Forbidden love: On the issue of marriages between Soviet servicemen and women of foreign countries in the first postwar years

Abstract

Based on the memoirs of direct participants in the events, as well as a number of regulatory documents, the article examines the issue of relations between Soviet servicemen and foreign women in Eastern Europe in the first post-war year. The models of behavior are given and the consequences that have arisen are analyzed. The mythology of relationships is considered on the example of the presence of the Russian army in France in 1814. The demographic situation in the USSR on the eve of the Great Patriotic War and the measures taken by the Soviet government to improve it are analyzed. The article considers diplomatic efforts to prevent the non-return of previously interned citizens and Soviet military personnel who were captured during the Yalta International Conference in 1945. The actions of the governments of the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy and other countries are analyzed both to assist the USSR in resolving this issue and to provide assistance to those who do not want to return to the USSR. It shows the actions of the Soviet authorities, both during the war and in the first post-war years, in relation to the problem of illegitimate children and their legal status. Financial assistance to single mothers from the state, but reduced responsibility on the part of fathers who do not want to recognize their illegitimate children. The article considers the role of women’s councils in the armed forces of the USSR, as well as the informal institution of the “regimental lady” and her role in resolving various non-standard situations. The proposed article demonstrates three patterns of behavior of Soviet military personnel with women representatives of foreign countries: latent, with termination of relations when danger to the serviceman is manifested.; continuation of relations bypassing existing legal relations up to the creation of a full-fledged family; an attempt to enter into a dialogue with official authorities.