Kemerovo, Russian Federation
Concentration camps appeared in Russia as early as during World War I. The author studied concentration camps as a phenomenon of the early Soviet period of 1918–1921. They appeared during the Civil War as a measure against potentially disloyal segments of society to the new regime. This measure resulted in a system of prisons, parallel to the traditional ones. Despite the initial repressive nature of correctional labor camps, the authorities established obligatory labor service for all prisoners for the benefit of the state and its institutions. Although the authorities tried to secure their basic rights and provide them with satisfactory living conditions, the task was impossible during the severe military and political confrontation and general devastation. After the Civil War, the need for such repressive institutions gradually disappeared. Early Soviet concentration camps had a heterogeneous nature, including two main functions: tools of political struggle and means of implementing new principles of penitentiary policy.
war communism, civil war, Red Terror, conscription, concentration camp, forced labor camp, correctional labor policy, prisoners
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