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Votkinsky Zavod in the years of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) |
In 1937 Votkinsky Zavod was born the second time - it becomes defense industry plant. The first order was to field production of 152-mm howitzer М-10. In the very short time the factory became one of the largest Great Patriotic War guns supplier.
In July, 1941 Ministry of Armament commissions to the plant manufacture of 45-mm anti-tank guns 2243-А Annushka. In a very short time they managed to put into operation about 1000 machines, to organize large-scale production, and to fulfil the order of the State Defense Committee. By the end of the year 1941 our factory had supplied Red Army Armed Forces 1625 guns and howitzers. In the first year of the war only Kiev Arsenal factory evacuated here 1100 railcars with production equipment and more than 2500 of workers and engineers. Later on trains from besieged Moscow region, Leningrad, Stalingrad and Novocherkassk arrived. It was the most difficult time. They needed to organize large-scale production, to build new shops and living quarters for refugees. The plant grew with tremendous speed. Instead of scheduled two months the new shops were constructed in two weeks. It was a very unusual production ? shops were still missing their roofs, and the machines were operated already. In 1941 eleven new shops were built.
In 1942 state orders multiplied and grew more complicated. It was necessary to increase many times production of 45-mm guns, and implement new products. It required dramatic reconstruction of the entire production. And the plant coped with it successfully. In September, 1942, production of a new 76-mm anti-tank gun ZIS-3 designed by V.Grabin, was fielded. This gun was considered to be the best of its kind that was recognized even by the enemy. In the same year manufacture of 45-mm ship gun 21K for submarines was implemented. 45-mm Verochka tank cannon was made, along with spare parts for the products, aircraft bombs and mines casings. To perform the difficult and complex tasks production required, plant engineers developed and implemented lots of new technological processes, like automatic welding, deep barrels drilling, new method of casting, rolling of gun?s monoblocks, centrifugal barrels casting (first in the USSR) etc. Victories on the labor front were highly appreciated in Order of the Head of Ministry of Armament D.Ustinov. 48 workers and engineers were awarded with orders and medals of the USSR. In 1942 the plant manufactured and sent to Armed Forces 16000 guns, 11000 of them were anti-tank.
In 1943 the factory continues to increase production of 45-mm and 76-mm guns and ship guns. Factory experts kept to improve the guns' design, implemented new technological processes that allowed, for example, to reduce 45-mm gun manufacture time 1.5 times. In 1943 they produced 18500 guns.
In 1944 manufacture of 45-mm gun was discontinued; 76-mm, ship and sea universal guns, 76-mm guns for self-propelled howitzers SU-76 was going full gear. New 57-mm, Grabin's design, anti-tank ZIS-2 gun production was fielded. This gun was able to pierce armor of new German Tiger and Panther tanks and was used successfully on battlefields. Along with this, the factory continued to expand its production capacities, upgrade equipment and technological processes. New double-spindle machines F-3 for continuous gun parts milling were designed and manufactured. Among workers and engineers the spirit of creation was soaring high - 792 implemented innovations helped to save 7840000 rubles. In spite of difficulties and hunger, plant staffers gathered money for country defense fund. In the years that the war had lasted, the employees managed to gather more tan 9 million rubles and sent to the front lots of warm clothes and boots. In 1944 the factory supplied for the front 10000 guns. By order of Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR 71 employee of the factory were awarded with orders and medals of the USSR for successful fulfillment of State Defense Committee order. Chief Engineer E. Gulianz and shop 10 turner S. Nakonechny were awarded with orders of Lenin - one of the highest state orders of the USSR.
In 1945 the plant continued to supply ZIS-2, ZIS-3 and self-propelled howitzers guns. They designed and manufactured a model of a powerful 85-mm self-propelled gun with composite barrel, without leveling mechanism. In a year they produced 8000 guns of this type.
In the years of war territory of the plant increased in 2.2 times, power consumption - in 2.5 times, metal cutting machines number - in 2.5 times, quantity of presses - on 80%. Labor output increased on 271%. It was mostly teenagers and very young people from vocational training schools, and those who were trained right on their new work place who became new workers at the factory while their fathers and elder brothers defended their Motherland sacrificing their lives. Number of women at the factory standing in for their men doubled. In spite of war time difficulties, lots of things were done to ease the workers' life - 60 houses with more than 30000 sq. meters area were built, 20 halls of residence. New kindergartens, cafeterias were opened, as well as new boarding house and sanatorium. Since 1943 to 1946 F. Chebotaryov was the plant's director - experienced engineer and leader. He was awarded with two orders for his meritorious service in the years of war.
May, 9, 1945 - the Victory Day - was declared holiday. 1418 bitter days of war were left behind. 52000 guns of various calibers were made - it constituted 11% from the total amount of the guns manufactured in the country in the years of war - it was our share in defeat of the fascist Germany. In 1945 the plant was awarded with order of Lenin for war time operation and to the 185-year anniversary. 284 employees were awarded with orders and medals. 15494 staffers got medal for meritorious labor during the war. In history and in the nation's memory forever will remain the people who worked for the victory in rear and on fronts.
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