SASS AABS Joint Conference - Seattle - April 22 through 24, 2010

Baltic Prisoners in the Norilsk Revolt

Len Latkovskis — Hood College

The Soviet Gulag was rocked by major revolts in 1953. Uprisings on an unprecedented scale occurred at various locations including at the Norilsk and Vorkuta camp complexes. Prisoners from the Baltic States played a leading role in these events. This research focuses on Norilsk where Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian nationals were revolt leaders, participants and members of the strike committees in the various camps. Of note is women’s Camp No. 6 where Baltic women played an acknowledged heroic role. This study looks at the specific role played by these Baltic prisoners in Norilsk in 1953 in the one of the great revolts in Gulag history. Up to the present the history of theNorilsk revolt has been incomplete. This study brings new detail and context to this important episode.

Keywords: ussr, estonia, latvia, lithuania, history

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Panel: The Baltic Experience in 1950s Soviet Union — 10:30am Saturday