What is the theme in Journey Into the Whirlwind by Eugenia Ginzburg?

Oppression is the main theme of this book. "Journey into the Whirlwind" is the story of Eugenia Ginzburg's experiences while imprisoned under Communism. At every step of the way, Stalin and the Communist government attempts to suppress freedom and oppress the people. The Communists fear a revolution, just as they led a revolution against the Czar two short decades before. In so doing, any acts of revolt against the government are brutally put down, and the punishments become more and more severe. Oppression is one of the major themes of Ginzburg's work.