Soviet Gulag

The Soviet Gulag was a system of forced labor camps in the Soviet Union from the 1920s to the 1950s, primarily used to punish political prisoners, dissidents, and ordinary criminals. Inmates faced harsh conditions, including hard labor, inadequate food, and extreme weather, leading to high mortality rates. The Gulag served both as a method of political repression and a means to exploit labor for economic projects. The term "Gulag" comes from the Russian acronym for the government agency that managed these camps. The legacy of the Gulag reflects the repressive nature of Stalin's regime and its impact on Soviet society.