Dug-Out Shelters of Interned Families, 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov

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Dug-Out Shelters of Interned Families, 1891. Creator: Aleksei Kuznetsov

Dug-Out Shelters of Interned Families, 1891. One of 74 views taken in July 1891 and contained in the albumTipy i vidy Nerchinskoi katorgi (Views and inhabitants of Nerchinsk hard labor camps). The Nerchinskkatorgawas part of the katorga (forced labor) system of imperial Russia, located in the province of Transbaikalia (present-day Zabaykal'skiy Kray), near the Russian border with China. The katorga was administered by the Ministry of Interior and included prisons at Akatuy, Kara, Aleksandrovsk, Nerchinskii Zavod, and Zerentuy, all of which are depicted in the album. National Library of Russia

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Media ID 35125819

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Aleksei Kirillovich Kuznetsov Aleksei Kuznetsov Convict Convicts Exile Exiled Forced Labour Hard Labour Interned Katorga Kuznetsov Aleksei Labour Camp Nerchinsk Transbaikal Territory Russia Penal Servitude Prison Camp Prisoner Prisoners Punishing Punishment Shelter Siberia Siberian Transbaikal Russia Zabaykalsky Krai Russia Dugouts Meeting Of Frontiers Shelters

EDITORS COMMENTS
This haunting photograph, titled "Dug-Out Shelters of Interned Families," was captured by Russian photographer Aleksei Kuznetsov in the summer of 1891. The image is one of 74 views documented in Kuznetsov's album, "Tipy i vidy Nerchinskoi katorgi" (Views and inhabitants of Nerchinsk hard labor camps). The photograph depicts a group of families huddled inside dug-out shelters in the Nerchinsk labor camp, located in the Transbaikal territory of Russia, near the border with China. The Nerchinsk labor camp was part of the katorga system, a network of penal institutions administered by the Ministry of Interior. The system was designed to punish and rehabilitate criminals through forced labor. The camp included prisons at Akatuy, Kara, Aleksandrovsk, Nerchinskii Zavod, and Zerentuy, all of which are depicted in Kuznetsov's album. The families in the photograph appear to be living in makeshift shelters, carved into the ground to provide some protection from the elements. The harsh conditions of the camp are evident in the worn and tired expressions on the faces of the people, as they endure the hardships of penal servitude. The meeting of frontiers, as represented by the Russian and Chinese borders, adds an additional layer of complexity to the image, highlighting the geopolitical tensions of the late 19th century. This photograph provides a poignant glimpse into the lives of the exiled and interned families of the Nerchinsk labor camp, offering a powerful reminder of the human cost of punishment and the enduring legacy of Russia's penal history.

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