In any talk about military service, as usual, a certain associative series comes to mind : soldiers, uniforms, dressing, coinage and so on from the same series. At the same time, around the fulfillment of the immediate tasks that the homeland set for their defenders, a lot of people of civilian life are concentrated, including military families, however, the military themselves, presumably, not all 24 hours are dedicated to the parade ground. It was for the fulfillment of spiritual tasks in the first decades of the last century that the Cultural Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was created.
The emergence of the center
The idea of organizing a cultural holiday for the servants spending a lot of time in the trenches came at the end of the third decade of the last century - in 1928 the Central House of the Red Army appeared. In less than a hundred years, he underwent several renames, however, this did not affect his essence. First, it became the Central Army of the Soviet Army, and after the collapse of the Soviet Empire - the Central Army of the Russian Army.
Initially, the future Cultural Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was subordinate to the political and administrative structure in the army, the so-called GPU. Since the organization sought to cover as many activities as possible during the organization of cultural recreation, it was in charge of various objects: for example, halls for showing films, organizing lectures, concerts, exhibitions, classrooms for training, libraries, and parks. In addition, dances or tournaments for board games, theatrical performances were organized for outdoor activities.
Prewar period
Despite positioning itself as the organizer of the first cultural pastime, in the pre-war period, the new department was mainly concerned not so much with the cultural and educational level of the military as with their compliance with high army standards. The employees of the newly born administration, as well as the current CC of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, were mainly engaged in the popularization of paramilitary sciences, patriotism and valor from the army point of view among civilians. However, it is worth noting that it was this military-cultural department that gave rise to many incredibly talented groups known to this day, for example, the Alexandrov Song and Dance Ensemble, the Central Academic Theater and the Sports Club of the Russian Army and other famous collectives.
In addition, it was thanks to this organization that the Soviet Army and Navy had their own museum, which in 1964 was called the Museum of the Armed Forces.
War and after it
A varied documentary chronicle of the war years clearly demonstrates the urgent need for those artistic groups that traveled around the front, fearlessly put their numbers on the front lines and in hospitals. Lidia Ruslanova, Olga Orlova, Valentina Serova, Georgy Yumatov and many others who, under the roar of shells, under the whistle of bullets, risking death every minute, with the breadth of their souls and the bounty of talent increased the morale of those who forged victory in sweat and blood.
The current Cultural Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from the very beginning of the war turned into a field headquarters, the main function of which was to provide the front with any means to increase morale. It was here that the so-called front-line brigades were formed, which included pop artists, film and theater actors.
At the end of the war, by decision of the country's leadership, the department began to bear the name of the famous revolutionary Mikhail Frunze. Although the worst war ended in the complete defeat of Nazi Germany, there was a feeling of a new military clash in the air, so the institution changed its profile somewhat and began to teach foreign languages, prepare for admission to military academies to strengthen officers. In addition, the political and educational component that was expressed in the opening of the University of Marxism-Leninism was strengthened.
The department began a new life after the collapse of the Soviet empire. In 1993, it was already named after the Russian army, and in 1997 it was renamed the Cultural Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Departmental tasks
The modern military-cultural department includes six branches. The department responsible for the culture in a peculiar sense is the main one. It is he who is responsible for the cultivation of morality among the military, as well as among their families. His educational efforts spread to all civilian personnel. The formation of those same brigades today is entrusted to the military-patronage department, which also organizes celebrations for memorable dates. The functions of propaganda are entrusted to the writing department.
Although the Cultural Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has a modern name, it relies on its heritage, which means it solves the initially set tasks, with some time corrections, and uses approximately the same methods as its ancestors. In modern rhetoric, it is possible that such organizations will be the main burden of massive integration of patriotic ideas of the actual spill with specific propaganda goals.