The Deportation of Peoples in the Soviet Union

226 Pages·1996·8.528 MB·English

by  Nikolai Bugay, Nikolai Bougai

Nikolai ougai
Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

<£ke
'ZSepottAtlon
o$ peoples
tn the
Soviet Z{hton

<Zke
'deportation
of peoples
Ln tke
Soviet &(nlon
Nikloai Bougai
Nova Science PnbHaMrt, Inc.
New York
Art Director: Maria Ester Hfiwrya
Assistant Director: Elenor KaMterg
Graphics: Kerri Pfister, Susan A. Boriotti and
Frank Grucci
Manuscript Coordinator: Phylis Gaynor
Book ProductiontTammy Sauter, Gavin Aghamore,
Joanne Bennette, Christine Mathosian,
and Michele Keller
Circulation: Gathy De Gregory and Annette Bellinger
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
available upon request
ISBN 1-56072-371-8
<J) 1996 Neva Science Publishers, Inc.
SOSO feriefto Turnpike, Suite 207
Commack, Neto York 11725
Tele. 516-499-3103 Fax [phone]
E Mail NffoascilGaoLcom
AU rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced,
stored inaretrievalsystem or transmitted in any formorbyany
means: electronic, electrostatic, magnetic, tape, mechanical,
photocopying, recordingorotherudsewithoutpermission from
the publishers.
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction.-........................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 2
Deportation of Peoples in the Soviet Union 1920s - 19SOs........................5
CHAPTER 3
The Russian People: Deportation Began as Early as the 1920$..............9
Chapter 4
The 1930’s: Deportation of Soviet Koreans.......................................,......2S
Chapter 5
To Relocate Iranians to Kazakhstan in a Month........................................39
Chapter 6
The Forced Migration of Karachais...............................................................49
Chapter 7
Deported Forever: On the Deportation of Kalmyks..................................57
Chapter 8
40 Thousand Balkarians... "To Deportate On Beriya’s Order”............71
Chapter 9
Greeks - Special Settlers in the USSR............................ 87
Chapter 10
The Truth About the Deportation of Chechens and Ingushes.................97
Chapter It
Ingermanlandians - Secret**.....................-...............*.....................113
Chapter 12
1940s - The Deportation of Peoples from Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan......................... **•*.......................................................<.........— .131
Chapter 13
The 1940$ - 1950s: The Fortunes of the Moldavian People...................151
Chapter 14
The Forced Deportation of Peoples from Baltic Countries.....................165
Chapter IS
The 1940*$: Deported and Mobilized Germans in the Far East..t......181
Chapter 16
The North of Russia in the Policy of Peoples Deportation...................189
Chapter 17
State Legislation on the Rehabilitation of Repressed Peoples in
the USSR......................................................„..........................................................207
Introduction
The scientific analysis and often theoretically sustained solutions of ali lhe negative prob*
lems. which appeared in the sphere of interethnic relations and were very sharp, are neces­
sary under the rapid developing of modem national processes, the growth of national con­
sciousness of every nation of Russia and the former USSR republics.
The last years Ute historical science of Russia pays much attention to the ” blank spaces
" of the history of many peoples of our country, including national ninonlies. The problem
of the peoples deportation in the USSR, the representatives of 60 nationalities in the 20th -
50th, is among the unsolved theoretical problem-,.
Along with the fate of the large nations, the fate of small nations was decided in Russia
in 1917, as well. Their free development had been forseen, including (he free will to estab­
lish their own administrative unit - guberniya (province), region (volost ).
Still, peoples had very short time to follow the prescribed way. The order of life was
different. To all appearances, the Head of the USSR Government J. Stalin had a well de­
veloped approach to lhe nations. On the eve of the X Congress of lhe RCP (b ) in 1921
lhe Commission of lhe CC headed by V. Lenin and I. Stalin worked cut the theseses on the
next tasks of the Party in lhe national problem. A certain role in the decision of those
problems belonged to the People’s Commissar on National Affairs, I. Stalin, The theseses
vividly show his attitude towards nations, many of them had been deported in the 20th -
50th. The peoples of lhe Caucasus have been joined under the single name " Gortsy " (
mountaineers) and have been regarded as retarded nations, with the parttiarchal - patri­
monial way of life. Poles, Jews. Greeks, Germans. Bulgarians, Kurds, Khonshines, Lasts,
etc. have been related to the11 fluid national groups" without certain social structure and
territory. The approach has provided with ample opportunities: the national group do not
have its historical territory, so it can be easily moved from one place to another. (I J.
On the eve of the XU Congress (1923) I. Stalin had proposed the following division of
the USSR peoples: lhe first group - those, who had been living in the region with the wdl -
developed industry; the second - those, who had not passed through the stage of capilalizm
and differed from the inhabitants of Central Russia. And, at least, peoples and tribes with
patrimonial way of life, who had not been accustomed to agricuiwte. This scheme did not
2 Nikftlal Boutfti
enveloped the particularities of people's cuhure. the level of their religiousness, openness
or reticence, etc. The character of the naton has been defined only by economic features.
The government course towards the levelling of ethnic relations the forming of the unique
socialistic nation has lead to the crush of the good undertaking in the field of ethnic rela-
tiona. The free development of nations, including oaGona) nuoonhea, was proclaimed in
May, 1925.
All - Union Congress of the Soviets. 10 national provinces have been found by the mid­
dle of the 30th. In 1936 • 580 national regions were found. Still. the trends in the national
policy didn't provided for the further improvement of ethnic relations. The national - state
insitute has been abolished. Many national provinces in (he USSR stopped to exist.
No doubt, the main argument was, that the national problem in the USSR had been
solved, rhe national backwardness had been eliminated.
The influence of the Centre has been increasing, the peoples’ rights have been infringed.
This, in turn, lead to the oppresion. The measures of frightening have been undertaken,
deportation, as well.
The Latin meaning of the word " deportation " is exile, expatriation. The deportation
was (he part of the relocation policy of the Oovemmeit in the 3O(h * 50th, it involved more
than 60 nations of the USSR. A close attention to that tragic period In the life cf peoples
was no coincidence. The negative feature, such as suspiciosoess, espionage - mania, unre­
liability. etc. have been flourishing under the strengthening administrative • commaod sys­
tem of the 30th. extraordinary personification in politics, cult of personality, the wide
spread idea uf Die isitemificaiion of class struggle in course of socialism building.
Under those conditions the fare of the nariooal minorities was tragic.
The precise system of the relocation process control had been worked out in the Centre.
The process has been carried out by the State power bodies, first of all, the USSR People’s
Commissariat for Internal affairs < NKVD >. In the structure of the NKVD since June,
1931 till 1940 existed (he Department on Special Sealements of the Principle Department
of Camps ( GULAG ), since 1940 till February, 1944 - the Department of Reformatory
Schools and Labour Settlements of GULAG. On March 24, 1944 a separate department
was found in the NKVD structure - the Department on Special Settlements (the USSR
NKVD Order N 00332 >. The Department existed till 1948, when the USSR Council of
Ministers adopted a Decree N 418 -161 ss. dated February 21. According to this Decree
the USSR NKVD had to accomplish strict control over the places of settlements, to or­
ganize strict registration in special settlements. The USSR MVD authorities were obliged
also to use special settlements in a proper way. In 1950 the functions on the special settle­
ments' control were delegated to the 9th Department of the USSR MGB, in 1953 * to the
new Department *’ P ”, found in the new structure of the USSR MVD • MGB. On October
30, 1954 the Department * P ” was renamed to (be 4th Department of (he USSR MVD.
The similar bodies have been created in the regions of the country.
The deportated peoples of the USSR bekog to that group of peoples, the life of which
in the 40th - 50th is not well known. There are some data on them in the historical Ihera-