The Military Book as a Means of Forming Readiness for War (the Experience of the 1930s — Early 1940s)

The undoubted sources of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941—1945 are the patriotism and unity of the peoples of the USSR, the readiness to defend the Motherland, mass heroism and dedication at the military and home front. The manifestation of these qualities during the war years was largely the result of the state policy of the pre-war decade aimed at preparing the country to repel possible aggression. One of the tools of such a policy was the book, which mobilized and campaigned, educated and enligthted various categories of the population. The purpose of this article is to analyze military book publishing in the 1930s and early 1940s in the context of large–scale militarization campaigns, the formation of Soviet patriotism, and the education of readiness to defend the Motherland.