Dalstroy management staff (1938 - 1945)

The article highlights the composition of the Dalstroy (Main Directorate ofConstruction of theFar North) management which is, so far, an understudiedissue in the history of Dalstroy during 1938 – 1945. Aided by published andarchival documents, the author analyzes the resources and mechanism of Dalstroy management recruitment. Three categories of Dalstroy’snomenclatureare focused upon. After it was transferred under the competency of NKVDof the USSR in 1938 a cardinal renewal and increase of management stafftook place from the pool of NKVD officers including those who had workexperience in GULAG. Later during the war time with a ban for leaving theterritory introduced, the inflow of NKVD and Communist party staff sharplydecreased. However, the Dalstroy management drew from staff reserve hiringqualified contract professionals having previously worked in Dalstroy as wellas former prisoners. It is concluded that this employment policy of the Dalstroymanagement led to the formation of Dalstroy’s‘golden fund’ – top and mid-levelmanagers who played a leading role in the USSR’s North-East until - topoyfund»opped.oyment policy d in Dalstroy as well as for,er convicts:Communistparty staff sopped.late 1950s.