Forensic Gynecological Examination in Sverdlovsk During the Great Patriotic War (1941–1944): Medical, Legal, and Social Aspects

Abstract

Introduction. Forensic examinations of living persons in cases of sexual violence hold significant importance in forensic medical practice. During the 1930s–1940s, forensic gynecological examinations were governed by regulations, while Soviet criminal law prescribed severe punishments for sexual crimes, particularly those involving minors.

Objective is to examine the history of forensic gynecological examinations in Sverdlovsk during 1941–1944.

Materials and methods. The study utilized unpublished forensic medical reports and archival documents from the Department of Forensic Medicine at Sverdlovsk State Medical Institute (1941–1944). Historical analysis methods were employed, including comparative-historical, chronological approaches and the principle of objectivity.

Results and discussion. From 1941–1944, 205 forensic gynecological examinations were performed (15.65 % of total forensic outpatient visits). No suspect examinations were conducted before 1944. The lowest number of cases occurred in 1943, with most crimes committed by adolescents against underage girls and young women aged 14–18. Examination numbers declined from late 1941 through 1944, followed by a sharp increase in group offenses. Injury documentation was often insufficient, permitting only confirmation of trauma without precise determination of timing or mechanism.

Conclusion. A high proportion of sexual crimes involved adolescent perpetrators and underage victims. The 1944 surge in group offenses reflected wartime conditions: evacuation, overcrowding, and inadequate supervision. Educational initiatives in schools, factories, and vocational institutions (1944–1945), combined with stricter penalties, contributed to reducing such crimes.