Publication Details
Abstract
The wartime period from 1941 to 1945 marked a transformative phase in the industrial and energy sectors of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, reflecting broader Soviet strategies for economic resilience during World War II. Initially reliant on hydroelectric power, the Uzbek SSR saw an industrial pivot toward constructing thermal power stations fueled by natural gas by the war's end. Prior research lacks detailed documentation of the engineering achievements and social mobilization strategies that underpinned these developments. This article aims to analyze the construction, operation, and socio-political impact of newly established power plants and industrial enterprises in Uzbekistan during the war years. The Tashkent power system became the first in the USSR to be fully automated. Hydroelectric projects like the Solor and Lower Bozsuv HPPs rapidly advanced using innovative construction methods, with women comprising 60% of the labor force in some instances. The flagship Farkhod HPP on the Syr Darya, partially built during the war, catalyzed agricultural expansion and industrialization. The article highlights the role of regional collaboration, the integration of local labor—including women and Japanese prisoners of war—and new engineering techniques in completing large-scale energy projects within compressed timelines. These developments significantly boosted the energy supply to industry and agriculture, laid the foundation for post-war economic growth, and demonstrated the potential for national solidarity-driven infrastructure projects under wartime conditions. The case of the Uzbek SSR offers critical insights into crisis-era industrial mobilization, relevant to both historical analysis and modern infrastructure planning in resource-scarce environments.