The General Directorate of Military Schools created

January 21 (February 2), 1863 as part of reforming the War Ministry, the Staff of the chief commander of military schools and the Directorate of academies of the War Department were merged to create the General Directorate of Military Schools (GUVUZ), which became a very effective governing body of the teaching department.

The directorate was created to govern the activities of military schools in Russia, as well as to supervise the educational work and the quality of training of military specialists. GUVUZ was in charge of the infantry and cavalry academies, military schools and cadet corps, military-primary schools, military gymnasia, seminaries, teaching and educational courses of the war department as to inspection, educational, academic and economic matters. In addition, it managed the teaching department of cadet schools and schools for children of soldiers of the Guards troops.

The Directorate consisted of the Office, the three departments, the Accounting (the Treasury) division and Judgment division, the Archives.

The 1st department (for the personnel) managed the reception, transfer and graduation of students of military schools; it awarded scholarships and grants to students; considered applications and petitions submitted by students and their parents.

The 2nd department (educational) was in charge of monitoring the educational work, the quality of grounding of pupils and students; it guided the scientific, methodical and educational activities of military schools; elaborated and published syllabus, textbooks and teaching aids; studied the experience of military educational institutions abroad.

The 3rd department (commercial) was in charge of organizing logistical support of military schools: procurement of food, clothing, weapons, fuel, repairs and construction.

The Office conducted general office work of the directorate; generated reports, collected and dispatched legislative acts, orders and instructions for the military-academic department.

The Accounting (treasury) division was entrusted with drafting of financial estimates and reports; correspondence on finance matters, audit of the amounts spent for the needs of the military-academic department.

The Judgment division was engaged in correspondence regarding the cases of the employees of the Directorate charged with committing misconduct, criminal offences, malfeasance and political crimes.

The Archives provided storage and issuing of certificates on the solved cases of the directorate.

December 25 (January 7), 1900 the office work related to the personnel (employees and professors) of the Directorate and its subordinate institutions was entrusted to the newly created 4th division.

December 31, 1909 (January 13), 1910 to the structure of the Directorate was introduced the Construction division. It supervised the construction, renovation and maintenance of buildings of military educational institutions. August 20 (September 2), 1914 the GUVUZ structure included the 5th department (accounting), which assumed the functions of the former Accounting division.

16-18 February, 1918 GUVUZ was merged with the Main Commissariat of military schools, which marked the beginning of the Soviet General Directorate of military educational institutions.

Lit.: Высшие и центральные государственные учреждения России. 1801-1917. Т. 4. СПб., 2004; Лалаев М. С. Исторический очерк ВУЗ, подведомственных главному управлению. Ч. 1-3. 1700-1880. СПб, 1892.