In the entire history of the USSR, perhaps, there was no nationality that did not correspond to the communist system as much as the Gypsies. Whatever the Soviet government did with the gypsies, just to socialize them. All to no avail.
Free Tribe
Everyone knows that Roma are a closed people. They do not let anyone into their nomadic camp. For the Gypsies, there is a dual division of people - there are “Roma” (ie all Gypsies) and everyone else (ie, “gadzhe”).
Gypsies have never had their own written history. All adversity they experience only in their close circle. And the Gypsies endured hardships and calamities no less than other nationalities. What is only worth their persecution and physical destruction by the Nazis.
Bolsheviks and collectivization
Promotional video:
At first, immediately after the revolution, the Bolsheviks mistakenly viewed the Roma as allies. Since the Roma are poor and live in a collective, this shows their class affinity. But it was not there.
The gypsies were completely apolitical. They don't care what kind of power they are. Moreover, the Roma valued free trade much more than productive labor. And this is already a class alienation for the young Soviet state.
Therefore, rather quickly, the Soviet government began to "dispossess" the Roma. Their horses and property were taken away from them in order to force the Roma to live sedentary. But no measures, not even the census of the Roma, could eradicate their nomadic way of life.
In addition, the religiosity of the gypsies, which the Bolsheviks could not eradicate, greatly interfered. The Union even published brochures in the Gypsy language and distributed them among the camps, which said that "religion is the opium of the people."
Certification
A mandatory passport was introduced in the USSR in December 1932. Already in the summer of 1933, a decision was made to capture, forcibly passportize and transfer Roma. A total of 5,480 gypsies were caught and sent to Norilsk, Ukhta and on the banks of the Ob. They were placed in barracks and forced to work. Those who escaped were given prison terms.
Also, the Roma were imprisoned under "currency" articles. The fact is that many gypsies transferred all their money into gold jewelry. For this purpose, gold coins were specially minted. For manipulations with precious metals, Roma received long sentences with confiscation of property.
Settlement decree
The most significant law that influenced the lives of Roma is Resolution No. 658, which read:
It was on him that the police caught the gypsies, accused them of illegal trade, speculation or vagrancy. In 1957, 71 thousand Roma were caught, all adults were given passports, housing, registered at their place of residence and assigned to work in collective and state farms, and children were taught in schools.
But the gypsies refused to work in the field. Some worked as blacksmiths, tinkers, plumbers. The rest were "malicious deviators from socially useful labor."
Whatever they do with the gypsies, but, as they say, "things are still there."
