Part 3, Chapter 25: Thaw-and Release—Summary

Although the strikes failed, they did signal a change in the Gulag system. Leaders were growing tired of the forced labor camps, the problems they caused, and their unprofitability. By July 1954, authorities adopted eight-hour workdays and easier procedures for earning early release. Prisoners were allowed to send and receive mail without restriction and items became available for them to purchase. The authorities also began reviewing cases and releasing some prisoners. Despite the problems, however, the authorities did not shut the camps down completely.

In Feb. 1956, Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union, gave a speech to the Party Congress detailing Soviet crimes under Stalin. As news of the speech spread, rehabilitation sped up, and more people were released. The Interior Minister also supported the return to a normal prison system. There was controversy as this...