This article examines the mechanisms of the formation and functioning of the post-war reparations system in the last period of the Great Patriotic War. Based on recently declassified GKO documents, a description of the forms and methods of work of the military bodies of our country in this direction is given. Quite debatable conclusions are being made that reparations in the short term after the war gave significant increases in industrial production, however, after some time, they became, to some extent, a technical and technological brake on the further development of Soviet industry.