History glossary
kulaks
a Soviet label for supposedly wealthier peasants targeted during collectivisation.
- Category
- Social group
- Region
- Soviet Union
- Date range
- 1920s-1930s
What it means
Kulaks were peasants labelled as wealthier or exploitative by the Soviet state, especially during collectivisation. The category was often applied broadly and politically, allowing officials to deport, dispossess, or execute peasants accused of resisting Stalin's policies.
