PRISONER PHOTOS

There are no camp photos in this volume. There are only 24 prisoner photos as these were taken of almost all prisoners. “Almost” all, because not all files include photos taken in strict light and at head supports. These have been taken in Tallinn, Leningrad, Norilsk, Sverdlovsk and other places, where the files were compiled.

Technical quality and due to it their durability are different. Black and white print cannot show yellowedness, but only spots appeared during years. But the impressions on the photos should talk for themselves, showing depression, torment, amazement, but also determination and unsubmissiveness.

This little selection does not tend to be representative in years of birth, age at imprisonment, public fame of the people and any other characteristic. There are only 24 of the 15,000 ones, whose names appear for the first time in this volume. They share their prisoner fates with shooting, dying, liberation or a second imprisonment. There are short data about them in this volume.

Maybe this selection will encourage someone to compile an album of prisoner photos enabling the future generation to think about the fights and hopelessness, losses and uncapitulation.

All photos are from the files of the Estonian State Archive branch. These have not been technically restored, but their present condition has been preserved.

ABBREVATIONS