Migration Policy in Astrakhan Region in 1944-1945

This article examines the migration policy of the state in the Astrakhan region following its formation from 1944 to May 9, 1945. The study is based on materials from the archives of state and party authorities in the State Archive of the Astrakhan Region. The reasons, goals, content, and outcomes of the authorities’ migration policy are identified. The number of migrants is established, showcasing the geography of departure points and migration directions of the population. It is demonstrated that during the final stage of the war (1944 — May 9, 1945), the migration policy aimed to provide labor resources for the fishing industry, new livestock farms, and government initiatives for the development of the Volga-Akhtubinsk floodplain. In the years under consideration, migrations occurred on a voluntary basis and were incentivized by state benefits. In 1945, during the organization of relocations from the Volga-Akhtubinsk floodplain, migrants were recruited from areas with climates and soil conditions similar to those of the Astrakhan region (Kazakhstan). However, the challenging material and living conditions in the settlement areas led to mass return migrations. The Astrakhan region was unprepared to receive and integrate migrants due to insufficient funding for relocations and local authorities’ lack of attention to the needs of newcomers.  

Astrakhan Region, migration policy, labor resources, Great Patriotic War