#Ученичество

| #Ученичество. 2026. Вып. 1 | #Apprenticeship. 2026. Issue 1 28 Russian language, history, literature, and culture so that younger generations born or raised in exile could maintain awareness of their heritage and traditions. Gymnasiums and other educational institutions operated under challenging conditions, with limited facilities, teaching materials, and financial resources. Nevertheless, thanks to the dedication and high standards of teachers, as well as the hard work and interest of students, a high level of education and cultural life was maintained. Taking a special place within the educational system, the Russian Cadet Corps in Bela Crkva played a significant role in the upbringing of young men. In addition to providing a classical education, the Corps focused on discipline, moral values, physical fitness, and the preservation of military traditions of the Imperial Russian Army. This institution was not only a place of learning but also a symbol of persistence, order, and national pride for the Russian émigrés in Serbia. Despite the challenges of wartime isolation and uncertainty, the educational system of Russian émigrés in Serbia continued to thrive, maintaining its connection to cultural roots and traditions. The majority of Russian emigrants were anti-Communist and pro-German, which led to their evacuation in 1944 after the arrival of the Red Army. The Russian House and other institutions became Soviet-oriented, libraries were closed, and a significant part of the cultural legacy was either destroyed or transferred to the USSR. Those who stayed gradually integrated into the new Serbian environment. Keywords: World War II, Serbia, Russian émigrés, culture, education © Николова М. 2026 © Nikolova M. 2026 I. Introduction In the years leading up to World War II, the process of integration of Russians into Serbian society began: the older generation passed away, the younger generation adapted to the new home, and the number of mixed marriages increased steadily. In the Russian community living in Belgrade, there were approximately 8,000 Russians aged sixteen or older. 1 At the very beginning of the war, this number decreased - during the bombing, their houses were destroyed and many were killed. Some left Serbia and Russian officers, along with Serbs, were sent to camps in Germany as prisoners. 2 Those who remained were mostly passive; some supported the Germans, while others opposed them. A number of Russians also joined the Partisans. Antifascists and anti-communists both opposed the bombing of their new home, and the personal stories of individuals, shaped by various political and economic factors, formed the heart of the Russian emigre community in Serbia at the time. In fact, those who remained were divided into two main groups: those who believed Hitler's intention was to destroy Russia, and those who thought his goal was to destroy communism. There were also some who, without family or knowledge of the German language, went to work in Germany, and others who moved to Belgrade from other parts of Serbia. For the most part, everyone was gathered around the Bureau for the Protection of Russian Émigrés' Interests and Assistance in Serbia, which was founded by the German military command in May 1941 . 3 At the time, the headquarters of the Bureau, which had changed its name several times, was located in the Russian House in Belgrade. The House also served as the center of Russian émigré activity. On the top floor of the house, there was a Russian elementary school, sewing workshops, and classrooms for courses. On the 1 Živanović M. The Russian Émigré Community and the April War // Russian–Serbian Relations 1917–1945 . Belgrade, 2021. P. 318. 2 Milan Nedić, Prime Minister of the Government of National Salvation, ordered in mid-1942 that Russian émigrés be dismissed from civil service, which was a reason why many of them left Serbia ; Timofeyev A., Živanović M. and Mandić S. The Russian Émigré Community in Belgrade, 1920–1950. Belgrade, 2021. P. 87. 3 Timofeyev A., Živanović M., Mandić S. The Russian Émigré ... P. 77.