What was the approximate area and population of the territories annexed by the Soviet Union from Poland in 1939?

Following the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Soviet Union entered the eastern regions of Poland, known as the Kresy. These annexed territories covered an area of 201,015 square kilometers (77,612 square miles) and had a population of 13,299,000 people. This diverse population included ethnic Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Czechs, Lithuanians, Jews, and other minority groups.

How were the territories annexed by the Soviet Union in 1939 reorganized after World War II?

After World War II, these annexed territories were incorporated into the Lithuanian, Byelorussian, and Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republics. This incorporation was a consequence of territorial rearrangements agreed upon during the Tehran Conference in 1943, a process sometimes referred to as the 'Western Betrayal' in the context of Poland's post-war borders.

How did Poland's overall territory change following the Soviet annexation and subsequent territorial rearrangements after World War II?

Poland experienced significant territorial shifts. While it lost its eastern regions to the Soviet Union, it was compensated with former eastern territories of Germany. Consequently, the post-World War II territory of Poland was slightly smaller than its pre-1939 land area, shrinking by approximately 77,000 square kilometers, an area comparable to Belgium and the Netherlands combined.

What was the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and when was it signed?

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was a 10-year non-aggression treaty signed between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in the early morning of August 24, 1939. This pact is historically significant for its secret protocol that divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence.

What was the crucial secret protocol within the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact concerning Eastern Europe?

The secret protocol of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which was only revealed after Germany's defeat in 1945, stipulated the division of Northern and Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence. This agreement predetermined the fate of several nations and regions, including Poland.

How did the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact propose to partition Poland?

According to the secret protocol of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Poland was to be partitioned in the event of its 'political rearrangement.' The agreement designated the areas east of the Narev, Vistula, and San Rivers to the Soviet Union, while Germany would occupy the western parts of the country.

Which Northern and Eastern European countries were assigned to the Soviet sphere of influence by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact?

Under the terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia were assigned to the Soviet sphere of influence in the northern region. Poland was designated for partition, with its eastern territories falling under Soviet influence.

What was the initial arrangement for Lithuania within the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and how did it change?

Initially, Lithuania was placed within the German sphere of influence due to its proximity to East Prussia. However, a subsequent secret protocol agreed upon in September 1939 reassigned the majority of Lithuania to the USSR. This revised agreement also stipulated that Lithuania would regain Vilnius, its historical capital, which had been under Polish control.

What determined the Polish-Soviet border prior to the Soviet invasion in 1939?

The Polish-Soviet border, as it stood in 1939, had been established by the Treaty of Riga in 1921, which concluded the Polish-Soviet War. This treaty set the demarcation line that the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact would later override.

When did the Soviet Union invade eastern Poland under the terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact?

Following the German invasion of western Poland, the Soviet Union invaded the portions of eastern Poland assigned to it by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact approximately two weeks later. This invasion occurred in coordination with German forces already operating within Poland.

What justification did the Soviet Union provide for its invasion of Eastern Poland in 1939?

The Soviet Union cited a 'need to protect' the Ukrainian and Belarusian populations in these regions as its justification for invading Eastern Poland. This action took place amidst the dismemberment of Poland by Nazi Germany, with Warsaw under siege and the Polish government in the process of evacuation.

How did the Second Polish Republic's policies impact its Ukrainian and Belarusian minorities?

During the interbellum period, the Second Polish Republic implemented an oppressive program of Polonization against its Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Jewish minorities. This included actions like the 'Pacification of Ukrainians in Eastern Galicia,' where Ukrainian property was destroyed, and inhabitants were subjected to beatings and arrests, which historian Orest Subtelny described as 'collective punishment'.

How did many Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Jews react to the arrival of Soviet troops in 1939?

Due to the oppressive policies of the Polish state towards them, many Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Jews welcomed the Soviet troops into the occupied territories in 1939, viewing them as liberators or at least a less oppressive force.

What was the total area and population of the territories annexed by the USSR, including the portion given to Lithuania?

The total area annexed by the Soviet Union, including the territory assigned to Lithuania, amounted to 201,015 square kilometers (77,612 sq mi). The population within these territories was approximately 13.299 million, comprising 5.274 million ethnic Poles and 1.109 million Jews, among others.

What happened to ethnic Poles and Jews who fled the German-occupied zone into the Soviet-occupied region of Poland?

An additional 138,000 ethnic Poles and 198,000 Jews became refugees in the Soviet-occupied region after fleeing from the German-occupied zone following the invasion of Poland. These refugees were later subject to Soviet policies.

When were the final borders between Germany and the Soviet Union in Poland established after the initial invasion?

The borders between the German and Soviet occupation zones in Poland were finalized by the German–Soviet Frontier Treaty, signed on September 28, 1939. Much of the content of this treaty was kept secret from the international community at the time.

What was the immediate policy implemented by Soviet authorities in the annexed eastern Polish territories?

Upon taking control of the annexed territories, Soviet authorities immediately initiated a campaign of 'sovietization.' This involved imposing Soviet political and social structures, including passportization, residence registration, collectivization of agriculture, and nationalization of private property.

What was 'passportization' in the context of Soviet annexation of eastern Poland?

Passportization was a process initiated by Soviet authorities in the newly acquired territories. It required inhabitants to exchange documents issued by 'former Poland' for new Soviet citizenship documents. This system was used by the NKVD (Soviet secret police) to meticulously identify and categorize the population.

How did Soviet authorities use the passportization system to manage the population in the annexed territories?

The NKVD utilized the passportization system to carefully select individuals residing in Western Belarus and Western Ukraine. Those who did not receive Soviet citizenship or refused to accept it, often asserting their Polish citizenship or rejecting assigned nationalities, were subsequently arrested or deported.

What was the fate of refugees from western Poland who were in the Soviet-occupied Kresy region?

In March 1940, Soviet authorities decided on the fate of approximately 75,000 to 80,000 refugees from western Poland who had arrived in the Kresy region since September 1939. The deportation of this group, predominantly consisting of Jews (about 84%), began on June 29, 1940, and continued for nearly a month.

What was the purpose of the staged elections organized by Soviet authorities in the annexed territories?

Soviet authorities organized staged elections in the annexed territories of eastern Poland. The primary purpose of these elections was to legitimize the Soviet annexation of these lands and present the takeover as a popular decision.

What actions did Soviet authorities take to erase Polish history and culture in the annexed territories?

Soviet authorities actively worked to erase Polish history and culture by withdrawing Polish currency without providing a fair exchange for rubles, implementing collectivized agriculture, and nationalizing and redistributing private and state-owned Polish properties. They also began arresting large numbers of Polish citizens, viewing service to the pre-war Polish state as a 'crime against revolution' and 'counter-revolutionary activity'.

How many Poles were taken prisoner during the initial Soviet invasion of Poland, and what happened to them?

During the initial Soviet invasion of Poland, between 230,000 and 450,000 Poles were taken prisoner. Many of these prisoners were subjected to lengthy interrogations by NKVD officers in camps, which served as a selection process to determine who would be executed. Some were executed during the invasion itself.

What was the Katyn massacre, and when was it ordered?

The Katyn massacre was the execution of approximately 22,000 Polish prisoners of war, labeled as 'nationalists and counterrevolutionaries.' This order was signed on March 5, 1940, by members of the Soviet Politburo, including Stalin, based on a note from Lavrenty Beria, and was carried out in camps and prisons in occupied western Ukraine and Belarus.

What is the estimated number of people deported by the Soviet regime from the annexed territories between 1939 and 1941, and what was their ethnic composition?

Between 1939 and 1941, the Soviet regime deported an estimated 1.45 million people from the annexed territories. Of those deported, 63.1% were Poles, and 7.4% were Jews.

What is the estimated number of deaths among those deported by the Soviets from the annexed territories between 1939 and 1945?

While earlier estimates suggested about one million Polish citizens died at the hands of the Soviets, more recent research by Polish historians, based on Soviet archives, estimates the number of deaths among those deported between 1939 and 1945 at approximately 350,000 people.

What is Andrzej Paczkowski's estimate for Polish deaths due to Soviet actions in the annexed territories?

According to Polish historian Andrzej Paczkowski, the number of Polish deaths resulting from Soviet actions is estimated to be between 90,000 and 100,000 out of approximately 1.0 million persons deported, with an additional 30,000 executed directly by the Soviets.

How were the Vilnius Region and other northern territories reorganized after Soviet annexation?

The Vilnius Region, which had been annexed by Poland in 1920, was transferred to Lithuania following a Soviet-Lithuanian agreement. Other northern territories were incorporated into the Byelorussian SSR, specifically forming the Belastok Region, Hrodna Region, Navahrudak Region (later renamed Baranavichy Region), Pinsk Region, and Vileyka Region (later Maladzyechna Region).

Which Soviet Socialist Republics received the southern territories annexed from Poland?

The territories to the south of the annexed regions were transferred to the Ukrainian SSR. These included the Drohobych Oblast, Lviv Oblast, Rivne Oblast, Stanislav Oblast (later Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast), Ternopil Oblast, and Volyn Oblast.

When did Nazi Germany conquer the territories previously annexed by the Soviet Union?

Nazi Germany conquered the territories that had been annexed by the Soviet Union in 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.

How did the Nazis divide the former eastern Polish territories after their conquest in 1941?

Upon conquering these territories in 1941, the Nazis divided them into several administrative units: Bezirk Białystok (attached to East Prussia), Generalbezirk Litauen (Vilna Province incorporated into Reichskommissariat Ostland), Generalbezirk Weißruthenien (part of White Ruthenia incorporated into Reichskommissariat Ostland), Generalbezirk Wolhynien und Podolien (incorporated into Reichskommissariat Ukraine), and District Galicia (East Galicia, incorporated into the General Government as its fifth district).

What were the 'Massacres of Poles in Volhynia', and when did they occur?

The 'Massacres of Poles in Volhynia' were ethnic cleansing operations that took place in Ukraine between 1943 and 1944. These events resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths and led to an exodus of ethnic Poles from the territory.

What was the estimated population of Polish and Jewish people in the annexed regions in 1939, and what were the wartime casualties?

In 1939, the Polish and Jewish population in the annexed regions totaled approximately 6.7 million. During the war, an estimated 2 million people perished in these regions, including about 1.2 million Jews. These figures are often included within broader Polish war loss statistics.

What happened to the territories annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II?

At the conclusion of World War II, the Soviet Union annexed the majority of the territory it had invaded in 1939, solidifying its control over these eastern Polish lands.

What attempts were made to prevent the Soviet annexation of Poland in 1944?

In July 1944, soon after the Soviet re-entry into Poland, the Polish prime minister from the government-in-exile traveled to Moscow with Churchill. They attempted to negotiate with Stalin to prevent the Soviet annexation of Poland as outlined in the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, but Stalin declined their proposals.

What agreements were reached at the Yalta Conference regarding Poland's eastern territories?

At the Yalta Conference, the Allied powers reluctantly agreed that the Soviet Union would annex the entirety of its Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact portion of Eastern Poland. In exchange, Poland was to be granted part of Eastern Germany as compensation for its territorial losses.

How were the agreements concerning Poland's post-war borders confirmed?

The territorial agreements concerning Poland's eastern borders, as discussed at the Yalta Conference, were subsequently confirmed and consolidated at the Potsdam Conference.

Were the Western Allies aware of the secret clause dividing Poland in the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact?

No, the Western Allies were reportedly unaware of the existence of the secret clause within the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact that had divided Poland between Hitler and Stalin along the Curzon Line as early as 1939.

Which specific areas of eastern Poland occupied by the Soviet Union were returned to postwar Poland?

Certain parts of eastern Poland that had been occupied by the Soviet Union in 1939 were returned to postwar Poland. These areas, totaling 21,275 square kilometers (8,214 sq mi) and inhabited by approximately 1.5 million people, were located near Białystok and Przemyśl.

When did the Communist-dominated Provisional Government of National Unity formally cede the annexed territories to the USSR?

The treaty formally ceding these territories to the USSR was signed on August 16, 1945, by the Communist-dominated Provisional Government of National Unity.

What was the religious composition of the annexed territories based on the 1931 census?

Based on the 1931 census, the religious affiliation in the annexed territories was diverse: 31.6% were Eastern Orthodox, 30.1% Roman Catholic, 26.7% belonged to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 9.9% were Jewish, and 1.7% identified with other religions.

What actions did Red Army soldiers commit against the civilian population in the 'Recovered Territories' between 1945 and 1947?

According to Władysław Mochocki's research, Red Army soldiers committed attacks against the civilian population in the territories known as the 'Recovered Territories' between 1945 and 1947. These actions included plundering, rape, and murder, continuing even after the expulsion of Germans from territories west of the Oder and Neisse rivers. These traumatic experiences significantly impacted the local population's relationship with the Soviet Union.

What was the role and impact of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA) in the annexed territories from 1944 to 1952?

From 1944 to 1952, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA) engaged in armed conflict against communist forces in the annexed territories. These skirmishes resulted in the deportation of 600,000 people by the Soviets and the deaths of approximately 170,000 members of the local population during the fighting.

When was the Soviet–Polish border realigned, and what was the nature of this change?

The Soviet–Polish border underwent a realignment in two specific areas in June 1951. This adjustment altered the demarcation line between the two countries.

What was the significance of the image depicting temporary borders created by advancing German and Soviet troops?

The image referenced shows the initial, temporary borders established by advancing German and Soviet forces during their joint invasion of Poland in 1939. It highlights that these divisions were not final and were subject to later adjustments through diplomatic agreements between the two powers.

What does the image illustrating the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact's divisions of Europe signify?

The image depicting the divisions of Europe according to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact serves as a visual representation of the secret agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to partition Eastern Europe into their respective spheres of influence. It also indicates that these divisions were later modified.

What information is conveyed by the image showing sectors of prewar Poland under Nazi German occupation?

This image visually details how the Nazi German occupational authority organized and administered the parts of pre-war Poland that came under their control after the 1939 invasion and subsequent German occupation in 1941. It breaks down the occupied territory into specific administrative sectors.

What is the historical relevance of the image displaying variants of the Curzon-Namier Line from the Tehran Conference era?

The image showing variants of the Curzon-Namier Line from the Tehran Conference period (1943) is relevant because it illustrates proposed borderlines discussed by the Allied powers during World War II. These discussions were crucial in shaping the post-war territorial arrangements, including the eventual Soviet annexation of eastern Poland.

What was the primary reason for the Soviet Union's invasion of eastern Poland seventeen days after the German invasion?

Seventeen days after Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland, which initiated World War II, the Soviet Union invaded the eastern regions of Poland. This action was carried out under the framework of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which had secretly divided Eastern Europe into Soviet and German spheres of influence.

Territories Of Poland Annexed By The Soviet Union Wiki: Echoes of Partition: Soviet Annexation of Poland's Eastern Territories

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Introduction

Territorial Changes

Seventeen days after the German invasion of Poland in 1939, which initiated the Second World War, the Soviet Union entered the eastern regions of Poland, known as the Kresy. These actions resulted in the annexation of territories totaling 201,015 square kilometers (77,612 sq mi) and a population of 13,299,000. The inhabitants included not only ethnic Poles but also significant Belarusian and Ukrainian populations, alongside Czechs, Lithuanians, Jews, and other minority groups.

Post-War Incorporation

These annexed territories were subsequently integrated into the Lithuanian, Byelorussian, and Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republics. They remained part of the Soviet Union following the European territorial rearrangements formalized at the Tehran Conference in 1943. Poland, in turn, was compensated for this territorial loss with former eastern territories of Germany, albeit at the cost of its eastern regions. The post-World War II territory of Poland was consequently smaller than its pre-1939 land area.

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

Secret Protocols

Signed on August 24, 1939, the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was a 10-year non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Crucially, it contained a secret protocol, revealed only after Germany's defeat in 1945. This protocol delineated spheres of influence across Northern and Eastern Europe. Finland, Estonia, and Latvia were assigned to the Soviet sphere. Poland was designated for partition, with areas east of the Narev, Vistula, and San Rivers allocated to the Soviet Union, and the west to Germany, contingent upon Poland's "political rearrangement."

Division of Poland

The pact's secret supplementary protocol, later amended in September 1939, specifically detailed the division of Poland. The territories east of the Narev, Vistula, and San Rivers were to fall under Soviet influence. These regions, primarily inhabited by mixed populations including Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Jews, had been incorporated into Poland following the Polish-Soviet War. The agreement also initially placed Lithuania in the German sphere, though a subsequent protocol reassigned most of Lithuania to the USSR, promising the return of its historical capital, Vilnius.

Soviet Annexation (1939–1941)

Invasion and Justification

Following the German invasion of western Poland, the Soviet Union invaded the eastern territories assigned to it by the Pact on September 17, 1939. Soviet authorities cited the need to "protect" the Ukrainian and Belarusian majority populations, who had experienced oppressive Polonization policies, as justification for the invasion. Many members of these minority groups, along with Jewish populations, initially welcomed the Soviet troops.

Population and Sovietization

The annexed territories comprised approximately 201,015 square kilometers with a population of about 13.3 million. Ethnic Poles constituted roughly 38% of this population, with Ukrainians making up a similar percentage, followed by Belarusians and Jews. Soviet authorities immediately initiated a campaign of "Sovietization," imposing Soviet citizenship, implementing passportization systems to identify and categorize the population, and arresting or deporting those who resisted or refused Soviet citizenship. Refugees from German-occupied areas, predominantly Jewish, also faced deportation.

Repression and Executions

Soviet authorities viewed service to the pre-war Polish state as a "crime against revolution." This led to widespread arrests of Polish citizens. Between 1939 and 1941, an estimated 1.45 million inhabitants of these territories were deported by the Soviet regime, with Poles forming the majority. A significant event was the Katyn massacre, where approximately 22,000 Polish prisoners of war and intelligentsia were executed by the NKVD in the spring of 1940, based on a Politburo order.

German Occupation (1941–1944)

Nazi Administrative Divisions

In 1941, Nazi Germany conquered these areas during Operation Barbarossa. The territories were reorganized under German administration:

Bezirk Białystok was attached to East Prussia.
Generalbezirk Litauen incorporated the Vilnius Province into the Reichskommissariat Ostland.
Generalbezirk Weißruthenien was also incorporated into the Reichskommissariat Ostland.
Generalbezirk Wolhynien und Podolien was incorporated into the Reichskommissariat Ukraine.
District Galicia (East Galicia) became the fifth district of the General Government.

Ethnic Cleansing

During 1943–1944, ethnic cleansing operations, notably the Massacres of Poles in Volhynia, resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths and a significant exodus of ethnic Poles from these regions. The total population of Poles and Jews in these territories in 1939 was approximately 6.7 million. During the war, an estimated 2 million perished, including 1.2 million Jews.

Soviet Re-annexation (1945)

Allied Agreements

At the conclusion of World War II, the Soviet Union reasserted control over most of the territories it had occupied in 1939. Preliminary arrangements involved negotiations between the Polish government-in-exile and Soviet leadership. The Yalta Conference (1945) saw the Allies reluctantly agree to the Soviet annexation of Eastern Poland, with Poland to receive compensatory territory from eastern Germany. These decisions were later consolidated at the Potsdam Conference.

Incorporation into Soviet Republics

Consequently, the eastern territories of Poland were formally annexed into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Western Allies were largely unaware of the pre-war secret clause dividing Poland between Germany and the USSR along the Curzon Line.

Border Treaty and Demographics

Formal Cession

On August 16, 1945, the Provisional Government of National Unity, dominated by communists, signed a treaty with the USSR formally ceding these territories. A portion of eastern Poland, approximately 21,275 square kilometers with 1.5 million inhabitants near Białystok and Przemyśl, was returned to postwar Poland.

Population Composition (1931 Census)

The total population of the territories annexed by the USSR (excluding the portion returned to Poland) was estimated at 10,653,000 according to the 1931 Polish census, increasing to about 11.6 million by 1939. The linguistic breakdown was approximately:

Ukrainian: 37.1%
Polish: 36.5%
Belarusian: 15.1%
Yiddish: 8.3%
Other: 3%

Religious affiliations included Eastern Orthodox (31.6%), Roman Catholic (30.1%), Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (26.7%), and Jewish (9.9%).

Further Events

Post-War Instability

Between 1945 and 1947, Red Army soldiers committed attacks, including plunder, rape, and murder, against the civilian population in the territories incorporated into Poland. From 1944 to 1952, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA) engaged in armed conflict against Soviet forces in these regions, leading to deportations of 600,000 people and an estimated 170,000 local deaths.

Border Realignment

In June 1951, the Soviet–Polish border was realigned in two specific areas, further adjusting the territorial landscape established after World War II.

Notes

Clarifications and Details

The provided source text includes specific notes and references that offer further context:

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact's secret protocol was initially concealed.
The Soviet justification for intervention involved protecting minority populations from Polish policies.
The Katyn massacre involved the execution of approximately 22,000 Polish citizens.
Estimates of Polish deaths due to Soviet actions vary, with recent historical analyses suggesting around 350,000 deportations and executions between 1939 and 1945.
The post-war border adjustments and territorial exchanges were formalized through treaties between the USSR and the Provisional Government of National Unity.
Contemporary Russian historians sometimes include the war losses from these annexed regions within Soviet war dead figures.

Citations

Source References

The information presented is derived from the following sources:

Ciesielski, Stanisław; Borodziej, Włodzimierz (2000). Przesiedlenie ludności polskiej z kresów wschodnich do Polski 1944–1947. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Neriton. ISBN 978-83-86842-56-8
Text of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, executed August 23, 1939
Wilson Center, Secret Texts of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Non-Aggression Pact, 1939
Trela-Mazur, Elżbieta (1997). In Włodzimierz Bonusiak, Stanisław Jan Ciesielski, Zygmunt Mańkowski, Mikołaj Iwanow (eds.). Sowietyzacja oświaty w Małopolsce Wschodniej pod radziecką okupacją 1939–1941. Kielce: Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna. ISBN 8371331002
Gross, Jan Tomasz (2005). Revolution from Abroad. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09603-1
Christie, Kenneth (2002). Historical Injustice and Democratic Transition in Eastern Asia and Northern Europe: Ghosts at the Table of Democracy. RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 0-7007-1599-1
Davies, Norman (1986). Heart of Europe. A Short History of Poland. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-285152-7
Roberts, Geoffrey (2006). Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939–1953. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-11204-1
Sanford, George (2005). Katyn and the Soviet Massacre of 1940: Truth, Justice and Memory. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-33873-5
Subtelny, Orest (1994). Ukraine. A history. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0802071910
Telegram of the German Ambassador in the Soviet Union, (Schulenburg) to the German Foreign Office Moscow, September 16, 1939
Gross, Jan Tomasz (2002). Revolution from Abroad: The Soviet Conquest of Poland's Western Ukraine and Western Belorussia. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09603-1
Concise statistical year-book of Poland, Polish Ministry of Information. London June 1941
Piotrowski, Tadeusz (1998). Poland's Holocaust: Ethnic Strife, Collaboration with Occupying Forces and Genocide in the Second Republic, 1918–1947. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0371-3
Sudoł, Adam, ed. (1998). Sowietyzacja Kresów Wschodnich II Rzeczypospolitej po 17 września 1939. Bydgoszcz: Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna. ISBN 83-7096-281-5
Weiner, Myron; Russell, Sharon Stanton, eds. (2001). "Stalinist Forced Relocation Policies". Demography and National Security. Berghahn Books. ISBN 1-57181-339-X
Stepan, Kamil (2015). "II wojna światowa na Kresach". polityka.pl.
Kozłowski, Bartłomiej (2005). "Wybory" do Zgromadzeń Ludowych Zachodniej Ukrainy i Zachodniej Białorusi". Polska.pl.
Gross, Jan Tomasz (2003). Revolution from Abroad. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09603-1
Lanckorońska, Karolina (2001). "I - Lwów". Wspomnienia wojenne; 22 IX 1939 – 5 IV 1945. Kraków: ZNAK. ISBN 83-240-0077-1
Encyklopedia PWN, "OKUPACJA SOWIECKA W POLSCE 1939–41"
Piotrowski, Tadeusz (2007). Poland's Holocaust: Ethnic Strife, Collaboration with Occupying Forces and Genocide in the Second Republic, 1918–1947. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2913-4
Herling-Grudziński, Gustaw (1996). A World Apart: Imprisonment in a Soviet Labor Camp During World War II. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-025184-7
Anders, Władysław (1995). Bez ostatniego rozdziału. Lublin: Test. ISBN 83-7038-168-5
Fischer, Benjamin B. "The Katyn Controversy: Stalin's Killing Field". Studies in Intelligence, Winter 1999–2000.
Sanford, George. Google Books, pp. 20–24.
CIA.gov: "Stalin's Killing Field" (PDF)
Parfitt, Tom (2010-11-26). "Russian parliament admits guilt over Polish massacre". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077
Kaganovich, L.M. about the Katyn case. 'In Russian'
Proch, Franciszek (1987). Poland's Way of the Cross. New York.
Project In Posterum [2] (note on Polish Casualties by Tadeusz Piotrowski)
Kersten, Krystyna (1994). Szacunek strat osobowych w Polsce Wschodniej. Dzieje Najnowsze Rocznik XXI
Rossiiskaia Akademiia nauk. Liudskie poteri SSSR v period vtoroi mirovoi voiny: sbornik statei. Sankt-Peterburg 1995. ISBN 5-86789-023-6
Wettig, Gerhard (2008). Stalin and the Cold War in Europe. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-5542-6
Shepley, Nick (2015). Hitler, Chamberlain and Munich: The End Of The Twenty Year Truce. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 978-1783331086
U.S. Bureau of the Census (1954). The Population of Poland. Washington.
JSTOR.org: [3] (Osteuropa Vol. 48, No. 3)
Erlikman, Vadim (2004). Poteri narodonaseleniia v XX veke: spravochnik. Moscow. ISBN 5-93165-107-1
Nekrich, Aleksandr Moiseevich; Ulam, Adam Bruno; Freeze, Gregory L. (1997). Pariahs, Partners, Predators: German–Soviet Relations, 1922–1941. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-10676-9

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References

Text of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, executed August 23, 1939

Concise statistical year-book of Poland, Polish Ministry of Information. London June 1941 pp. 9 & 10

Project In Posterum [2] (go to note on Polish Casualties by Tadeusz Piotrowski)

Krystyna Kersten, Szacunek strat osobowych w Polsce Wschodniej. Dzieje Najnowsze Rocznik XXI– 1994, pp. 46 & 47

" U.S. Bureau of the Census The Population of Poland Ed. W. Parker Mauldin, Washington, 1954 p. 140

" U.S. Bureau of the Census The Population of Poland Ed. W. Parker Mauldin, Washington, 1954 pp. 148–149

A full list of references for this article are available at the Territories of Poland annexed by the Soviet Union Wikipedia page

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This is not historical or political advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional historical research, geopolitical analysis, or consultation with subject matter experts. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific academic or policy needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

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Echoes of Partition

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Introduction ℹ️

🗺️ Territorial Changes

🌍 Post-War Incorporation

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact 🤝

📜 Secret Protocols

⚖️ Division of Poland

Soviet Annexation (1939–1941) 🇷🇺

⚔️ Invasion and Justification

👥 Population and Sovietization

💀 Repression and Executions

German Occupation (1941–1944) 🇩🇪

🗂️ Nazi Administrative Divisions

💥 Ethnic Cleansing

Soviet Re-annexation (1945) 🔄

🏛️ Allied Agreements

🇺🇦 Incorporation into Soviet Republics

Border Treaty and Demographics ✍️

📏 Formal Cession

📊 Population Composition (1931 Census)

Further Events ➡️

💥 Post-War Instability

↔️ Border Realignment

Related Topics 🔗

📚 Historical Context

Notes 📝

📌 Clarifications and Details

Citations 📖

🔗 Source References

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Introduction

Territorial Changes

Post-War Incorporation

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

Secret Protocols

Division of Poland

Soviet Annexation (1939–1941)

Invasion and Justification

Population and Sovietization

Repression and Executions

German Occupation (1941–1944)

Nazi Administrative Divisions

Ethnic Cleansing

Soviet Re-annexation (1945)

Allied Agreements

Incorporation into Soviet Republics

Border Treaty and Demographics

Formal Cession

Population Composition (1931 Census)

Further Events

Post-War Instability

Border Realignment

Related Topics

Historical Context

Notes

Clarifications and Details

Citations

Source References

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice