Soviet subdivisions in local languages: republics and autonomous units
The subdivisions of the Soviet Union were the 15 union republics and, inside some of them, autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and autonomous okrugs. This list gives the official name of each of the 56 units in Russian and in the languages of the peoples they were named after, 124 names in all, with the unit or state that corresponds to it today.
- Names
- 124
- Groups
- 15
Updated
How to read the Soviet unit names
Each unit appears once per language. The first column carries the English name and, below it, the language of the row; the second column gives the name in that language, in its own script and with a transliteration; the third column names the successor and its ISO code on the first row of each unit. Russian closes every unit: every one of them has a Russian name in the list, and for the Russian SFSR and the Taymyr okrug it is the only one.
Four ranks are mixed in the list and the names show the rank. A union republic is a Soviet Socialist Republic, Советская Социалистическая Республика; an autonomous republic inside it adds Автономная. Below those stand the autonomous oblast, автономная область, and the autonomous okrug, автономный округ, which existed only inside the Russian SFSR.
The Russian forms are adjectives in front of the noun: Башкирская, Бурятская, Чувашская. Many of the local forms work the other way round and put the people's or the country's name first, then the noun with a possessive ending, as Bashkir Башҡорт … Республикаһы or Kazakh Қазақ … Республикасы. Moldavian and Tajik place the word for republic at the front: Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ Молдовеняскэ, Республикаи Советии Социалистии Тоҷикистон.
Subdivisions of the Soviet Union, republic by republic
The 15 union republics in the order Russian SFSR first, then the others alphabetically by their codes, each followed by the autonomous units inside it. Three rows are historical even within the Soviet period: the Crimean ASSR until 1945, the Volga German ASSR until 1941 and the Karelo-Finnish SSR until 1956.
- rus Russian, Cyrillic, scholarly transliteration
- Cyrillic most local languages of the Russian SFSR, Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Moldavia
- Latin Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Finnish, Karelian, German
- own scripts Armenian, Georgian, Yiddish in Hebrew letters
Russian SFSR 78
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая РеспубликаRossijskaja Sovetskaja Federativnaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
RussiaRU
|
Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicBashkir
|
Башҡорт Автономиялы Совет Социалистик РеспубликаһыBašqort Avtonomijaly Sovet Socialistik Respublikahy
|
BashkortostanRU-BA
|
Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Башкирская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаBaškirskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicBuryat
|
Буряадай Автономито Совет Социалис РеспубликаBurjaadaj Avtonomito Sovet Socialis Respublika
|
BuryatiaRU-BU
|
Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Бурятская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаBurjatskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicChechen
|
Нохч-Гӏалгӏайн Автономни Советски Социалистически РеспубликаNoȟč-Ġalġajn Avtonomni Sovetski Socialističeski Respublika
|
Chechnya and IngushetiaRU-CE · RU-IN
|
Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicIngush
|
Нохч-Гӏалгӏай Автономни Советски Социалистически РеспубликаNoȟč-Ġalġaj Awtonomni Sowetski Socialističeski Respublika
|
|
Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Чечено-Ингушская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаČečeno-Ingušskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicChuvash
|
Чӑваш Автономиллӗ Советлӑ Социализмлӑ РеспубликиČăvaš Avtonomillĕ Sovetlă Socializmlă Respubliki
|
ChuvashiaRU-CU
|
Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Чувашская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаČuvašskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicCrimean Tatar
|
Къырым Мухтар Совет Социалистик РеспубликасыQyrym Muȟtar Sovet Socialistik Respublikasy
|
Until 1945. Today: Avtonomna Respublika Krym, listed by ISO 3166-2 under UkraineUA-43
|
Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Крымская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKrymskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicAvar
|
Дагъистаналъул Автономияб Советияб Социалистияб РеспубликаDaġistanałul Awtonomijab Sowetijab Socialistijab Respublika
|
DagestanRU-DA
|
Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKumyk
|
Дагъыстан Автоном Совет Социалист РеспубликасыDaġystan Avtonom Sovet Socialist Respublikasy
|
|
Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicLak
|
Дагъусттаннал Автономный Советский Социалистический РеспубликаDaġusttannal Awtonomnyj Sowetskij Socialističeskij Respublika
|
|
Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicLezgi
|
Дагъустандин Автономиядин Советрин Социалист РеспубликаDaġustandin Avtonomijadin Sovetrin Socialist Respublika
|
|
Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Дагестанская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаDagestanskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Kabardino-Balkar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKabardian
|
Къэбэрдей-Балъкъэр Автономнэ Советскэ Социалистическэ РеспубликэQăbărdej-Bałqăr Avtonomnă Sovetskă Socialističeskă Respublikă
|
Kabardino-BalkariaRU-KB
|
Kabardino-Balkar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKarachay-Balkar
|
Къабарты-Малкъар Автоном Совет Социалист РеспубликаQabarty-Malqar Avtonom Sovet Socialist Respublika
|
|
Kabardino-Balkar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Кабардино-Балкарская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKabardino-Balkarskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKalmyk
|
Хальмг Автономн Советск Социалистическ РеспубликȞal'mg Avtonomn Sovetsk Socialističesk Respublik
|
KalmykiaRU-KL
|
Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Калмыцкая Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKalmyckaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKarelian
|
Karjalan Autonomine Sotsialistine Ńevvokundutazavaldu
|
KareliaRU-KR
|
Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicFinnish
|
Karjalan Autonoominen Sosialistinen Neuvostotasavalta
|
|
Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Карельская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKarel'skaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist RepublicFinnish
|
Karjalais-Suomalainen Sosialistinen Neuvostotasavalta
|
Until 1956. Today: Karelia; reduced to an autonomous republic in 1956RU-KR
|
Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Карело-Финская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKarelo-Finskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKomi
|
Коми Автономнӧй Сӧветскӧй Социалистическӧй РеспубликаKomi Avtonomnöj Sövetsköj Socialističesköj Respublika
|
Komi RepublicRU-KO
|
Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Коми Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKomi Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicMeadow Mari
|
Марий Автоном Совет Социализм РеспубликMarij Avtonom Sovet Socializm Respublik
|
Mari ElRU-ME
|
Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicHill Mari
|
Мары Автоном Совет Социализм РеспубликMary Avtonom Sovet Socializm Respublik
|
|
Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Марийская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаMarijskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicErzya Mordvin
|
Мордовской Автономной Советской Социалистической РеспубликасьMordovskoj Avtonomnoj Sovetskoj Socialističeskoj Respublikas'
|
MordoviaRU-MO
|
Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicMoksha Mordvin
|
Мордовскяй Автономнай Советскяй Социалистическяй РеспубликасьMordovskäj Avtonomnaj Sovetskäj Socialističeskäj Respublikas'
|
|
Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Мордовская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаMordovskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicOssetian
|
Цӕгат Ирыстоны Автономон Советон Социалистон РеспубликӕCägat Irystony Avtonomon Soveton Socialiston Respublikä
|
North Ossetia–AlaniaRU-SE
|
North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Северо-Осетинская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаSevero-Osetinskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicTatar
|
Татарстан Автономияле Совет Социалистик РеспубликасыTatarstan Avtonomijäle Sovet Socialistik Respublikasy
|
TatarstanRU-TA
|
Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Татарская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаTatarskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Tuva Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicTuvan
|
Тыва Автономнуң Совет Социалистиң РеспубликаTyva Avtonomnuŋ Sovet Socialistiŋ Respublika
|
TuvaRU-TY
|
Tuva Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Тувинская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаTuvinskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicUdmurt
|
Удмурт Автономной Советской Социалистической РеспубликаUdmurt Avtonomnoj Sovetskoj Socialističeskoj Respublika
|
UdmurtiaRU-UD
|
Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Удмуртская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаUdmurtskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicGerman
|
Autonome Sozialistische Sowjetrepublik der Wolgadeutschen / Autonome Sozialiſtiſche Sowjetrepublik der Wolgadeutſchen
|
No successor; dissolved in 1941
|
Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика Немцев ПоволжьяAvtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika Nemcev Povolž'ja
|
|
Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicYakut
|
Саха Автономнай Сэбиэскэй Социалистическэй РеспубликатаSaȟa Avtonomnaj Säbiäskäj Socialističeskäj Respublikata
|
Sakha (Yakutia)RU-SA
|
Yakut Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Якутская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаJakutskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Adygey autonomous oblastAdyghe
|
Адыгэ автономнэ хэкуAdygă avtonomnă ȟăku
|
AdygeaRU-AD
|
Adygey autonomous oblastRussian
|
Адыгейская автономная областьAdygejskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
|
|
Gorno-Altai autonomous oblastAltai
|
Туулу Алтайдыҥ автономный облазыTuulu Altajdyŋ avtonomnyj oblazy
|
Altai RepublicRU-AL
|
Gorno-Altai autonomous oblastRussian
|
Горно-Алтайская автономная областьGorno-Altajskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
|
|
Jewish autonomous oblastYiddish
|
ייִדישע אױטאָנאָמע געגנטYidiše oytonome gegnt
|
Jewish Autonomous OblastRU-YEV
|
Jewish autonomous oblastRussian
|
Еврейская автономная областьJevrejskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
|
|
Karachay-Cherkess autonomous oblastKabardian
|
Къэрэшей-Черкес автономнэ областьQărăšej-Čerkes avtonomnă oblast'
|
Karachay-CherkessiaRU-KC
|
Karachay-Cherkess autonomous oblastKarachay-Balkar
|
Къарачай-Черкес автоном областьQaračaj-Čerkes avtonom oblast'
|
|
Karachay-Cherkess autonomous oblastRussian
|
Карачаево-Черкесская автономная областьKaračajevo-Čerkesskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
|
|
Khakass autonomous oblastKhakas
|
Хакасскай автономнай областьȞakasskaj avtonomnaj oblast'
|
KhakassiaRU-KK
|
Khakass autonomous oblastRussian
|
Хакасская автономная областьȞakasskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
|
|
Agin-Buryat autonomous okrugBuryat
|
Агын Буряадай автономито округAgyn Burjaadaj avtonomito okrug
|
Part of Zabaykalsky Krai since 2008RU-ZAB
|
Agin-Buryat autonomous okrugRussian
|
Агинский Бурятский автономный округAginskij Burjatskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Chukchi autonomous okrugChukchi
|
Чукоткакэн автономныкэн округČukotkakėn avtonomnykėn okrug
|
Chukotka Autonomous OkrugRU-CHU
|
Chukchi autonomous okrugRussian
|
Чукотский автономный округČukotskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Evenki autonomous okrugEvenki
|
Эвэды̄ автономнай округĖvėdȳ avtonomnaj okrug
|
Part of Krasnoyarsk Krai since 2007RU-KYA
|
Evenki autonomous okrugRussian
|
Эвенкийский автономный округĖvenkijskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrugKhanty
|
Хӑнты-Мансийской автономной округȞănty-Mansijskoj avtonomnoj okrug
|
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous OkrugRU-KHM
|
Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrugMansi
|
Ханты-Мансийский автономный округȞanty-Mansijskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrugRussian
|
Ханты-Мансийский автономный округȞanty-Mansijskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Komi-Permyak autonomous okrugKomi-Permyak
|
Коми-Пермяцкӧй автономнӧй округKomi-Permjacköj avtonomnöj okrug
|
Part of Perm Krai since 2005RU-PER
|
Komi-Permyak autonomous okrugRussian
|
Коми-Пермяцкий автономный округKomi-Permjackij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Koryak autonomous okrugKoryak
|
Чав’чываокругČawčyvaokrug
|
Part of Kamchatka Krai since 2007RU-KAM
|
Koryak autonomous okrugRussian
|
Корякский автономный округKorjakskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Nenets autonomous okrugNenets
|
Ненэцие” автономной ӈокрукNenėcijeʿ avtonomnoj ŋokruk
|
Nenets Autonomous OkrugRU-NEN
|
Nenets autonomous okrugRussian
|
Ненецкий автономный округNeneckij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Taymyr (Dolgano-Nenets) autonomous okrugRussian
|
Таймырский (Долгано-Ненецкий) автономный округTajmyrskij (Dolgano-Nenetskij) avtonomnyj okrug
|
Part of Krasnoyarsk Krai since 2007RU-KYA
|
Ust-Ordyn-Buryat autonomous okrugBuryat
|
Усть-Ордын Буряадай автономито округUst'-Ordyn Burjaadaj avtonomito okrug
|
Part of Irkutsk Oblast since 2008RU-IRK
|
Ust-Ordyn-Buryat autonomous okrugRussian
|
Усть-Ордынский Бурятский автономный округUst'-Ordynskij Burjatskij avtonomnyj okrug
|
|
Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrugNenets
|
Ямалы-Ненэцие” автономной ӈокрукJamaly-Nenėcijeʿ avtonomnoj ŋokruk
|
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous OkrugRU-YAN
|
Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrugRussian
|
Ямало-Ненецкий автономный округJamalo-Neneckij avtonomnyj okrug
|
Armenian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Armenian Soviet Socialist RepublicArmenian
|
Հայկական Սովետական Սոցիալիստական ՀանրապետությունHaykakan Sovetakan Soc̕ialistakan Hanrapetout̕youn
|
ArmeniaAM
|
Armenian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Армянская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаArmjanskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
Azerbaijan SSR 7
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist RepublicAzerbaijani
|
Азәрбайҹан Совет Сосиалист РеспубликасыAzärbajǰan Sovet Sosialist Respublikasy
|
AzerbaijanAZ
|
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Азербайджанская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаAzerbajdžanskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicAzerbaijani
|
Нахчыван Мухтар Совет Сосиалист РеспубликасыNaȟčyvan Muȟtar Sovet Sosialist Respublikasy
|
Nakhchivan Autonomous RepublicAZ-NX
|
Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Нахичеванская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаNaȟičevanskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous oblastArmenian
|
Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի ինքնավար մարզLeṙnayin Ġarabaġi ink̕navar marz
|
Within Azerbaijan; no unit of its own in ISO 3166-2
|
Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous oblastAzerbaijani
|
Дағлыг Гарабағ мухтар вилајәтиDaġlyq Qarabaġ muȟtar vilajäti
|
|
Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous oblastRussian
|
Нагорно-Карабахская автономная областьNagorno-Karabaȟskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
|
Byelorussian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist RepublicBelarusian
|
Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная РэспублікаBelaruskaja Saveckaja Sacyjalistyčnaja Rėspublika
|
BelarusBY
|
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Белорусская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаBelorusskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
Estonian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Estonian Soviet Socialist RepublicEstonian
|
Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik
|
EstoniaEE
|
Estonian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Эстонская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаĖstonskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
Georgian SSR 10
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Georgian Soviet Socialist RepublicGeorgian
|
საქართველოს საბჭოთა სოციალისტური რესპუბლიკაSaḳarṭvelos Sabčoṭa Soc̣ialisturi Respublika
|
GeorgiaGE
|
Georgian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Грузинская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаGruzinskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicAbkhaz
|
Аԥснытәи Автономтә Советтә Социалисттә РеспубликаAṗsnytwi Avtonomtw Sovettw Socialisttw Respublika
|
AbkhaziaGE-AB
|
Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicGeorgian
|
აფხაზეთის ავტონომიური საბჭოთა სოციალისტური რესპუბლიკაAṗȟazeṭis Avtonomiuri Sabčoṭa Soc̣ialisturi Respublika
|
|
Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
|
Абхазская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаAbȟazskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
|
|
Adjar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicGeorgian
|
აჭარის ავტონომიური საბჭოთა სოციალისტური რესპუბლიკაAčaris Avtonomiuri Sabčoṭa Soc̣ialisturi Respublika
|
AdjaraGE-AJ
|
Adjar Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Аджарская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаAdžarskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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South Ossetian autonomous oblastOssetian
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Хуссар Ирыстоны автономон бӕстӕȞussar Irystony avtonomon bästä
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Within Georgia; no unit of its own in ISO 3166-2
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South Ossetian autonomous oblastGeorgian
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სამხრეთი ოსეთის ავტონომიური ოლქიSamȟreṭi Oseṭis avtonomiuri olḳi
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South Ossetian autonomous oblastRussian
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Юго-Осетинская автономная областьJugo-Osetinskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
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Kazakh SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Kazakh Soviet Socialist RepublicKazakh
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Қазақ Советтік Социалистік РеспубликасыQazaq Sovettîk Socialistîk Respublikasy
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KazakhstanKZ
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Kazakh Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Казахская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKazaȟskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Kyrgyz SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist RepublicKyrgyz
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Кыргыз Советтик Социалисттик РеспубликасыKyrgyz Sovettik Socialisttik Respublikasy
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KyrgyzstanKG
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Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Киргизская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKirgizskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Latvian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Latvian Soviet Socialist RepublicLatvian
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Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskā Republika
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LatviaLV
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Latvian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Латвийская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаLatvijskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Lithuanian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist RepublicLithuanian
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Lietuvos Tarybų Socialistinė Respublika
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LithuaniaLT
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Lithuanian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Литовская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаLitovskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Moldavian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Moldavian Soviet Socialist RepublicMoldovan
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Република Советикэ Сочиалистэ МолдовеняскэRepublika Sovetikė Sočialistė Moldovenjaskė
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MoldovaMD
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Moldavian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Молдавская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаMoldavskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Tajik SSR 4
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Tajik Soviet Socialist RepublicTajik
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Республикаи Советии Социалистии ТоҷикистонRespublikai Sovetii Socialistii Toǰikiston
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TajikistanTJ
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Tajik Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Таджикская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаTadžikskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous oblastTajik
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Вилояти автономии Бадахшони КӯҳӣVilojati avtonomii Badaȟšoni Kūhī
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Gorno-Badakhshan (Kŭhistoni Badakhshon)TJ-GB
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Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous oblastRussian
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Горно-Бадахшанская автономная областьGorno-Badaȟšanskaja avtonomnaja oblast'
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Turkmen SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Turkmen Soviet Socialist RepublicTurkmen
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Түркменистан Совет Социалистик РеспубликасыTürkmenistan Sovet Socialistik Respublikasy
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TurkmenistanTM
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Turkmen Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Туркменская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаTurkmenskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Ukrainian SSR 2
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist RepublicUkrainian
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Українська Радянська Соціалістична РеспублікаUkraïns'ka Radjans'ka Socialistyčna Respublika
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UkraineUA
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Ukrainian Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Украинская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаUkrainskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Uzbek SSR 5
| Unit and language | Name | Today |
|---|---|---|
Uzbek Soviet Socialist RepublicUzbek
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Ўзбекистон Совет Социалистик РеспубликасиÖzbekiston Sovet Socialistik Respublikasi
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UzbekistanUZ
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Uzbek Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Узбекская Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаUzbekskaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicKarakalpak
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Қарақалпақстан Автономиялы Совет Социалистлик РеспубликасыQaraqalpaqstan Avtonomijaly Sovet Socialistlik Respublikasy
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KarakalpakstanUZ-QR
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Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicUzbek
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Қорақалпоғистон Автоном Совет Социалистик РеспубликасиQoraqalpoġiston Avtonom Sovet Socialistik Respublikasi
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Karakalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist RepublicRussian
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Каракалпакская Автономная Советская Социалистическая РеспубликаKarakalpakskaja Avtonomnaja Sovetskaja Socialističeskaja Respublika
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How each language says Soviet Socialist Republic
The word Soviet, совет in Russian, means council, and the languages of the Union handled it in two ways. Most borrowed it: Bashkir and Tatar write Совет, Armenian Սովետական, Azerbaijani Совет, Kazakh Советтік, Uzbek and Turkmen Совет. A smaller group translated it into a word of their own for council: Ukrainian Радянська, Belarusian Савецкая, Lithuanian Tarybų, Latvian Padomju, Estonian Nõukogude, Georgian საბჭოთა and Finnish Neuvosto-.
Socialist was borrowed almost everywhere, but each language fitted it to its own sounds and endings. Azerbaijani writes Сосиалист, Chuvash Социализмлӑ, Komi Социалистическӧй, Georgian სოციალისტური. The German name of the Volga German republic appears twice in the original source, once in ordinary letters and once with the long ſ of German blackletter print: Sozialiſtiſche.
The autonomous oblasts and okrugs show the same split on a smaller scale. Adyghe calls the oblast хэку and Tajik вилоят, avoiding the Russian word, while Kabardian and Karachay-Balkar keep the Russian область. Nenets turns округ into ӈокрук with an initial ŋ, and Koryak fuses the whole name into one word, Чав’чываокруг.
What became of the Soviet republics and autonomous units
The 15 union republics are the 15 states that ISO 3166-1 lists with the two-letter codes in the last column, from Armenia (AM) to Uzbekistan (UZ). Most autonomous republics continue as republics of the Russian Federation under new or adjusted names: the Bashkir ASSR is Bashkortostan (RU-BA), the Yakut ASSR is Sakha (RU-SA), the North Ossetian ASSR is North Ossetia–Alania (RU-SE). The Chechen-Ingush ASSR corresponds to two units today, Chechnya (RU-CE) and Ingushetia (RU-IN).
Six of the Russian autonomous okrugs were merged into larger neighbours: Komi-Permyak into Perm Krai on 1 December 2005, Evenki and Taymyr into Krasnoyarsk Krai on 1 January 2007, Koryak into Kamchatka Krai on 1 July 2007, Ust-Orda Buryat into Irkutsk Oblast on 1 January 2008 and Agin-Buryat into Zabaykalsky Krai on 1 March 2008. ISO 3166-2 deleted their codes in newsletters I-8 (2007), I-9 (2007) and II-2 (2010).
Outside Russia, three autonomous units keep a code of their own: Nakhchivan (AZ-NX), Gorno-Badakhshan (TJ-GB) and Karakalpakstan (UZ-QR), and Georgia's code list has Abkhazia (GE-AB) and Adjara (GE-AJ). ISO 3166-2 lists the Autonomous Republic of Crimea under Ukraine as UA-43. The Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetian autonomous oblasts have no unit of their own in the ISO lists of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Questions about the subdivisions of the Soviet Union
How many union republics did the Soviet Union have?
Fifteen in this list, from the Armenian to the Uzbek SSR. The Karelo-Finnish SSR counted as a sixteenth until 1956, when it became the Karelian ASSR inside the Russian SFSR.
What is the difference between an ASSR, an autonomous oblast and an autonomous okrug?
Rank. An ASSR was an autonomous republic inside a union republic. An autonomous oblast ranked below it, and the autonomous okrug, found only in the Russian SFSR, ranked lowest.
Why does Ukrainian say Радянська and not Советська?
Ukrainian translated the Russian word совет, council, with its own word рада. Belarusian Савецкая, Lithuanian Tarybų, Latvian Padomju and Estonian Nõukogude are translations of the same kind.
Which Soviet autonomous units no longer exist?
The Volga German ASSR (dissolved 1941), the Crimean ASSR in its Soviet form (until 1945) and six Russian autonomous okrugs merged into larger regions between 2005 and 2008: Komi-Permyak, Evenki, Taymyr, Koryak, Ust-Orda Buryat and Agin-Buryat.
Which languages appear in the list?
Russian and 53 others, from Abkhaz to Yiddish. Most are written in Cyrillic; Armenian and Georgian use their own alphabets, Yiddish the Hebrew alphabet, and the Baltic languages, Finnish, Karelian and German the Latin one.