POLISH REPATRIATION FROM THE USSR (LAWS ON THE HANDLING OF RETURNEES TO POLAND AND DISCUSSION OF SUCH ACTIVITIES)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 20, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
UL
0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 789 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY Poland/USSR
SUBJECT Polish Repatriation frcmthe USSR DATE DISTR. ?O OCT
C~ r b NO. PAGES if larn
u..~eP ,d,,~( REFERENCES RD
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
report on Polish repatriation from the USSR. It contains
comments on the various laws that govern and affect repatria-
tion, and discusses the actual handling of returnees from the
USSR. There is also mention of :the various receiving centers
in Poland and the actual processing of the returnees.
STATE X ARMY X NAVY X IR X Val AEC
(Nets: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Fieid dhttribefioa by "#".)
D
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
SECRET 25X1
REPATRIATION
(Chapter V of Section 7.2 "Social Welfare".according to the "Political
and Economic Yearbook for 1958" now being prepared by the "Polish Economic
Publications" in Warsaw, Ui Poznanska 15.)
1. Legal Principles for Repatriation
The turning point of the greatly intensified mass repatriation of the
past period was the Polish-Soviet Declaration signed in MDscow in November
1956, Point V of which states as follows:
"The Delegations agreed upon the principles on the basis of which
responsible organs in the Soviet Union will facillitate further repatriation
of Poles who have families in Poland and persons who, through no fault of
their own, could not take advantage of the law of repatriation based on
the Polish-Soviet agreement of 1945.
The Polish-Soviet Agreement signed on 25 March 1957 in Nbscow
"governing the time and course of further repatriation from the USSR
of persons of Polish nationality" was responsible for the development
of the [above] mentioned point. of the Declaration.
In the practical implementation of this agreement, it is expected
that the period !fir the return of Polish citizens from the Soviet Union
will extend to 31 December 1958, and the monthly average of repatriates will
be about 10,000. Furthermore, a quarter million Polish citizens are
expected to return to Poland from the USSR in 1957 and 1958.
Simultaneously with the repatriation of Poles from the USSR, a
systematic repatriation, of Poles from other countries is continuing.
All repatriates regardless of the country from which they come are
legally entitled to the same priviledges.
2. Legal Principles for Care of Repatriates
Problems of repatriation were, at first, regulated by the Resolution
of the Presidium of the Government of Polish Peeples Republic of September
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
1955 on care of repatriates returning to Poland. This resolution was
brought up to date on 12 April 1957 by Resolution of the Council of
Ministers No 145 on assistance for repatriates. (Monitor Polski of
23 AnTil 1957, No 32, Item 217).
This resolution creates the legal and organizational framework.; for
repatriation, and partially also defines the resources which the state
is to allotto for the program of assistance to repatriates.
The stipulations of the two resolutions mentioned above are to be
implemented by the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government for
Matters of Repatriation in Warsaw, the respective ministries mentioned
in the resolutions, and to presidiums of the peoples councils in the
wojewodztwoa, independent cities, powiats, and rural gminas.
3. Executive Apparatus of the Repatriation Program
The implementation of the Polish-Soviet Agreement of 25 March 1957,
on the part of Poland, is the responsibility of Office of the Plenipotentiary
of the Government for matters of Repatriation, headed by Mieczyslaw Popiel,
Minister,-`been operating since the beginning of 1957 in the Polish
Embassy in Moscow (U1. Aleksieja Tolstoja 30). Estate matters of the
repatriates from the Ukrainian SSR are handled by the Polish Consulate
in Kijow.
In Poland, the executive apparatus for repatriation program is
concentrated in the Office of the Plenipotentiar of the Government
for Repatriation Matters in Warsaw (U1. Willowa), and its subordinate
offices in the wojewodztwos and powiats, the ministries mentioned in
the resolutions, and finally the respective divisions of the presidiums
of peoples councils.
Deputy Minister Zygfryd Sznek is the Plenipotentiary of the Government
for Repatriation Mutters and Przystaszewski is Director of the office.
The Resolution of the Council of Ministers of 12 April 1957 provides
that coordination at the highest level and responsibility for implementation
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
is the responsibility of the Inter- Ministerial Commission composed of
representatives of the following ministries: Transportation, Communal
Economy, Labor and Social Welfare, Agriculture, Forestry and Lumber
Industry, and Health, under the leadership of the Plenipotentiary
of the Government for Repatriation Matters. corresponding coordination
commissions under the direction of the chairmen and deputy-chairmen of
the rresidiums of peoples councils will operate in the wojewodztwos and
powiats. In addition to this, wojewodztwos and powiats will also have a
Plenipotentiary for Repatriation Tatters who will usually be the chairman
or deputy chairmen of the presidium of the peoples council.
Finally, under direct supervision of the Plenipotentiary of the
Government, there are two border repatriation points in Biala Podlaska
and Przemysl; a repatriation point in Wiazowno near Warsaw; and 16
repatriation centers or so called transfer points in the western and
northern wojewodztwos.
4. Social Assistance for Repatriates
Because of the unexpectedly sudden increase of repatriation by the
end of 1956, it became necessary to expand the activities of the
administrative apparatus by a public assistance program. In December
1956 on the initiative of students in Warsaw, a Polish Coi,:mittee for
Assistance to Repatriates was formed in the Polish Red Cross in Warsaw,
S U1 Mokotowa 14) headed by Minister Wladyslaw Biekoiski as chairman.
Soon after this, corresponding committees for public assistance were
formed with the support of the network of Red Cross Offices in the
majority of wojewodztwos, cities, powiats, gminas, and individual
factories especially in the western territories.
The responsibility of these committees is, mainly, to create a proper
atmosphere among the public at home to make it easier for the repatriates
to adapt themselves to the new conditions and be absorved into the life
of the locality. The committees also organize special information and
service centers at the railroad stations for arriving repatriates and
collect and distribute gifts, mainly clothing to the neediest.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
5. Progress of the Repatriation Program to Date
According to calculations of the Main Statistical Office made on the
basis of data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 8,523 repatriates
returned to Poland in 1955; 33,240, in 1956; and 95,275, in 1957.
Repatriates from the USSR numbered 93,872 or 98.5 percent of the total
number.
No final data is available on the social-professional-national
composition of the repatriates groups. From the fragmentary data
collected by the Plenipotentiary of the Government, it seems that,of
the total number of repatriates returned in 1957, 31.4 percent were
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
children under 16 years of age (in 1956 - 25 percent). Among the repatriates
above 16, 10.3 percent were laborers; 14.9 percent, farmers; 16.1 percent,
~er6~_G~n~
craftsmen; 7 percent, working intellectuals; - 10.3 ~C~h~r professions; A nJ
41.4 percent were repatriates with no profession.
The percentage of repatriates with no profession or rather no stipulated
profession is striking. The majority of these are no doubt farmers who
hesitate to settle again in the village, on the farm. This also explains
the phenomenon that of the 140,000 persons repatriated during the period
under discussion, only about 40 percent have settled in the village, the
remainder is endeavoring to stay in the city.
The great majority, that is about 80 percent of the total number, have
settled in the Western Territories and most of these, about ?5,000 or 28
percent, in the City of Wroclaw and Wroclaw Wojewodztwo, then, in other
wojewodztwos, in the following order: Olsztyn,.Zielona Uora, Szczecin,
Koszalin, Gdansk, Katowice, and finally Opole where, so far, only 3 percent
of the newly arrived repatriates have settled.
An average of 60 percent of the repatriates go directly from the border
points in Biala Podlaska and Przemysl to their ALmilies, and only relatively
few take advantage of the free months stay at one of the repatriations
centers in the western and northern wojewodztwos.
In 1957, the number of repatriation points increased from 8 to 19,
and their capacity from 1,500 to 7,300 places. The border points in
Biala Podlaska and Przenysl and also in Wiazownia near Warsaw have a
total of 2,000 places. In 1957, more than 4,000 persons used the
remaining 16 repatriation centers in the Western Territories.
The distribution of repatriation points and increase in their capacity
was dictated by the increase in the percentage of repatriates who had no
relatives in Poland. This number grew systematically,increasing from 8
percent in 1956 to 46 percent in December 1957.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
tECREI
vhV
The cost of n he stay at the point together with additional care
and feeding is calculated at 20 zloty jer person per day but is entirely
free to the repatriate. The repatriates staying at the point are also
assured of constant medical care.
6. Emergency Assistance
At the border points, repatriates undergo a medical examination and
receive a health card and a repatriation card. On the basis of these
cards, a repatriate receives a subsidy of 300 zloty for himself and
for each member of his family. Furthermore, he is entitled to free
transportation for his possessions and free passage by rail for himself
and his family from the border point of his destination, a location freely
chosen by himself as his future place of settlement. In the beginning,
the repatriation card serves as a card of idertity and Polish citizenship.
To get himself established at the place of settlement, a repatriate
may obtain assistance up to 2,000 zloty for himself and, as head of the
family, and 500 zloty additional for each number of the family. Single
.a =
persons may receive up to 1,000 zloty. In cases of dire need, the repatrite
may also receive clothing; in cases of sickness or death of any member of
the family, he may request special aid through the social-administrative
divisions in~spective presidiums of the peoples councils.
The remodeled government resolution on assistance to repatriates has
greatly reduced and limited emergency assistance, shifting the weight of
the repatriate program to making the repatriate productive> thatis.,assisting
him in getting a new start in life and in his profession. In this connection,
the role of public assistance which is mainly concentrated in emergency
charitable assistance has increased correspondingly.
Many repatriates, especially rehabilitated persons returning from
isolated areas,-have no baggage or even adequate clothing. In such
instances, the public gives emergency aid, making the distribution from
gifts received for that purpose fror,; Poles at home and abroad.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
The extent of this assistance can be judged from figures of gifts
in kind and money received and distributed by the Polish Committee
for Assistance to Repatriates in Warsaw and the network of corresponding
socL al col;;mittees in the country.
According to incomplete data, these public committees received from
the domestic collection in the first 6 months of their operations, 100,000
pieces of clothing and household goods and more than 18 million zloty in
cash.
7. Settlement of Repatriates in Western Territories
The Resolution of the Council of Ministers of 12 April 1957 which
reduced state emergency free grants from 1,000 to 300 zloty per person,
simultaneously allotd a relatively large sum, 850 million zbty, mainly
for settling the repatriates in the Western Territories and assisting
them to become productive.
This sum, however, is not to be handled by one disposition center
but is to reach the repatriates through various forms of assistance
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
and credits, distributed by several state agencies, and even labor or
wrk cooperative organizations. At the same time, most of these activities
will be carried out by the people councils.
Part 4 of the Resolution directs the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
to reserve 3,000 individual farms, 7,500 places in State Farms, and 800
Brest settlements forxepatriates in 1957 and dipulates that buildings be
completely renovated in advance.
The resolution also provides for a number of tax exemptions, provided
also in the Resolution of the Government on Farm Settlement published
on 25 March 1957 (Monitor Poiski).
Thus the repatriate-settlers receive the farms for their own in
accordance with the stipulations of the resolution. The owner is to
receive a proper deed of ownership not later than one year after taking
possession of the farm, provided that he has been operating the farm
properly and that the loan be repaid. Payments are spread over a period
of 25 years including the 3 to 5 years of tax exemption.
Long term loans are available toxepatriates mainly for remodeling
the farm buildings. They have priority also in purchasing building
materials. In addition they are entitled to short and long-term bank
credits for the purchase of livestock, household goods, artificial
fertilizers, seed, etc.
Repatriates and their families are entitled to free health and
medical care for the .)eriod of one year.
Settlements are handled by the presidiums of the people's councils
who also issue settlers cards, entitling them to various priviledges.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
As regards individual farms the plan of farm settlement, in 1957,
greatly exceeded the stipulated limits. The ministry of Agriculture
settled 4,283 repatriate families on individual farms; while 1,500
dnaesv 1?4A
places,,r is reinained n s e farms; and fewer still were settled
in producer cooperatives.
8. Employment and Labor Mediation
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Warsaw, ul. Szopena 1,
handles the employment of repatriates on a national scale, otherwise
local problems of employment and labor mediation are handled, as a rule,
by independent divisions of employment offices in the powiat presidiums
and local people's councils. In practice, the management and administration
of the repatriation centers mediate here also. Unfortunately, the housing
shortage impedes operations. Almost everywhere the story is the'same;
where employment is available there is no available housing. As a result,
in actual practice, it takes a long time to find anything.
In principle, repatriates applying to employment organs ought to be
handled with despatch.
Directive No 5 of the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of 14
May 1957 (Par 2, point 2) provides that,should there be difficulty in
finding employment for a repatriate immediately upon his application,
he should be assigned another date not more than 14 days on which to
call back to check on employment. Complaints in these mutters should
be submitted to the independent employment divisions in the presidiums
of the wojewodztwo people's councils.
The best chances of employment exist in building, trades, mining,
railroading, metal industry, health service, and schooli.ng.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
In addition, the r epatriate-craftsman is entitled to reduced rates
in issuing craftsmen's permits priority in obtaining space and raw
materials, and exemption from turnover tax and income tax for the
period of one year. Further information may be obtained from the
trade division in the presidiums of powiat people's councils.
During nine months of 1957, a overall total of 877 newly organized
crafts worksho s and small industrial enterprises obtained loans. This
number does mt include all newly arrived craftsmen because the majority
of them were employed in workshops already in existence, in cooperatives,
or state enterprises.
A weak point in labor mediation is the fact that the repatriate does
not receive employment according to his qualifications immediately upon
his arrival at the border point, but, in many instances, goes where
there is neither work or housing.
9. Housing Difficulties
Undoubtedly, the lack of housing is the biggest difficulty in the
repatriation program. Theoretically the problem is settled by the above
mentioned resolution on assistance to repatriates but unfortunately it
does not fully settle the problem and, in practice, even these stipulations
are not carried out.
According to the resolution "The Minister of Communal Economy shall
hand over as rapidly as possible the rooms, which bad not been completed
on 31 December 1956, and which have been assigned to repatriates in accordance
with the distribution for 1956."
Point 3 of the Resolution adds that "it is the responsibility of the
presidiums of people's councils to assigned to repatriates rroms which
have been vacated by persons moving abroad permanently."
Finally, Point 1 stipulates that "the presidiums of the wojewodztwo
people's councils will ensure the delivery tc repatriates in 1957 of
10,500 rooms in cities from settlers (new) construction as well as from
capital repairs."
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
Unfortunately, in 1956)repatriates received only 2,500 rooms of the
4,000 which had been allotted to them. The situation in 1957 was not
mdoh better. Only a small percentage of rooms vacated by persons moving
abroad permanently, belongs to the repatriate allotment and, in marry
instances, a house already formally alloted to them is "grabbed up" by
someone else.
However, even if in accordance with the resolution, the Ministry of
Communal Econon handed over for use all the rooms according to plan
and the people's councils allocated them to the repatriates, it would
not cover the requirements of about 60,000 repatriates who settled in
cities in 1957 alone.
There are no vacant rooms anywhere and the demand is growing.
Therefore many people look with hostility at the repatriate who is
entitled to priority in housing.
10. Welfare Allowances
A large percentage of repatriates oonsist of invalids, the aged,
and youth of school age. All these categories substantially weight the
state budget, nore strictly speaking, the pension fund and the school
budget.
A repatriate who has started working is entitled to employment
continuity required for leave priviledges, if he was employed before
his return to Poland and obtains work within 3 months of his return,
or even later, if the delay is beyond his control. He is entitled to
family allowances from the first month of employment; he is also entitled
to have the time worked abroad credited to the time required to obtain a
specific position or salary, if his employment abroad was the same type
as his present employment.
The repatriate is also entitled to credit towards his retirement
or pension for the time worked abroad. He is also assured of invalid
priviledges provided for war or military invalids with credit for service
rendered in the Polish or allied military units.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
Pensions allowed repatriates by foreign institutions, regardless of
country, will be paid in Poland after proper recalculation.
Principles for obtaining pension allowances by repatriates are
defined in the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers of 10 May 1957
(Dziennik Ustaw Polish Peoples Republic No 26 15 May 1957, Item 117).
Furthermore information can be obtained from Pension and Social Welfare
Inspectorates of the Powiat People's Councils Pfesidiums.
The Ordinance does not stipulate or define the type of pension and
invalid provisions for persons coming from isolated areas and now being
rehabilitated.
Whenever a repatriate does not have documentary proof of wages or
Glary paid him previously - usually persona coming from isolated areas
QF41ti a ~i1 ~l
- the minimum wage paid in Poland is usually taken as a basis, *4v64"*
jmr ' r does not satisfy the most elementary needs of the invalid or
aged repatriate.
The question of adjusting accounts for welfare allowances with countries
in which the repatriate worked and became an invalid has also been left
open.
As long as we are discussing other forms of welfare allowances, we must
emphasize that the repatriates are assured free prophylactic and medical
care during the period (three words illegible) after their return in the
city, and, one year, in the village. This consists of medical care,
dental care, medicines, first aid, and ambulance service.
Children of repatriates may, in certain instances, be placed in
Homes for the Child, children's sanatoriums, and nurseries.
Finally, the youth returning to the country is assured ii&*T
-&-ho or contin i- schooling or is given priority for housing
in boarding schools and academic homes.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246A044800510001-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8
carried out and the immense difficulties which the fulfillment of both
these programs entail demand the utmost effort, good will, and strength
not only of the people in Poland but Poles abroad.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP80T00246AO44800510001-8