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1945-1955 - Organization

Civil defense, until 1961, was an integral part of the Soviet Antiair Defense (PVO) and was supervised by the Main Directorate of Local Antiair Defense, or GU MPVO. This controlling body operated under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and was responsible for planning and assisting the Council of Ministers in developing civil defense policy and cooperating with the Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Antiair Defense of the Country. Also, under the jurisdiction of the Council of Ministers was the principal civil defense training organization, DOSAAF.

Subordinate to the GU MPVO were Republic, Region (Oblast), District (Rayon), and City MPVO organizations. Within these areas, the civil defense structure paralleled that of the civil administration and employed administrative and managerial personnel from government and industry in its own commands and staffs. For example, the Council of Workers Deputies of the City maintained responsibility for civil defense in their area. The chairman of their Executive Committee was the Chief of the MPVO in the city, and he directed the program through the MPVO staff. His duties included staff and personnel training, planning, financial and materiel coordination, and organizing civil defense training programs for the population. In addition, the MPVO controlled the services of fire fighting crews, emergency engineers, medical personnel, the sanitary processing and decontamination groups, the security groups, those involved in warning and communications, transportation personnel, shelter and cover service, and various other facilities that could assist in any facet of civil defense.

Several aspects of the city or point concept indicate that the Soviet Union had not yet modified its civil defense structure to accommodate a nuclear threat. The existing system was geared towards a World War II or conventional bomber mode of attack. It was not until the early 1960's that the need for a state-wide, rather than city-wide, system of civil defense was evolved. In addition, there was not, as yet, significant cooperation with the military, indicating that the actual integration with the air defense contingent of the U.S.S.R. had not been fulfilled.

DOSAAF, a paramilitary organization which assumed responsibility for civil defense training and instruction, was established in 1951. Although few military personnel were previously involved in civil defense, less than two years later an antiaircraft general became chairman of DOSAAF, indicating the growing importance of its defense-related functions. The evolution of DOSAAF and civil defense was further marked by two events in 1955:

• The new DOSAAF commander, below, advocated the use of reserve or demobilized soldiers for training and instruction, and
• The first compulsory civil defense training, a 10-hour program, was initiated for the adult population of the Soviet Union.

These milestone events, which began the transition from a civilian-directed, local, voluntary civil defense structure to a military-directed nationwide, mandatory program were prefaced the preceding year by the first civil defense literature mentioning nuclear weapons. This public acknowledgement symbolized the beginning of a new civil defense orientation, one in which "weapons of mass destruction" had to be recognized as an inevitable part of defensive measures. Future civil defense developments, spurred by military-political debates over the outdated procedures of old programs, were a result of this changing strategic situation. Thus, civil defense maintained an important position in the defense branches of the Soviet military and eventually gained recognition by the political leaders of the U.S.S.R.