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Margaret Werner Tobien
Margaret Werner Tobien (1921-1997) was an American woman who survived imprisonment in a Gulag, a Siberian labor camp of Stalinist Russia. She escaped and became a mother to Karl Tobien, who later wrote Dancing Under the Red Star about her experience. Margaret Werner Tobien's life from the beginning started out as a tragedy. She and her family, adjusted to the events they faced throughout their lives.

Early life[edit]
Margaret was born in 1921 near Detroit, Michigan, and her father worked for Ford Motor Company. When Margaret was 10, Ford moved its location to Russia, and Margaret's father was transferred along with some 450 employees from 1930 to 1932.

At 17, Margaret's father was arrested and imprisoned in Russia after being convicted on trumped-up charges of treason. Left to survive in the Soviet regime, Margaret and her mother faced years of poverty and near starvation.

When Margaret's father was arrested, it already was a struggle for them to survive. Margaret and her mother made it through years of sorrow, only to both be accused of the same charges her father faced.

Imprisonment[edit]
In 1943 Margaret herself was accused of espionage and sentenced to 10 years of hard labor in Stalin's Gulag.

The Stalin Gulag prison went on for thirty three years.The work was harsh and people cut their arms off to avoid the labor. The living conditions killed lots but many prisoners were killed amongst one another. Margaret and many women found ways to adjust to the cruel conditions they were forced to live through. These woman had no choice but to take the humiliation and do as they were told.

Margaret is the only American woman to have survived the harsh imprisonment lifestyle.

Personal life[edit]
After her release from prison, Margaret married Gunter Tobien, and changed her last name. Their son Karl Tobien, was born in 1956 just outside the Gulag. He was five years old when he, his mother and his grandmother returned to the US. In 1991 Margaret converted to evangelical Christianity.

As Margaret Werner's son, Karl, became older he wanted to know about his mothers past. Margaret was no longer ashamed and opened up to her son about the cruel conditions she faced. Karl later went on to write Dancing Under The Red Star, which told his mothers story.