the Population of Moscow in the early forties was more than 4 million people. Almost 55 percent women, and almost every fourth Muscovite was under the age of 16. Basically, they stood by the machines of the capital’s businesses, replacing the departed to the front men. And only for the period of the battle of Moscow they were able to return to duty more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles.
According to statistics, every third released in the country a gun and every eighth plane came out of the Moscow shops. At the same time, more than 600 people (mostly women) have built fortifications. In addition to 46 thousand anti-tank hedgehogs they found on the streets of barricades and numerous gun emplacements.
Also in Moscow had deployed 69 military hospitals. More than 200 thousand Muscovites volunteered to work there, among the sisters of mercy were 13 thousand students. Over half a million citizens went to serve in the troops of air defence. During the war, the city dropped 110 thousand incendiary bombs. This caused numerous fires, most of them were eliminated very quickly.
since the summer of 41 th, the authorities began to prepare the evacuation of children from the city. But despite all the efforts of Moscow still remained about 366 thousand children under the age of 12. And cold, and the bombing worked 17 kindergartens and nurseries. Gardens and playgrounds are almost always covered anti-aircraft guns and balloons. But the school in the autumn 41-go has stopped working. But not for long. In January, when the Nazis were driven back, in each district of Moscow has opened counseling centers for high school students, and by the end of ‘ 42 at desks sat down again pupils 295 schools.
thousands of Muscovites took refuge from the bombing in the subway. Subway during the war years became a center of urban life. For example, the station “Mayakovskaya” became a military hotel. Divan beds without mattresses were provided with all bedding Muscovites were allowed to take with you. There are convertible Hiking cradles for babies, which was also a lot in the underground city, also in the war years in the metro were born of 217 children. On “Kursk” made a branch of public historical library: in December of the first war years it was visited by 1020.
