How many republics were there in the USSR? 15 republics that were part of the USSR

The USSR was formed on the shards of the former Russian Empire. He was one of two centers of power and influence throughout the twentieth century. It was the Union that decisively defeated fascist Germany, and its collapse was the most significant event of the second half of the last century. Which republics were part of the USSR, we will understand in the following article.

Problems of the national-state system on the eve of the emergence of the USSR

How many republics were there in the USSR? This question can be given different answers, because at the initial stage of the formation of the state, their number did not remain unchanged. In order to understand this in more detail, let us turn to history. By the time of the end of the Civil War, the territory of our state was a fairly variegated complex of various national and state entities. Their legal status often depended on the military-political conjuncture, the strength of local authorities and other factors. However, as the influence and authority of the Bolsheviks increased, this question became one of the main issues for the state and government. In the leadership of the VKP (b) there was no consolidated opinion on the future structure of the country. Most of the party members believed that the state should be built on the basis of unitary principles, without taking into account the national component, while its other members cautiously expressed themselves for the self-determination of nations within the country. But the decisive word was for VI. Lenin.

A difficult dilemma in the depths of the CPSU (b)

The republics that were part of the USSR, according to Lenin, were supposed to have a certain independence, but recognizing this issue as rather complicated, he saw the need for a special analysis of it. This question was entrusted to the specialist on the national question, known to the Central Committee. To Stalin. He acted as a consistent supporter of the autonomy of all the republics that are part of the new state formation. During the Civil War, the principle of federalism triumphed in the territory of the RSFSR , but the relations of independent republics were regulated on the basis of special agreements. Another serious problem was the rather strong nationalist sentiments among the Communists in the localities. All this complex of disagreements should be taken into account when forming a new state.

Start work on the creation of a unified state

By the beginning of 1922, about 185 peoples lived on the territory under the Soviets. For their unification, it was necessary to take into account everything, even the smallest nuances, but the process of creating the USSR was not only a decision from above, it was supported in the overwhelming majority by the masses. The formation of the USSR also had a foreign policy reason - the need to unite in the face of clearly hostile states. To develop the principles for the organization of the future country, a special commission of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee was created. In the depths of this structure it was decided that the example of the existence of the RSFSR is the most acceptable option for the formation of a new state. However, this idea came up against resolute opposition from members of the commission of national regions. Stalin was little inclined to criticize his position. The method was tested in Transcaucasia. This area required special attention. A lot of national contradictions were concentrated here. In particular, Georgia for a brief period of its independence has managed to effectively build the economy and foreign policy ties. Armenia and Azerbaijan treated each other with mutual suspicion.

Disagreements between Stalin and Lenin on the formation of the USSR

The experiment ended with the creation of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic consisting of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. It was in this way that they had to enter the new state. In late August 1922 for the implementation of the association was formed a commission in Moscow. According to the plan of "autonomization" I.V. Stalin all the parts of the Union will have limited independence. At that moment Lenin interfered, he rejected Stalin's plan. In his idea, the republics that were part of the USSR should be united on the basis of union agreements. In this edition, the draft was supported by the majority of the members of the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU (B.). However, Georgia did not want to enter a new state formation within the Transcaucasian Federation. She insisted on signing a separate agreement with the Union, outside the TSSFSR. But under the pressure of the center, the Georgian Communists were forced to agree to the initial plan.

Formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

In December 1922, at the Congress of Soviets was announced the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the RSFSR, Ukraine, Belarus and the Transcaucasian Federation. That's how many republics were in the USSR at the time of its appearance. On the basis of the Treaty, the creation of a new state association as a federation of full and independent countries with the right to exit and freely enter into its membership was declared. However, in fact the exit procedure was not legally prescribed, which made it very difficult. This delayed-action mine, laid in the foundation of the state, showed its full force at the time of the collapse of the USSR, because in the 1990s the countries that were part of the Union could not leave its composition on legal and civilized grounds, which led to bloody events . Foreign policy, trade, finance, defense, communications and communications were delegated to the central bodies of the USSR.

Further expansion of the country of the Soviets

The next stage in the formation of the state was the national-administrative demarcation in Central Asia. On its territory there was a huge Turkestan Republic, and also two tiny territories - Bukhara and Khorezm republics. As a result of long discussions in the Central Committee, the Uzbek and Turkmen Union republics were formed. The USSR from the first subsequently singled out the Tajik Republic, part of the territory was transferred to the jurisdiction of Kazakhstan, which also became a union republic. The Kirghiz founded an autonomous republic within the RSFSR, but at the end of the twenties of the last century it was transformed into a union republic. And in the territory of the Ukrainian SSR was allocated to the Union Republic of Moldova. Thus, at the end of the second decade of the last century, data on how many republics in the USSR have changed significantly.

In the thirties, there was also a structural change in the composition of the Union. Since the Transcaucasian Federation was originally a non-viable entity, this was taken into account in the new Constitution of the USSR. In 1936 it was disbanded, and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, having concluded treaties with the center, received the status of Union republics of the USSR.

The Baltic States in the USSR

The next stage in the formation of the Union dates back to the end of the thirties of the last century. Then, in view of the complex foreign policy situation, our country had to agree to Germany, which was conducting an aggressive policy in Europe. Western Ukraine and Belarus were then part of Poland, in order to reunite one nation historically and secure their western borders, a Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was concluded between the USSR and Germany with a secret protocol. According to him, in the sphere of influence of our country was the territory of Eastern Europe. In view of the extremely hostile position of the Baltic states, the leadership decided to introduce parts of the Red Army, legitimate governments were liquidated in the territories of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. And instead of them began the construction of the state system following the example of the USSR. These republics were given the status of union. And it was possible to recount the number of republics in the USSR immediately before the outbreak of the war with Germany.

The collapse of the Soviet Union

How many republics were in the USSR right before the collapse? At the end of the eighties the USSR included:

• The RSFSR;
• The Ukrainian SSR;
• The Byelorussian SSR;
• The Moldavian SSR;
• The Kazakh SSR ;
• The Turkmen SSR;
• The Tajik SSR;
• The Uzbek SSR;
• The Kirghiz SSR ;
• The Lithuanian SSR;
• The Latvian SSR;
• The Estonian SSR;
• The Georgian SSR;
• Armenian SSR;
• Azerbaijan SSR.

The economic crisis and national contradictions, as well as weak leadership, led to the collapse of the Soviet state. The 15 republics that were part of the USSR received full national sovereignty during these events and formed their own states.