The Gulags
In order to oust the 'kulaks' as a class, the resistance of this class must be smashed in open battle and it must be deprived of the productive sources of its existence and development... That is a turn towards the policy of eliminating the kulaks as a class. - Joseph Stalin
Deportation of the Kulaks
The kulaks were a class of rich, affluent farmers in Russian Empire, Soviet Russia, and early Soviet Union. They were deemed by Lenin as "bloodsuckers, vampires, plunderers of the people and profiteers, who batten on famine," because they were in the way to of the Communist Party to liberate the poor peasants and farmers alongside urban proletariats (industrial, factory workers). Furthermore, local officials often seized kulak land outright, sometimes without judiciary process and extrajudicial punishment.
In July 1929, it was maintained as Soviet policy that kulaks should be integrated into collective farms, but Stalin disagreed. He said: "Now we have the opportunity to carry out a resolute offensive against the kulaks, break their resistance, eliminate them as a class and replace their production with the production of kolkhozes and sovkhozes." In 1930, the Politburo approved the extermination of the kulaks as a class. Three categories of deportation of the kulaks were designated:
In July 1929, it was maintained as Soviet policy that kulaks should be integrated into collective farms, but Stalin disagreed. He said: "Now we have the opportunity to carry out a resolute offensive against the kulaks, break their resistance, eliminate them as a class and replace their production with the production of kolkhozes and sovkhozes." In 1930, the Politburo approved the extermination of the kulaks as a class. Three categories of deportation of the kulaks were designated:
- Sent to the Gulags
- Relocated to distant regions of the USSR (e.g. Kazakhstan and north Urals)
- Relocated to other parts of their province
I persuaded myself, explained to myself. I mustn’t give in to debilitating pity. We were realizing historical necessity. We were performing our revolutionary duty. We were obtaining grain for the socialist fatherland. For the Five Year Plan. - Lev Kopelev, Soviet Dissident
NKVD Order No. 00486: Order about family Memebrs pot Traitors of the Motherland
This order concerns the repression of wives and children of enemy of the people also known as “traitors of the Motherland, members of Right-Trotskyist spying-terrorist organizations convicted by first and second category since 1 August 1936.”
Wives are subject to imprisonment into labor camps for terms “at least 5-8 years”.
“Socially dangerous” children were to be placed in labor camps, corrective labor colonies, or special-regimen orphanages.
Personnel of the orphanages to house the children of the convicted had to be purged and replaced by politically reliable staff to properly supervise the “correction” of children.
Wives are subject to imprisonment into labor camps for terms “at least 5-8 years”.
“Socially dangerous” children were to be placed in labor camps, corrective labor colonies, or special-regimen orphanages.
Personnel of the orphanages to house the children of the convicted had to be purged and replaced by politically reliable staff to properly supervise the “correction” of children.