On the eve of the Great Patriotic War Stalin initiated some important campaigns connected with an increase of discipline of workers and employees. Campaign for realization of the Decree of August 10, 1940 (the Decree 8/10) became one of the most important. Before the Decree was signed the given acts were considered as administrative offences. The Decree 8/10 introduced 1-year sentences for small thefts at enterprises, no-less-than-1-year sentences for hooliganism, irrespective of the caused harm. It was badly coordinated with the Criminal Code of the RSFSR and the court practice. The USSR Council of People's Commissars passed a decision almost cancelling the procedure on small theft cases. In the second half of 1940 the USSR had 72481 cases under the Decree 8/10 on small thefts. 54204 persons were convicted. The campaign recessed quickly. The campaign for realization of a part of the Decree on hooliganism had a larger scope. The order of September 6, 1940 almost cancelled cases on hooliganism. The case on the detained criminal went directly to court. Preliminary investigation was only made in exceptional cases. The case was heard within a 2-day term; and the sentence was carried out immediately, irrespective of the appeal. Lawyers expanded the Decree 8/10 application, adjusting various acts to it. During the first half of 1940 39304 persons were convicted of hooliganism in the USSR, during the second half -130291 persons. During the war the Decree application was limited essentially: according to P. Solomon the number of the convicts for small thefts was about 60000 persons a year. Courts began to sentence thieves to technical works (below the lowest limit). As a result, the judiciary practice on plunders, existing till August 10, 1940, was actually restored. The number of persons convicted of hooliganism was 199813 in 1940, 12599 in 1943, 69789 in 1946, 40133 in 1947, 45000 in 1948, 70100 in 1949. Cases on hooliganism during and after the war were often classified as those causing bodily harm or insults. According to P. Solomon the average number of cases on hooliganism was 73000 a year in 1946-1952. Actually the Decree 8/10 was not applied any more, but formally it was cancelled only after Stalin's death. Campaign for realization of the Decree of August 10, 1940 developed as other Stalin's criminal campaigns. After a short-term activation the campaign slowed down and finally stopped in early 1950rs. The campaign did not complete its mission and resulted in numerous wrongful sentences.
