Vavilov Institute for the History of Science and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

E. V. Minina, Deputy Director of Science, Candidate of Historical Sciences, minina@ihst.ru
M. Kh. Zakirova, Researcher, Candidate of Historical Sciences

The article reviews the organizational, technological and social aspects of the Donets coal basin development during the recovery and industrialization period. As a case-study of the Donbas, the successes and difficulties of the coal industry mechanization are considered, and the causes of the constant lag in coal production from planned indicators are analyzed. The contradictory social context combining labor enthusiasm and widespread development of innovation with unjustified repressions is presented. One of the main sources was the publications of Gornyi Zhurnal displaying the problems and achievements of the coal industry of our country on its pages.

1. Objectives of the moment. Gornoe delo. 1920. No. 1. pp. 2–3.
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3. State Donets Coal Trust of the USSR High Council of National Economy. Russian State Archive of Economics. Fund 7299. Inventory 1. File 64. List 1.
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5. Lakoda N. P. Development stages and objectives of mechanization in the Donbas. Gornyi Zhurnal. 1929. No. 2-3. pp. 100–112.
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24. INFO OGPU Notification on Efficiency in Extinction of Production Gap in the Donbas, October 30, 1930. Central Archives of the Federal Security Services of the Russian Federation. Fund 2. Inventory 8. File 655. List 246–252. Available at: https://istmat.org/node/26394 (accessed: 16.02.2025)
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28. Glikman Z. Coal cutter. Tekhnika–Molodezhi. 1938. No. 2. pp. 44.
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31. The 17th Convention of Coal Industry. Gornyi Zhurnal. 1934. No. 2. pp. 1–4.
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33. Correspondence on Crediting, Coal Export Activities and Invitation of Foreign Specialists. Russian State Archive of Economics. Fund 7566. Inventory 4. File 5.
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38. Extract of Memo of L. M. Kaganovich, People’s Commissar of the USSR Heavy Industry to V. M. Molotov, Chairman of the USSR Council of People’s Commissars: Project III of 5 Year Plan of Industry Development by 6 people’s commissariats merged into the People’s Commissariat of Heavy Industry as of January 26, 1939, Five Year Plan II Efficiency. Russian State Archive of Economics. Fund 4372. Inventory 36. File 276. List 1–11, 31. Available at: https://istmat.org/node/28759 (accessed: 16.02.2025).

39. Glagolev V. A., Alekseenko I. K. Mechanical engineering in mining industry. Gornyi Zhurnal. 1938. No. 1. pp. 47–53.
40. Ozernoy M. I. Electrification of coal mines. Gornyi Zhurnal. 1938. No. 1. pp. 38–42.
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42. Directives for the General Directorate of the Coal Industry in the Donbas–Caucasus No. 1–80. Russian State Archive of Economics. Fund 9603. Inventory 1. File 1.
43. Decree of the USSR Council of People’s Commissariat and Central Committee of the All-Russian Communist Party as of March 31, 1940 on the Coal Industry in the Donbas (Extract). Resolutions of the Party and Government on Economic Issues (1917–1967). Moscow : Politizdat, 1967. Vol. 2. pp. 732–741.