Karlag in the Development of Virgin and Fallow Lands in Northern Kazakhstan (1954–1956)
Карлаг в освоении целинных и залежных земель в Северном Казахстане (1954–1956 годы)
Mussagaliyeva А.S. Mussabekova R.M.
2025Saint Petersburg State University
Modern History of Russia
2025#15Issue 3634 - 654 pp.
The article examines the participation of Gulag prisoners in the development of virgin and fallow lands in Northern Kazakhstan. During this period, a large number of Karlag prisoners and special settlers from different years were concentrated in the Republic. The authors of the article studied the use of prisoners in the construction of new state farms, grain warehouses, and other buildings during the virgin lands campaign, using archival documents from Kazakhstan. Special attention is paid to the activities of the Karaganda Corrective Labor Camp (Karlag) and its camp branches in the Karaganda and Akmola regions. Also discussed is the functioning of new corrective labor camps that emerged during these years: the Atbasar camp in the Akmola region (prisoners from this camp also worked in the Kostanay and Kokchetav regions). A list of state farms being built in the virgin lands of Northern Kazakhstan is provided, followed by the locations of new grain warehouses or grain storage facilities. The construction process of state farms, construction and installation works in the Shortandy district of the Akmo-la region, including the participation of prisoners from the Karlag in the construction of the grain research institute, which later received the status of the All-Union Institute of Grain Farming, is described in more detail. The article also shows the number of prisoners in camp branches, the fulfillment of revenue plans of corrective labor camps and colonies, and other issues of the Atbasar camp Karlag branches until the first quarter of 1956. Documents from the Special State Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as regional archives, including the State Archive of the Akmola Region, were used in the article. Some documents Special State Archive were recently declassified, and many materials are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time.
construction , development , Karlag , Northern Kazakhstan , prisoners , sovkhoz , USSR , Virgin Lands
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