Gulag: A History

In Gulag: A History (2003), Anne Applebaum, a journalist and historian specializing in Eastern European history, explores the Soviet Union’s forced labor camp system. Through historical analysis, interviews, and primary sources, Applebaum uncovers the harsh realities of the Gulag camps. She documents the history and impact of the Gulags, from their inception in the early 1920s through their dissolution and lasting legacy in post-Soviet Russia. Throughout her investigations, Applebaum explores the key themes of The Mechanisms and Impact of State Repression, The Intersection of Ideology and Power, and Resilience in the Face of Adversity. Gulag was critically acclaimed and won a Pulitzer Prize.

This study guide refers to the 2003 Anchor Books e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide examine the Soviet Gulag system, including detailed discussions of forced labor, systemic torture, political repression, physical and psychological suffering, and death; they also mention sexual violence and suicide.

Summary

The book is an account of the Soviet Union’s extensive system of forced labor camps, which existed from 1917 until the 1980s. Through a blend of archival research, first-person accounts, and historical analysis, Applebaum illuminates the origins, operations, and legacy of the Gulag. The book is structured into three parts, each focusing on different aspects of the Gulag system.

Part 1, “Origins of the Gulag, 1917-1939,” explores the ideological and political foundations of the Gulag under the Bolsheviks. It traces the evolution from Lenin’s initial use of labor camps for political enemies to the consolidation of the system under Stalin. The chapters detail significant developments, such as the establishment of the first camps, the pivotal year of 1929 when massive expansions occurred, the construction of the White Sea Canal, and the intensification of repression during the Great Terror. This section lays bare the calculated expansion of the camp system as a means for economic development and political control, embedding the Gulag deeply into the fabric of Soviet society.

Part 2, “Life and Work in the Camps,” details the day-to-day realities of life within the Gulag. Starting from the arrest and transportation of prisoners to their selection and integration into camp life, Applebaum portrays the brutal conditions, the social hierarchy among prisoners, and the complex interactions between guards and inmates. This section reveals the harsh work regimes, the strategies prisoners employed for survival, and the acts of rebellion and escape attempts. Highlighting the human dimension of the Gulag experience, this part underscores the resilience and ingenuity of prisoners in the face of systematic dehumanization.

Part 3, “The Rise and Fall of the Camp-Industrial Complex, 1940-1986,” covers the expansion of the Gulag during World War II and its role in the Soviet war effort, the subsequent waves of amnesties, and the eventual decline of the system. The chapters in this section address the shifting political and economic priorities that led to the zenith and gradual dismantling of the Gulag under leaders like Khrushchev and Gorbachev. The narratives of dissidents in the 1980s and the eventual acknowledgment of the Gulag’s atrocities provide insight into the enduring impact of the camps on Soviet society and the struggle to reconcile with this legacy.

The Epilogue, “Memory,” reflects on the challenges of memorializing the victims of the Gulag and the varied efforts across former Soviet states to come to terms with this dark chapter of history. Applebaum argues for the importance of remembering the Gulag not only as a historical event but also as a cautionary tale of the human capacity for cruelty when political systems value ideology over individual lives.