Timiryazev Academy members in the Moscow people’s militia. Dedicated to the 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War

This article examines the significance of the Great Patriotic War as a pivotal event in world history, with particular emphasis on the heroism of the Soviet people and its impact on Russia’s cultural identity. The key findings presented include newly discovered archival facts and details concerning the participation of the Timiryazevites in the Moscow people’s militia. The study underscores the importance of perpetuating this historical memory for future generations. The profound impact of the 1940s on collective consciousness ensures that the memory of the heroism displayed during that era endures in the hearts of current generations. This research focuses on the involvement of professors, teachers, postgraduates, students, and staff of the Timiryazev Academy in the formation of the Moscow people’s militia during the Great Patriotic War. It highlights how this academic and labor community, characterized by its strong sense of social responsibility, responded to the call to defend the Motherland. The article recounts the valorous actions of the Timiryazevites in various battles, emphasizing the collective efforts and unity that not only aided in the defense of the Motherland but also sustained a fighting spirit during those challenging times. This study contributes to the understanding of the Academy’s history, demonstrating how educational institutions can effectively respond to contemporary challenges by cultivating patriotism and solidarity among their members. Furthermore, it revisits questions about the significance of past sacrifices and opens new avenues for future research, enhancing our understanding of the interplay between historical memory and civic identity. The findings will help deepen the appreciation for the role of public institutions in historical crises and strengthen the connection between the past and the present, particularly in light of the 80th anniversary of Victory. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the lasting commemoration of the heroes who fought for the freedom of our Motherland.

1. Arkhangelskiy N.S., Belykh G.V., Kuznetsov A.I., Poshataev A.V. Timiryazev Academy: Brief essay on the past and present. Moscow, USSR: Agropromizdat, 1990:220. (In Russ.)

2. Aleshchenko N.M., Bukov K.I., Kolesnik A.D., Sinitsyn A.M. Moscow people’s militia: a brief historical sketch. Moscow, USSR: Voenizdat, 1969:224 (In Russ.)

3. Aparin A.A., Novikova I.V. Decisions of the State Defense Committee on the creation of new formations of the ground forces in late June-July 1941. Sovremennaya nauchnaya mysl. 2024;(6):122-130. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24412/2308-264X-2024-6-122-130

4. Bezugolny A.Yu. Reordanization of Moscow divisions of people’s militia into rifle ones in August – September 1941. RUDN Journal of Russian History. 2024;23(4):463-475. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22363/2312-8674-2024-23-4-463-475

5. Bezugolny A.Yu., Leontieva N.I. Formation of divisions of the Moscow people’s militia in areas of the Moscow region in 1941 (based on materials from the Commission on the History of the Great Patriotic war of the USSR Academy of Sciences). Russia and the Contemporary World. 2024;(3(124)):118-133. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31249/rsm/2024.03.08

6. State Archive of the Russian Federation. Order No. 222/454 dated October 09, 1945. 1945:156. (In Russ.)

7. Goldman R.Ya., Saskovets E.L. Timiryazev Academy during the Great Patriotic War. Moscow, USSR, 1965:41. (In Russ.)

8. Gorinov M.M., Parkhachev V.N., Ponomarev A.N. Front-line Moscow, 1941-1942: Archive documents and materials. Moscow, Russia: Mosgorarkhiv; Moskovskie Uchebniki, 2001:661. (In Russ.)

9. Kazarezov V.V. Golden Chronicle of the Timiryazev Academy. V.4: Petrovskaya (Timiryazevskaya) Academy: 1917-1945. Moscow, Russia: Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, 2014:400. (In Russ.)

10. Kuzyaeva S.A. The 9th People’s Militia Division in military counterintelligence documents. Military History Magazine. 2015;(1):8-12. (In Russ.)

11. Luchko R.N. The formation of the Moscow people’s militia divisions in the summer of 1941. In: The beginning of XX. Kolomna, Russia: State University of Humanities and Social Studies, 2024:189-198. (In Russ.)

12. Maysuryan N.A. Notes of the dean. Moscow, Russia: Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, 2005:148. (In Russ.)

13. Muromtseva L.P., Perkhavko V.B. “Comrade militiaman! You have risen to fight the fierce enemy, armed to the teeth”. Militia fighters in Moscow in the terrible 1941. Military History Magazine. 2023;(6):4-19. (In Russ.)

14. In the footsteps of the past war: memorial sites of the Patriotic War in Moscow and the Moscow Region. 1941-1945. Moscow, USSR: Moskovskiy rabochiy, 1961:320. (In Russ.)

15. Tokareva E.A., Poltavets I.A. To the question of the study of the fates of the fighters of the Moscow people’s militia. MCU Journal of Historical Studies. 2023;(2(50)):95-107. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25688/20-76-9105.2023.50.2.07

16. Trukhachev V.I., Agirbov Yu.I., Orishev A.B. Timiryazev Academy during the Great Patriotic War: a monograph. Moscow, Russia: Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, 2025:276. (In Russ.)

17. Trukhachev V.I., Agirbov Yu., Orishev A.B. Timiryazev Academy during the Great Patriotic War. Izvestiya of Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. 2025;1(2):5-19. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26897/0021-342X-2025-2-5-19

18. Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense. Inventory of the fund 219. Page 2. (In Russ.)

19. Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense. Fund 219. Inventory 679. Case 212. Pages 1-30. (In Russ.)

20. Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense. Fund 219, Inventory 688. Case 17. Page 127. (In Russ.)

21. Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense. Fund 219. Inventory 688. Case 17. Page 164. (In Russ.)

22. Yakushkin I.G. Age Oct (to the 100 anniversary from the birthday N.I. Yakushkina – October 10, 1917 – April 12, 2006). Bereginya. 777. Sova: Obshchestvo. Politika. Ekonomika. 2017;(3(34)):57-65. (In Russ.)