Vorkuta Uprising
Encyclopedia
The Vorkuta Uprising was a major uprising of the concentration camp inmates at the Vorkuta Gulag
in Vorkuta
, Russia in July–August 1953, shortly after the arrest of Lavrentiy Beria
. The uprising was violently stopped by the camp administration after two weeks of bloodless standoff.
Vorkuta Rechlag (River Camp) or Special Camp No. 6 consisted of 17 separate "departments" engaged in construction of coal mines, coal mining and forestry. In 1946 it housed 62,700 inmates, 56,000 in July 1953. A substantial portion of the camp guards were former convicts. According to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
, the uprising was provoked by two unconnected events of June 1953: arrest of Lavrentiy Beria in Moscow
and an arrival of Western Ukrainian
prisoners who, unlike long-term Russian inmates, were still missing their freedom.
The uprising—initially in the form of a passive walkout
—began on or before July 19, 1953 at a single "department" and quickly spread to five others. Initial demands—to give inmates access to state attorney and due justice—quickly changed to political demands. According to inmate Leonid Markizov, Voice of America
and BBC
broadcast regular news about the events in Rechlag, with correct names, ranks and numbers. Even without foreign assistance, strike at nearby sites was clearly visible as the flywheel
s of mine elevators stopped rotating. The total number of inmates on strike reached 18,000. The inmates remained static within the barbed wire perimeter
s.
For a week following the initial strike the camp administration did apparently nothing; they increased perimeter guards but took no forceful action against inmates. The mines were visited by State Attorney of USSR Roman Rudenko
, chief of convoy troops Ivan Maslennikov
and other top brass from Moscow. The generals spoke to the inmates who sat idle in camp courtyards, so far peacefully. However, July 26 the mob stormed the maximum security punitive compound, releasing 77 of its inmates. The commissars from Moscow remained in Vorkuta, planning their response.
On July 31 camp chief Derevyanko started mass arrests of "saboteurs"; inmates responded with barricade
s. Next day, August 1, after further bloodless clashes between inmates and guards, Derevyanko ordered direct fire at the mob. According to Leonid Markizov, 42 were killed on site, 135 wounded (many of them, deprived of medical help, died later). According to Solzhenitsyn, there were 66 killed.
After submission of the mob, many "saboteurs" were arrested and placed into maximum security cells, but without further punitive executions. Inmate regime was marginally loosened (especially for "political" inmates).
Vorkuta Gulag
The Vorkuta Gulag was a Soviet era prison camp located in the Pechora River Basin, in the Komi Republic, part of the Siberian region of Russia, located 1,200 miles from Moscow and 100 miles above the Arctic Circle...
in Vorkuta
Vorkuta
Vorkuta is a coal-mining town in the Komi Republic, Russia, situated just north of the Arctic Circle in the Pechora coal basin at the Usa River. Population: - Labor camp origins :...
, Russia in July–August 1953, shortly after the arrest of Lavrentiy Beria
Lavrentiy Beria
Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria was a Georgian Soviet politician and state security administrator, chief of the Soviet security and secret police apparatus under Joseph Stalin during World War II, and Deputy Premier in the postwar years ....
. The uprising was violently stopped by the camp administration after two weeks of bloodless standoff.
Vorkuta Rechlag (River Camp) or Special Camp No. 6 consisted of 17 separate "departments" engaged in construction of coal mines, coal mining and forestry. In 1946 it housed 62,700 inmates, 56,000 in July 1953. A substantial portion of the camp guards were former convicts. According to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn was aRussian and Soviet novelist, dramatist, and historian. Through his often-suppressed writings, he helped to raise global awareness of the Gulag, the Soviet Union's forced labor camp system – particularly in The Gulag Archipelago and One Day in the Life of...
, the uprising was provoked by two unconnected events of June 1953: arrest of Lavrentiy Beria in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and an arrival of Western Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
prisoners who, unlike long-term Russian inmates, were still missing their freedom.
The uprising—initially in the form of a passive walkout
Walkout
In labor disputes, a walkout is a labor strike, the act of employees collectively leaving the workplace as an act of protest.A walkout can also mean the act of leaving a place of work, school, a meeting, a company, or an organization, especially if meant as an expression of protest or disapproval.A...
—began on or before July 19, 1953 at a single "department" and quickly spread to five others. Initial demands—to give inmates access to state attorney and due justice—quickly changed to political demands. According to inmate Leonid Markizov, Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcast regular news about the events in Rechlag, with correct names, ranks and numbers. Even without foreign assistance, strike at nearby sites was clearly visible as the flywheel
Flywheel
A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Flywheels have a significant moment of inertia, and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed...
s of mine elevators stopped rotating. The total number of inmates on strike reached 18,000. The inmates remained static within the barbed wire perimeter
Perimeter
A perimeter is a path that surrounds an area. The word comes from the Greek peri and meter . The term may be used either for the path or its length - it can be thought of as the length of the outline of a shape. The perimeter of a circular area is called circumference.- Practical uses :Calculating...
s.
For a week following the initial strike the camp administration did apparently nothing; they increased perimeter guards but took no forceful action against inmates. The mines were visited by State Attorney of USSR Roman Rudenko
Roman Rudenko
Roman Andreyevich Rudenko was a Soviet lawyer. He was the prosecutor of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1944-1953 and Chief prosecutor of the entire Soviet Union from 1953. He is also well known for acting as the Soviet Chief Prosecutor at the main trial of the major Nazi war...
, chief of convoy troops Ivan Maslennikov
Ivan Maslennikov
Ivan Ivanovich Maslennikov , General of the Army, was a Soviet military and NKVD commander of Army and Front level during World War II. A career Red Army officer, Maslennikov was transferred to NKVD system in 1928, and remained there until the German invasion of 1941, progressing from a...
and other top brass from Moscow. The generals spoke to the inmates who sat idle in camp courtyards, so far peacefully. However, July 26 the mob stormed the maximum security punitive compound, releasing 77 of its inmates. The commissars from Moscow remained in Vorkuta, planning their response.
On July 31 camp chief Derevyanko started mass arrests of "saboteurs"; inmates responded with barricade
Barricade
Barricade, from the French barrique , is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction...
s. Next day, August 1, after further bloodless clashes between inmates and guards, Derevyanko ordered direct fire at the mob. According to Leonid Markizov, 42 were killed on site, 135 wounded (many of them, deprived of medical help, died later). According to Solzhenitsyn, there were 66 killed.
After submission of the mob, many "saboteurs" were arrested and placed into maximum security cells, but without further punitive executions. Inmate regime was marginally loosened (especially for "political" inmates).
See also
- List of uprisings in the Gulag
- Novocherkassk massacreNovocherkassk MassacreThe Novocherkassk massacre or riots began on June 2, 1962 in the city Novocherkassk, Soviet Union .By early 1960s, a dire economic situation had developed in the USSR By spring and the beginning of summer of 1962, the shortage of bread had become so evident, that Khruschev decided to start buying...
- List of Gulag camps
- John H. NobleJohn H. NobleJohn H. Noble was an American survivor of the Soviet Gulag system, who wrote two books relating to his experiences after being permitted to leave the Soviet Union and return to his native United States....