A Comparative Analysis of Nazi Concentration Camps and Soviet Gulags. Origins, Structures, and Practices

Seminar paper from the year 2024 in the subject History of Germany - National Socialism, World War II, grade: 1,0, Sofia University St. Klimment Ohridski (Faculty of History), course: History of Russia during the 20th century, language: English, abstract: The paper deals with the concentration camps in Germany during the National Socialist era and the Gulag concentration camps in the Soviet Union. The aim of the work is to compare the camps and to identify similarities and differences. The first step is to place them in their historical context. Therefore, it will be explained how and under what circumstances the concentration camps in the Third Reich and in the Soviet Union came into being. The ideological basis for the concentration camps in the respective political systems will then be elaborated. The structures and organization of the two types of camp will then be examined. This will be followed by an analysis of which groups or ethnic groups of people were prisoners in the camps. Afterwards, the living conditions and the use of violence in the concentration camps will be discussed. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn from the findings, highlighting the similarities and differences between the two types of camp. In order to make a well-founded comparison of the National Socialist concentration camps and the Gulag concentration camps, it is necessary to look at the genesis of the two types of camp in the context of their time. The National Socialist concentration camps were established and operated during the rule of the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945. The first early concentration camps were set up shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. Even before he came to power Hitler had already indicated the establishment of camps on several occasions. Overall, the development of the camps can be divided into four phases. During the first phase from 1933-1935 hundreds of small camps were established, but also bigger camps like Dachau. The camps of this period had the primary function of breaking the resistance of political opponents. During the second phase from 1936-1938, further groups of prisoners were interned in the concentration camps and the number of camps increased.