Gulag System in Soviet Russia: Expansion and Administration (1930s–1953)

1. Collectivization drives a surge in camp prisoners

   Jan 1, 1930Labels: Kulaks, Collectivization

   • Britannica

2. OGPU creates centralized Gulag administration

   Apr 25, 1930Labels: OGPU, Gulag administration

   • Gulag Exhibit
   • Britannica

3. White Sea–Baltic Canal construction begins with prison labor

   Sep 1, 1931Labels: White Sea, Prison labor

   • Canal Article
   • Monde Russe

4. Belbaltlag formed to run canal camp complex

   Nov 16, 1931Labels: Belbaltlag, Canal camp

   • Belbaltlag
   • Canal Article

5. Sevvostlag established to support Dalstroy in Kolyma

   Apr 1, 1932Labels: Sevvostlag, Dalstroy

   • Sevvostlag

6. White Sea–Baltic Canal opens; camp combine continues operations

   Aug 2, 1933Labels: White Sea, Camp combine

   • Canal Article

7. NKVD created, absorbing OGPU and supervising Gulag

   Jul 10, 1934Labels: NKVD, OGPU

   • NKVD
   • Britannica

8. NKVD Order 00447 launches mass arrests and camp sentences

   Jul 30, 1937Labels: NKVD Order, Great Terror

   • USC Shoah
   • Order 00447

9. Special camps created for political prisoners

   Feb 21, 1948Labels: Special camps, Political prisoners

   • MVD Camps

10. Stalin dies, triggering leadership struggle and penal debates

    Mar 5, 1953Labels: Joseph Stalin, Leadership struggle

    • Britannica

11. Supreme Soviet issues major amnesty, releasing many inmates

    Mar 27, 1953Labels: Supreme Soviet, Amnesty decree

    • Amnesty 1953
    • Vorkuta Uprising

12. Norilsk prisoner strike becomes a major 1953 camp uprising

    May 26, 1953Labels: Norilsk uprising, Prisoner strike

    • Norilsk Uprising

13. Vorkuta uprising challenges camp authorities in a special camp

    Jul 19, 1953Labels: Vorkuta uprising, Rechlag

    • Vorkuta Uprising
    • TIME 1953

14. Gulag shifted to Ministry of Justice, signaling reform attempt

    Dec 1, 1953Labels: Ministry of, Gulag transfer

    • CIA FOIA