So I have to assume that in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany and the gulags of the Soviet Union that uprisings to overtake the guards were attempted, but I can't recall from any of my history classes any that were successful. Were there any successes in taking control against their captors? Or maybe large scale escapes? If so, why were these attempts successful and not others?
Thanks
Yes, but all of them came at a terrible price, successful or not.
/u/estherke has previously answered Why didn't the Jews attempt to rebel or rise up in WW2 against their Nazi captors? as well as writing about a plot to free prisoners from a Nazi deportation train.
/u/commiespaceinvader has previously answered Are there examples of riots in Nazi Concentration camps during the Holocaust? Were any of them successful?
I would also read this answer about why "only 10% of the population supported the French Resistance" by /u/hellcatfighter for more details on the choice to either resist or collaborate with the Nazi occupation outside the camp system.
EDIT: Sorry I don't have anything for you about revolts in the gulags, you'll have to wait for someone else to address that part of your question.
EDIT2: See also Question! Why was there no revolution during the Holocaust? as answered by commiespaceinvader