Contribution S. V. Chefranov and G. G. Schwittau to the Training of Geographers in Voronezh

Abstract

The goal is to give an overview of the main stages of life and work of professors S. V. Chefranov and G. G. Schwittau, who worked in the universities of Voronezh in the pre-war period and participated in the formation of higher geographical education. In the modern geographic environment, these scientists and teachers are little known, there were no materials about their activities in Voronezh, during the war archives of universities were destroyed and now there are no living carriers of memory about them. Their scientific and pedagogical level, contribution to the preparation of geographers for higher and secondary schools at the Voronezh State University and the All-Russian State Pedagogical Institute are analyzed. Professor S. V. Chefranov was one of the co-authors of textbooks and anthologies on the physical geography of parts of the world, Russia and the USSR. He taught the course “Physical Geography of the USSR” at the Voronezh State University and the All-Russian State Pedagogical Institute. This was the level of the geographical center of education of the USSR – Moscow University. Professor G. G. Schwittau is a representative of the Scientific Economic School of St. Petersburg University, who personally made a great contribution to economic statistics, labor and social law. At the Voronezh University and the Voronezh Pedagogical Institute, he taught the course “Economic Geography of Foreign Countries” worked on a study guide for the course, and led graduate students. Having passed a wonderful scientific school, experience in conducting research in Western Europe, fluency in a dozen foreign languages, and teaching experience at St. Petersburg University, he was highly respected by teachers and students. The mysterious history of his internment during the war in Eastern Europe and his return to work in 1945 is connected with Voronezh. Ideas G. G. Schwittau and at present have not lost their relevance.