Researchers in Białystok have received a horde of historical documents that shed new light on the fate of thousands of Poles exiled to the area of modern day Kazakhstan during the Stalinist era.
The documents are the first of several batches that will arrive in the coming future and have been described by historians as having “substantive value”.
From as early as the 19th century, Poles were exiled to Central Asia, specifically to what is today known as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. However, the Stalinist era saw deportations significantly accelerated.
Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, the director of the Sybir Memorial Museum and the co-chairman of the Polish-Kazakh Historical Commision, said: “In the period before World War II, there was a mass deportation of the Polish community from the territories of the Soviet Union: today's eastern Ukraine and eastern Belarus. In Soviet times, the first Polish deportees were sent to Central Asia in 1936, and a much larger wave of deportations would reach this area in 1940-1941.”
Famously, the Anders’ Army would be formed largely in Uzbekistan and not, as is often perceived, in Siberia. “These are extremely important matters,” said Śleszyński. “When we talk about the deportations of 1940-1941, we often forget that almost 50% of the people did not end up deported to Siberia, but to the area of Kazakhstan. That is why the country is a huge trove of historical knowledge.”
Just how huge is now becoming apparent with the donation and transfer of archival materials.
Included in the first batch is information about the family of Kordian Borejka, the current president of the Main Board of the Association of Siberian Deportees.
“He was deported as a baby, so he obviously could not remember anything. Thanks to these documents, he can learn more about his family's history,” said Śleszyński.
The scope of the documents includes execution lists of those shot during the Great Terror in the Almaty region in 1937 and 1938, and even more details are expected to be revealed as more materials are shipped to Poland.
“Despite many problems, Kazakhstan is a key country in this part of the world, and for us it is additionally interesting due to the tragic history of World War II, which connected the history of this distant steppe country with the history of many Polish families,” said Śleszyński.
Ultimately, all the documents that are obtained by the Polish-Kazakh Historical Commission will be published in several volumes in cooperation with the Sybir Memorial Museum, the Museum of the Second World War and the University of Białystok.
From as early as the 19th century, Poles were exiled to Central Asia, specifically to what is today known as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. However, the Stalinist era saw deportations significantly accelerated.
Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, the director of the Sybir Memorial Museum and the co-chairman of the Polish-Kazakh Historical Commision, said: “In the period before World War II, there was a mass deportation of the Polish community from the territories of the Soviet Union: today's eastern Ukraine and eastern Belarus. In Soviet times, the first Polish deportees were sent to Central Asia in 1936, and a much larger wave of deportations would reach this area in 1940-1941.”
Famously, the Anders’ Army would be formed largely in Uzbekistan and not, as is often perceived, in Siberia. “These are extremely important matters,” said Śleszyński. “When we talk about the deportations of 1940-1941, we often forget that almost 50% of the people did not end up deported to Siberia, but to the area of Kazakhstan. That is why the country is a huge trove of historical knowledge.”
Just how huge is now becoming apparent with the donation and transfer of archival materials.
Included in the first batch is information about the family of Kordian Borejka, the current president of the Main Board of the Association of Siberian Deportees.
“He was deported as a baby, so he obviously could not remember anything. Thanks to these documents, he can learn more about his family's history,” said Śleszyński.
The scope of the documents includes execution lists of those shot during the Great Terror in the Almaty region in 1937 and 1938, and even more details are expected to be revealed as more materials are shipped to Poland.
“Despite many problems, Kazakhstan is a key country in this part of the world, and for us it is additionally interesting due to the tragic history of World War II, which connected the history of this distant steppe country with the history of many Polish families,” said Śleszyński.
Ultimately, all the documents that are obtained by the Polish-Kazakh Historical Commission will be published in several volumes in cooperation with the Sybir Memorial Museum, the Museum of the Second World War and the University of Białystok.
Source: Science in Poland / PAP
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