kuluks

Kulaks were a socioeconomic class of peasants in the Soviet Union, specifically in rural areas, who were considered to be wealthy and prosperous compared to other farmers. The term "kulak" is derived from the Russian word "кулак," which translates to "fist" or "strong hand," implying a person who holds onto wealth tightly.

The concept of kulaks emerged in the 1920s, during the Soviet government's efforts to implement collectivization and socialization of the peasantry. Kulaks were seen as a threat to the socialist ideology, as they were perceived to be clinging to private property and exploiting their fellow peasants. The State Authority and the Communist Party identified potential kulaks and began to implement policies targeting them.

Under Joseph Stalin's rule, the persecution of kulaks intensified. Kulaks were accused of hoarding grain, evading taxes, and sabotaging agricultural production. The Soviet government implemented a series of policies, including forced requisitioning of grain, seizure of private property, and forced relocation of kulaks to labor camps.

Estimates suggest that between 600,000 to 1.5 million kulaks were deported or killed during this period. The persecution of kulaks became a byproduct of the destruction of peasant communities and the forceful implementation of collectivization. Kolkhozes, state-owned farms, replaced the kulak farms, becoming the new economic backbone of rural areas.

The kulak class was officially abolished by the Soviet government in the 1960s, although the legacy of this event remains a sensitive topic in Russia. The story of the kulaks is also seen as an example of the Soviet regime's objective to restructure rural society and create a more Soviet-oriented social order.