Remembering the Soviet State : Kulak children and dekulakisation

Abstract

When analysing dekulakisation little attention has been paid to the fact that almost 40% of the total number of the deported were children younger than 16 years of age. By examining the experiences of a small number of kulak children this article discusses various strategies of surviving. When unravelling their childhood experiences, kulak children tend to dwell on their suffering and victimisation. The findings of this article are, nonetheless, that kulak children were much more than passive victims—in fact they actively took an enormous responsibility for their own survival.