The Tragedy of Cannibal Island: Eat Each other or Die
The Nazino tragedy, otherwise popularly known as Cannibal Island, forced many into cannibalism for sheer survival.
This tale of hunger, desperation, and cruelty is a true horror story for spooky campfire nights. Unfortunately, it is also a deadly reminder of power left unchecked. The Nazino tragedy was a project by the Stalin-led USSR to create self-sustainable communities in May 1933. Of the 6000 people forcibly abandoned there, 4000 died within thirteen weeks. Starving, they had little choice other than to resort to killing other humans. The guards, rather than stopping it, enjoyed the show from the sidelines.
Why Were They Deported?
The tragedy can be traced back to 1929 and is deeply tied to the increasing challenges the authoritarian Stalin government faced. Many in USSR were rebelling against its oppressive policies. They chose to destroy their equipment and slaughter their animals rather than becoming Stalin’s henchmen. Not only was Stalin letting down communist ideals through his reign of terror, but also his many civilians.
