«Bifurcation chronicle» of Saratov University Department of Physics and Mathematics. 1917–1945

Topic. The article reflects important milestones in the history of the physics and mathematics faculty of Saratov University (1917–1945), which played the role of the most important educational and scientific center of the Volga region and the East of Russia. The faculty was established by the Decree of the Provisional Government on July 1 (14), 2017, and began its work from September of the same year. In the pre-war years, the biological, chemical, geographic and geological departments were separated from the faculty. In 1945, on its basis, the physical faculty and faculty of mechanics and mathematics were created. In 1945–1990 years. graduates of the Faculty of Physics ensured the transformation of Saratov into the «electronic capital» of the USSR, made up the backbone of scientific research personnel discovered in the 1980s. in the city of academic institutes, formed the basis of teaching staff of the university and other higher educational institutions of Saratov, created new university scientific and educational areas. In the article, we attempt to trace the change in the structure of the faculty in the pre-war period in the general context of the development of higher education in the country at that time.