This article is dedicated to the historical analysis of the labor correctional camp system in the Soviet Union, with a specific focus on KarLag, Steplag, Spassk, Alzhir, and the children's labor camp in Karaganda. It explores the formation and development of KarLag, as well as the other specialized camps that were integral to the broader repressive system. KarLag, as the central camp in the system, included sub-camps such as Steplag and Spassk, which were used for the internment of prisoners of war. The article delves into the reasons for their creation, their organizational characteristics, and their role in the Soviet economy. Steplag, Spassk, which utilized military personnel for forced labor, were key components of the forced labor system used for the purposes of Soviet industrialization and agriculture. The functioning of these camps under tight political control and their role in the Soviet state's use of forced labor are analyzed in detail. Alzhir, a specialized camp for repressed ethnic groups, including Kazakhs, is also a key element of this study. The article examines the reasons for the creation of Alzhir, its specific functions, and its role in the broader process of ethnic cleansing. This camp became a symbol of the national repressions and was used as a tool to implement the Soviet government's political strategy regarding the deportation of entire ethnic groups.
KarLag, Steplag, Spassk, Alzhir, repression, labor camps, Soviet Union, POW camps, ethnic repression, deportation, children in camps, labor camp system, Gulag.