THE EXTENT OF FORCED LABOR IN STALIN SOVIET-UNION

Recent revelations from the archives of the former Soviet Union have p rovided much detailed data on the population of the GULAG forced labou r system. These data add significant information to the decades of aca demic debate on the question of the extent of the Soviet forced labour system, but detailed assessment shows that they do not yet, constitut e the final word. The archival revelations also sub-divide the total p opulation according to gender. social and ethnic background, and judic ial criteria. The contribution of the GULAG workforce to the national economy of the USSR during World War Two is considered in the light of newly available information, in order to gain an understanding of the place of the well-organised camp system in the chaos of wartime.