Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, had died the preceding year. Many prisoners hoped that the new regime in Moscow might listen to their complaints about the harsh prison conditions.
Tā kā mēs, Jehovas liecinieki, palikām neitrāli, mums sava pārliecība bija jāskaidro gan dumpiniekiem, gan nometnes apsardzei, un mums bija vajadzīga stipra ticība Dievam, lai mēs spētu saglabāt savu nostāju.