Chernysheva N.V., Azhigulova A.I. (2026). Demographic Policy Measures of USSR Regarding Multi-child Mothers in First Postwar Decade (1945–1955). Nauchnyi dialog, 15 (2): 534-552.

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://www.nauka-dialog.ru/jour/article/view/6951 (дата обращения 27.03.2026)

Abstract

The article aims to describe demographic policy measures implemented by the Soviet Union towards multi-child mothers during the post-war period. Sources include materials from the State Planning Committee of the USSR, All-Union population censuses of 1939 and 1959, reports, official notes from central government bodies, document collections, dictionaries, and publications from major newspapers. It raises questions regarding the timeliness and effectiveness of these measures aimed at compensating for wartime demographic losses through support mechanisms for large families with multiple children. The authors conclude that this period coincided with the second stage of the demographic transition. By mid-1950s, pre-war levels of population were restored due to state policies and compensatory post-war fertility increases. However, it is shown that implementing such demographic policies faced significant challenges. It is noted that the state managed to support mothers with many children and mitigate the negative impact of wartime and post-war years. It is emphasized that restoring the extremely high birth rate as well as the traditionally large proportion of multichild families in Soviet society was not feasible. Additionally, there was an observed shift away from associating multi-child families with traditional institutions like full-family structures and marriage.