Abstract: The object of this research is the youth of Buryat-Mongolian ASSR as most active social group within the social structure of 1941 – 1945, which was the major source for replenishment of labor reserves. The subject of this research is the examination of core financial and social problems faced by the youth working at the defense industry plants of the republic. Special attention is given to analysis of the impact of wartime struggles and hardships upon household and food procurement. It is noted that shortage of housing, low salaries, insecure life, poor nutrition, deficit of clothing and footwear often led breach of employee discipline. The article explores the important vectors in the activity of Komsomol with regards to housing and living conditions, as well as various forms of financial and psychological incentives that promote adaptation of youth to working at the industrial plant. The scientific novelty consists in introduction into the scientific discourse of a number of previously unpublished source that were collected specifically for this research. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that working youth, who for the most part came from rural localities to the city, were put in quite difficult social and living conditions, experiencing critical problems in the process of adaptation; however, they accomplished significant labor achievements and made their contribution to the common Victory.

Abstract: This article examines the process of formation of such phenomena of public consciousness as the “image of hero” and “image of enemy”. Referring to this topic is dictated by the fact that in 1920’s – 1930’s the antithesis of "hero-enemy" was one of the key moments of Soviet reality, since the Bolshevik leadership from the very beginning of coming to power actively sought to strengthen the new socialist state and the need for its protection from the external and internal interventions. The propaganda became the main mechanism in creating the pantheon of heroes and antiheroes. Certainly, the propaganda machine affected the entire population of the country, but the attention was particularly focused on youth due to their emotional susceptibility and activeness. The article analyzes the most significant ideological and practical methods applies in the compiling of the image of hero and image of enemy, as well as emphasizes its role in establishment of the patriotic mentality. The author identifies the varieties of the image of hero alongside the image of internal enemy, noting that the political transformations in the international arena throughout the late 1920’s – 1930's often led to a shifting the accents in depicting the image of external enemy. It is concluded that the official propaganda made fairly successful steps in the area of military-patriotic upbringing of the Soviet youth.