During the pre-war and war [WWII] years, the libraries took part in accomplishing military and defense tasks: promoted knowledge on air and chemical defense, sanitation, etc. The libraries participated in universal military training of population. They cooperated closely with Osoaviakhim (Society for the Promotion of Aviation and Chemical Defense) that was publishing a number of specialized publications intensively used by the libraries in their popularization work. The libraries contributed to the country's defensive power both theoretically and practically. They conformed to the decrees of the Council of People's Commissars and The State Defense Committee (in the first war days). The author specifies the main vectors of the libraries' interaction with the Red Army divisions, training of new recruitees, front support. The promotion of military defense knowledge by the libraries all over the country including the capital libraries and the libraries in Soviet republics is also discussed. The article is based on archival materials listed in the bibliography attached.
