NII

• By the end of the 19th century around 15% of the population lived in towns and cities
• Rapid urbanisation led to increased public health problems eg there were about 100 thousand deaths from cholera in St Petersburg in 1910
• Buildings were of a poor quality with inadequate drainage, water supplies and sanitation.
• At the start WWII, there were over 1000 towns containing about 2 million buildings. Only 74 towns had access to electricity and 35 to gas
• WWI- conscription was imposed (15 million). Casualty rates were high and medical treatment was also poor