Prisoners of War in Arkhangelsk: History of the Solombala Camp of the NKVD-MVD No. 211

Abstract

Based on a wide-ranging set of sources of official and personal origin, the article explores the history of the Solombala Camp No. 211 of the NKVD-MVD for prisoners of war and internees. Most attention is paid to the analysis of the foundation of the camp, the organization of the regime and protection of prisoners of war, their live support and labour use, as well as political and cultural work. The author concludes that the most important reason for the foundation of prisoner-of-war camps in the Arkhangelsk North was the need for labour in the local economy. The labour of prisoners of war was used in the kraft pulp and timber processing industries, shipbuilding, and agriculture. Despite the adverse climatic conditions of the Arkhangelsk North, the camp staff managed to preserve the life and health of most prisoners of war and to ensure their return to the homeland.

Keywords

• second world war
• arkhangelsk region
• prisoner-of-war camps