Scientific Journal of KubSAU

The article explores shift of emphasis in the Third Reich policy in the North Caucasus when agricultural resources of the region became the main object of economic exploitation and one of the most important source of Germany's food supply. Firstly the author shows the place the North Caucasus had in agriculture of the Soviet Union on the eve of the Great Patriotic War. Despite a relatively small area and population, the region played an important role in the production of wheat, corn, sunflower, meat and other products. It is emphasized that the region was of special interest to Germany primarily for its oil fields which allowed solving the fuel problems. But with the failure of Hitler’s "oil plans" the agricultural products became the most important revenue source for the German economy in the North Caucasus in 1942-1943. The author shows that for stable agricultural exploitation the occupation regime not only refused the collective farms’ accelerated elimination but also adapted them to harvesting crops and saving huge livestock. Using the pro-Nazi newspapers and archival documents, the author reveals the occupier’s methodology of action and propaganda by local supporters of the regime for a timely crops harvest. In conclusion, the results of agrarian policy of Germany in the North Caucasus are shown. This article is intended for specialists in the field of history and economics as well as a wide range of readers

The article considers the place of Islamic festivities of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in the policy of Nazi Germany among the North Caucasus highlanders. Implementing “The North Caucasian experiment” based on speculation costs in prewar policy of Soviet power in the North Caucasus, the occupation regime has identified Islamic holidays a special role in the demonstration of “good intentions” and propaganda among highlanders. The author's concept is founded on the premise that under Nazi occupation of mountain areas Muslim holidays, with a strong outward expression, became a part of not only religious but also the ethno-political, social and economic policies of the Third Reich and served as a means of “political security” for Nazi rule. Using the archival documents and materials of the Berlin newspaper “Gazavat”, the author reveals the background, course and consequences of celebration of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in the occupied North Caucasus in October and December 1942 and the place of Islamic holidays in Anti-Communist propaganda among highlanders in the Wehrmacht units. The chronological scope of the study is conditioned by the fact that it was during 1942-1944 the arsenal of policy of the Third Reich among Muslims in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East included Muslim holidays