83 years ago the Karaganda labour training camp was established. It was located in the village of Dolinka, 45 kilometres away from the city of Karaganda. The main function of the Karaganda camp was to use free labour of prisoners to create base of food for developing coal mining and metallurgic industry in Central Kazakhstan. After forced eviction of local population the territory was given for numerous colonies. They constructed railways, barracks for future prisoners, facilities for livestock, quarters for military guard and accommodation for command staff. Over the period of its existence more than one million of prisoners lived in the camp. The made a great contribution to military economy of the country during the Great Patriotic War. Famous scientists served a term of imprisonment there. Hundreds of workers of art from the Soviet Union and foreign countries passed through the Karlag. Over time it became a camp for criminals. The camp was overthrown in 1959.
Use of materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires written or oral permission
from the Board of Editors or the author.
Hyperlink to Qazaqstan tarihy portal is necessary. All rights reserved by the Law RK “On author’s rights
and related rights”.
To request authorization email to
or call to 8 (7172) 57 14 08 (in
- 1164)
