Population exchange between Poland and Soviet Lithuania

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See also: Polish population transfers (1944–1946)
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The population exchange between Poland and Soviet Lithuania at the end of

Byelorussian SSR (see Population exchange between Poland and Soviet Belarus); the three documents are commonly known as the Republican Agreements [pl].[2]

Implementation

The resettlement of ethnic Poles from Lithuania saw numerous delays. Local Polish clergy were active in agitating against leaving, and the underground press called those who had registered for repatriation traitors. Many ethnic Poles hoped that a post-war Peace Conference would assign the

People's Republic of Poland State Repatriation Office
representatives.

The Lithuanian communist party was dominated by a nationalist faction [

Vilnius region.[3] The city of Vilnius was considered a historical capital of Lithuania; however, in the early 20th century its population was around 40% Polish, 30% Jewish and 20% Russian and Belarusian, with only about 2–3% self-declared Lithuanians.[citation needed] The government considered the rural Polish population important to the agricultural economy, and believed those people would be relatively amenable to assimilation policies (Lithuanization).[4][3]

But the government encouraged expulsion of Poles from Vilnius, and facilitated it. The result was a rapid

Armia Krajowa and Polish Underground State). In the end, about 50% of the 400,000 people registered for relocation were allowed to leave. Political scientist Dovilė Budrytė estimated that about 150,000 people left for Poland.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Переселение белорусов из Польши и Полесская область (1944-1947 гг.)"
  2. ^ А. Вялікі A. “Зыход” або перасяленне польскага насельніцтва з Гродна ў Польшчу ў 1944-1946 гг. In: Гісторыя і памяць. XV-XX стст. Матэрыялы міжнароднай навуковай канферэнцыі (Гародня, 9-10 лістапада 2013 г.), / Пад. Рэд. А.К. Краўцэвіча і А.Ф. Смалянчука, Гародня 2014. pp. 304-312.
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-300-10586-X, Google Print, p.91-93
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-7425-1094-8, Google Print, p.141
  5. ^ Michael McQueen. "Collaboration as an Element in the Polish-Lithuanian struggle over Vilnius." Joachim Tauber. "Kollaboration" in Nordosteuropa. Harrassowitz Verlag. 2006. p. 172.
  6. ISBN 0-7546-4281-X, Google Print, p.147
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