Hunger as a factor in the criminalization of Ukrainian society in 1932–1933 (on the materials of Dnipropetrovsk region)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15421/26210423

Abstract

The aim of the article: to analyze the criminogenic situation in the cities of Dnipropetrovsk region during the Holodomor of 1932–1933 and the measures of the regional authorities to combat crime. Methods: comparative-historical, problem-chronological, historical-genetic. Processing of archival documents are carried out using the methods of source studying and hermeneutic analysis. The scientific novelty of the article is that the author characterizes the criminogenic situation in the cities of Dnipropetrovsk region during the Holodomor of 1932–1933 and the measures of the regional authorities to combat crime for the first time. Practical meaning: the results of the research can be used for studying the socio-psychological consequences of the Holodomor of 1932–1933. The originality of the study is based on the identification and analytical and synthetic processing of previously unknown archival documents of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Committee of the CP(b)U, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Police Department, Dnipropetrovsk City Prosecutor`s Office from the State Archives of Dnipropetrovsk region. Main results. It is shown that the main reasons for the increase in crime were famine and large-scale repression, which led to the emergence of the so-called declassed element – the peasants, deprived of livelihood. Thefts, robberies, fraud with grocery documents were the main types of crimes in cities during the Holodomor of 1932–1933. It was proved that the crime situation in the Dnipropetrovsk region remained difficult throughout 1933 despite the measures taken by the Soviet party leadership. The justice authorities and the GPU, created to fight the counter-revolution, were unable to protect the property and life of city dwellers. The ineffectiveness of fight against crime was determined by the authorities desire to eliminate the phenomenon without eliminating its causes. Іt was impossible to stop thefts, robberies, and murders of the urban population, since most of the thieves were “criminals of despair”. It was also impossible without stabilizing the food situation. Type of article: theoretical, research.

Author Biography

Nataliia Romanets, Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University

Sc. D. in History, Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of History of Ukraine and Law, Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, Kryvyj Rih, Ukraine

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Published
2022-07-19
How to Cite
ROMANETS, Nataliia. Hunger as a factor in the criminalization of Ukrainian society in 1932–1933 (on the materials of Dnipropetrovsk region). Universum Historiae et Archeologiae = The Universe of History and Archeology = Універсум історії та археології ISSN 2664-9950 (Print) ISSN 2707-6385 (Online), [S.l.], v. 4, n. 2, p. 101–108, july 2022. ISSN 2707-6385. Available at: <http://uha.dp.ua/index.php/UHA/article/view/166>. Date accessed: 04 june 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.15421/26210423.
Citation Formats
Issue
Vol 4 No 2 (2021)
Section
History of Ukraine
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