industrialization, it was the food crisis that contributed to the development of the public catering system. In the conditions of normalized distribution of food products, the tasks of implementing planned installations for the administration of catering enterprises were simplified as much as possible. Having received standardized food products, workers could get the rest of the products only in canteens, which from the second half of the 1920s were part of the cooperative system, consolidated into a single Central Workers’ Cooperative (CWC), which had both its advantages (centralized supply) and disadvantages (lack of close communication with the consumer and, as a result, lack of feedback and direct influence of enterprise management on the process of organizing food for workers). Factory buffets, canteens, and giant kitchen factories created at an accelerated pace were put into operation with a huge number of shortcomings. Unsanitary conditions at public catering enterprises, a chronic lack of kitchen equipment, disruptions in food supplies, a monotonous menu, and, as a result, poor diet of workers have become commonplace. Prices in closed cooperative canteens were often comparable to market prices, while the quality of products did not meet the established requirements. Neither the tightening of control, nor the reorganization of the catering system (the introduction of working supply departments) led to a radical improvement in the situation with catering. Meanwhile, systemic problems with the organization of public catering also determined the degree of public confidence in the authorities. Negative statements about the Soviet government on the basis of problems with public catering have become a very common phenomenon in the working environment and a kind of litmus test for determining the level of public confidence in the government’s course.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T02:53:24Z
format Article
id doaj.art-aab2fc9bcecc49beb62c1f73f31e7d36
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1998-9938
2312-8704
language Russian
last_indexed 2024-03-12T02:53:24Z
publishDate 2022-02-01
publisher Volgograd State University
record_format Article
series Вестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения
spelling doaj.art-aab2fc9bcecc49beb62c1f73f31e7d362023-09-03T15:26:47ZrusVolgograd State UniversityВестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения1998-99382312-87042022-02-01271577010.15688/jvolsu4.2022.1.5Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)Andrei V. Lunochkin0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7431-8906Ekaterina L. Furman1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7346-295XVolgograd State UniversityVolgograd State UniversityAbstract. The article deals with the problem of organizing public catering for workers of large industrial enterprises in Stalingrad in the late 1920s – early 1930s, during the first five-year plan. Methods and materials. In this study traditional methods (historical-descriptive, historical-genetic, historical-comparative) and the principles of historical research (historicism, systemacity) were used, which made it possible to restore the stages of organizing workers’ catering in Stalingrad at the first stage of industrial modernization, as well as to identify and analyze reasons for the manifestation of crisis phenomena in the public catering system. Analysis and results. As early as the initial stage of industrialization, the food problem sharply worsened. However, largely generated by the problems of industrialization, it was the food crisis that contributed to the development of the public catering system. In the conditions of normalized distribution of food products, the tasks of implementing planned installations for the administration of catering enterprises were simplified as much as possible. Having received standardized food products, workers could get the rest of the products only in canteens, which from the second half of the 1920s were part of the cooperative system, consolidated into a single Central Workers’ Cooperative (CWC), which had both its advantages (centralized supply) and disadvantages (lack of close communication with the consumer and, as a result, lack of feedback and direct influence of enterprise management on the process of organizing food for workers). Factory buffets, canteens, and giant kitchen factories created at an accelerated pace were put into operation with a huge number of shortcomings. Unsanitary conditions at public catering enterprises, a chronic lack of kitchen equipment, disruptions in food supplies, a monotonous menu, and, as a result, poor diet of workers have become commonplace. Prices in closed cooperative canteens were often comparable to market prices, while the quality of products did not meet the established requirements. Neither the tightening of control, nor the reorganization of the catering system (the introduction of working supply departments) led to a radical improvement in the situation with catering. Meanwhile, systemic problems with the organization of public catering also determined the degree of public confidence in the authorities. Negative statements about the Soviet government on the basis of problems with public catering have become a very common phenomenon in the working environment and a kind of litmus test for determining the level of public confidence in the government’s course.https://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/2737industrialization in the ussrlate 1920s – early 1930sstalingradlower volgapublic cateringfood supplycanteenkitchen factory
spellingShingle Andrei V. Lunochkin
Ekaterina L. Furman
Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)
Вестник Волгоградского государственного университета. Серия 4. История, регионоведение, международные отношения
industrialization in the ussr
late 1920s – early 1930s
stalingrad
lower volga
public catering
food supply
canteen
kitchen factory
title Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)
title_full Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)
title_fullStr Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)
title_full_unstemmed Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)
title_short Organization of Catering for Workers in Stalingrad During the First Five-Year Plan (1929–1933)
title_sort organization of catering for workers in stalingrad during the first five year plan 1929 1933
topic industrialization in the ussr
late 1920s – early 1930s
stalingrad
lower volga
public catering
food supply
canteen
kitchen factory
url https://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/2737
work_keys_str_mv AT andreivlunochkin organizationofcateringforworkersinstalingradduringthefirstfiveyearplan19291933
AT ekaterinalfurman organizationofcateringforworkersinstalingradduringthefirstfiveyearplan19291933