The Gulag

What is a GULAG?

• The term “GULAG” is an acronym
• Glavnoe Upravlenie ispravitel’no-trudovykh LAGerei
• It means Main Administration of Corrective Labor Camps
• forced labour camps located mostly in Siberia
• Used during the Stalin era (1930's-1950's)

GULAG's importance to Stalin

• Using the GULAG system helped industrialize Russia
• It help Stalin control the nation
• Removed any political adversaries to communism

Life in the GULAG

• Tortured to give up a sometimes fake confession
• Mostly in remote, harsh climates in Eastern Asia
• Prisoners were worked up to 14 hours a day
• Little amounts of food were given
• Mob justice was common

The Legacy

• The GULAG remained a stain on the Russian face
• Slightly discredited the Communist movement
• Violence continued long after camps were closed

De-Stalinization

• Khrushchev(communist leader) tried to distance Stalin
• speechs he made after caused rebellion in western soviet states
• The subject of the GULAG became a matter of public discussion
• Although talk was still limited, there was a chance for discussion
• The reputation of the CCCP was damaged

Bibliography

• gulaghistory.org
• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/154055/de-Stalinization
• http://www.nps.gov/malu/parknews/upload/Gulag_Fact_Sheet.pdf