Crimean Tatars in the Great Patriotic War

This work is devoted to the participation of the Crimean Tatar people in the Great Patriotic War. The authors clearly, with reference to archival documents, show the dynamics of the government's attitude from neutral and benevolent in the pre-war and initial period, to negative at the final stage of the war. The numerical composition of the Crimean Tatars in the ranks of the Red Army, both on the eve of the war and throughout its duration, is considered. Analysis of the representation of Crimean Tatars in the command of regiments, as well as in political work from the regiment and above. Using specific examples, the term "career elevator" is considered and whether it had a place for the fate of the Crimean Tatars during the war years. How many Crimean Tatars and who exactly became Heroes of the Soviet Union during the war, full holders of the Orders of Glory.  The research methodology applied by the authors is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity and consistency. The authors used historical-biographical and historical-systemic methods in their work. The first method allowed us to show the influence of political and ideological factors on the fate of political workers from among the Crimean Tatars. The use of the comparative method has clearly demonstrated a subjective approach to awarding Crimean Tatars. The scientific novelty of the work consists in the fact that for the first time the number of Crimean Tatars who were in the ranks of the Red Army before the announcement of general mobilization was named. The total number of Crimean Tatars involved in the fighting and the total number of those awarded were compared. The representation of the Crimean Tatars in the highest command and political offices of the Red Army is analyzed. The possibilities of a "career elevator" during the war years are considered. The specific facts of the change in the attitude of the authorities towards the Crimean Tatars since 1942 are given. A comparative analysis of the number of awardees in the USSR as a whole and separately for the Crimean Tatars by year has been carried out, revealing subjective dynamics since 1944. The dynamics in awarding the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, in the USSR as a whole and for the Crimean Tatars over all the years of the war, has been revealed.