Soviet-era labor camps

Soviet-era labor camps, known as Gulags, were vast networks of forced detention centers used from the 1930s to the 1950s. They housed political prisoners, criminals, and those deemed undesirable by the state. Inmates were subjected to harsh conditions, hard labor, and inadequate sustenance, often working in industries like mining, forestry, and construction. The system was part of a broader campaign of political repression, and millions of people suffered or died in these camps. Gulags played a significant role in the Soviet economy but at a great human cost, symbolizing the oppressive nature of Stalinist policies.