Activities of Local Government Bodies to Ensure the Liveliness of the Volyn Population During the World War I

Abstract

The aim of the article is clarification of the role of local self-government bodies of Volyn in providing the population of the region with basic necessities and fuel during the World War I. The author analyzes a set of measures taken by Zemstvos and municipal authorities to address vital issues. Methodology of the research is based on the use of general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, and generalization), statistical method, special historical (chronological and historical and systemic) in combination with the principles of historicism, objectivity, and multifactorial. The scientific novelty of the work is that the author finds out the different directions of activity of the local authorities of Volyn to provide the population of the region with food, fuel, and basic necessities during the World War І. Particular attention is paid to highlighting their role in rebuilding the infrastructure of the frontline settlements of the region liberated in 1916. Conclusions. During the World War I the city self-government bodies and Zemstva solved many tasks not inherent in them.  The front-line and later front-line status of the Volyn province forced them to become actively involved in providing food to the townspeople to oppose the export of food from the front-line counties in order to purchase and deliver fuel to the cities, and to provide assistance to evacuees and refugees.  In the settlements liberated in 1916 from the Austro-Hungarian and German troops they faced with a difficult epidemiological situation, lack of funds to address important issues.  The fact that a huge number of military units were stationed in the region the implementation of the tasks became much more difficult.  The most local authorities could count on from the imperial authorities was to obtain loans to support the livelihoods of the region’s cities. The above circumstances together have led to a deterioration in the living standards of the population, especially the poor. Despite the active work of local governments at the end of 1916 in Volhyn, the socio-economic situation deteriorated sharply. In 1916, the frontline settlements of the region.