The Returning of Civilians from the Evacuation to Moscow: Corruption and the Shadow Housing Market (1941—1948)

The article examines the informal practices that accompanied the process of returning civilians to Moscow from evacuation in the period from late 1941 to 1948. The first part of the article studies how the lack of guarantees from the Soviet authorities regarding the housing of evacuees contributed to its illegal transfer to third parties through the shadow market. The second part of the article analyzes how the evacuees managed to turn the corruption of the Soviet system in their favor in situation of the absence of free movement, choice of workplace and unwillingness of the authorities to return all previously evacuated citizens. Bribery helped many evacuees to return to Moscow and try to restore their rights to housing in legal or illicit ways. The study relies on archival materials, including sources newly introduced into scientific circulation.