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Subdivisions of Polish territories during World War II

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The area of these annexed territories was 94,000 square kilometres and the population was about 10 million, the great majority of whom were Poles. The annexed parts were controlled by a German administration ruled by a Gauleiter, a system similar in practice to that of the Reich itself. Nearly 1
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gives the following numbers in regards to the ethnic composition of these areas: 38% Poles (ca. 5.1 million people), 37% Ukrainians, 14.5% Belarusians, 8.4% Jews, 0.9% Russians and 0.6% Germans. There were also 336,000 refugees from areas occupied by Germany, most of them Jews (198,000). Areas
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was formed. Its purpose was to administer the territories earmarked for the return to the newly reformed Poland. Starting with the communist decrees of 1946, the legal powers were passed on to local administration (see
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according to the last official Polish census, the population was over 38% Poles (5.1 million), 37% Polish Ukrainians (4.7 million), 14.5% Belarusians, 8.4% Jews, 0.9% Russians and 0.6% Germans.
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By the end of the Polish Defensive War the Soviet Union had taken over 52.1% of the territory of Poland (circa 200,000 km), with over 13,700,000 people. The estimates vary; Professor
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Under the terms of two decrees by Hitler (8 October and 12 October 1939), large areas of western Poland were annexed to Germany. These included all the territories taken by Prussia in
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of 1945. However, in terms of international politics, a far more important victory was won by Joseph Stalin already in 1943, when the Western Allies yielded to his demands during the
1353: 1327: 1388: 1004: 245:). The total area, including the area given to Lithuania, was 201,000 square kilometres, with a population of 13.5 million. A small strip of land that was part of 175: 1378: 300:
million Poles were expelled from this German ruled area, while 600,000 Germans from eastern Europe and 400,000 from the German Reich were settled there.
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region, which was annexed by Germany. These territories were largely inhabited by Ukrainians and Belarusians, with minorities of
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in the larger cities, particularly Warsaw, and the use of Polish civilians as forced and slave labour in German war industries.
827: 802:, was appointed "Governor-General of the occupied Polish territories" on 26 October 1939. Frank oversaw the segregation of the 430: 388: 183: 640: 368: 966: 267: 135:
was ethnically diverse: Poles were the largest single ethnic group, but there were non-Polish majorities in some regions:
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Soviet forces returned to former territories of the Second Polish Republic during the 1944 summer offensive,
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in the north. Many of these people had felt alienated in the interwar Poland and welcomed the Soviets.
822:, the June 1941 German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Polish territories previously annexed to the 1250: 456: 417: 318: 1145: 1287:(Great hunt: the persecutions of AK soldiers in the People's Republic of Poland). Internet Archive. 1106: 1016: 941: 1105:(1997). Włodzimierz Bonusiak; Stanisław Jan Ciesielski; Zygmunt Mańkowski; Mikołaj Iwanow (eds.). 1206:
Ryszard Kaczmarek Górnoślązacy i górnośląscy gauleiterzy Biuletyn IPN NR 6–7 (41–42) 2004 page 46
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Throughout World War II, Poland had a unique underground administration maintained by the
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The remaining block of territory was placed under a German administration called the
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not incorporated into, but administered by Gau East Prussia, attached after the
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Sowietyzacja oświaty w Małopolsce Wschodniej pod radziecką okupacją 1939–1941
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Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939–1948, Warsaw 2006,
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Hans Frank with districts administrators in 1942 from left: Ernst Kundt,
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proceeded to eliminate all structures originating from the prewar
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in 1940, thus the Regierungsbezirk's name was changed accordingly.
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Gau or Regierungsbezirk only partially comprised annexed territory
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Administrative division of Polish territories during World War II
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the annexed parts are also referred to as "East Upper Silesia" (
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the annexed parts are also referred to as "South East Prussia" (
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counties, which was "attached to" (but not incorporated into)
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Changes in administration of Polish territories following the
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With full Soviet control and sponsorship, in July 1944, the
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can be divided into several phases. The territories of the
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Wielkie polowanie: Prześladowania akowców w Polsce Ludowej
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Stalin's Curse: Battling for Communism in War and Cold War
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Administrative map of the General Government, August 1941
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Following the German surrender, Soviet agencies such as
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Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete
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Administrative division of People's Republic of Poland
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Germany and the Soviet Union conquered Poland in 1939
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Subdivision of Polish territories during World War II
1101: 201:, adjusted by agreement on 28 September 1939, the 1057:German military administration in occupied Poland 720: 1401: 1215: 677:was created in 1941, before it was part of Gau 276:which Germany subsequently lost under the 1918 712:Nazi German invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941 1321: 1097: 1095: 1039:. Over 20,000 Poles, including the hero of 1011:Destruction of the Polish Underground State 957:Return of Soviet administration (1944–1945) 1328: 1314: 1092: 830:were organized by the Germans as follows: 256: 146: 1415:Former administrative divisions of Poland 262:Annexation of selected Polish territories 1152: 1125:Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union 1123:Of the 13.5 million civilians living in 748: 724: 153:Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union 94:in 1941. The map shows the state in 1944 992:Polish Committee of National Liberation 963:Polish Committee of National Liberation 122:the German invasion of the Soviet Union 14: 1402: 1191:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( 1047:, were murdered in communist prisons. 1309: 1301:Map of Poland under German occupation 1247:God's Playground: A History of Poland 909:" (the western section of modern-day 1272: 1069: 996:Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego 967:Rape during the liberation of Poland 924:Generalbezirk Wolhynien und Podolien 798:A German lawyer and prominent Nazi, 268:Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany 221:, except for the area around Wilno ( 133:The area annexed by the Soviet Union 814:German invasion of the Soviet Union 92:German invasion of the Soviet Union 24: 1338:administrative divisions of Poland 1236: 931:, which was incorporated into the 25: 1426: 1294: 414:initially Reichsgau West Prussia 306:Nazi German administrative units 112:were first administered first by 1410:Occupation of Poland (1939–1945) 1222:. Oxford U.P. pp. 177–178. 170:, with the exception of area of 84: 51: 1025:areas and regions of operation. 891:, itself incorporated into the 249:before 1914, was also given to 120:(in the east), then (following 1209: 1200: 721:Creation of General Government 13: 1: 1253:, 1982 and several reprints. 1082:, pp. 4, 5, Princeton, 2005, 1000:Polish provisional government 409:Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia 309:Annexed administrative units 913:) was incorporated into the 692:named after the chief city, 7: 1389:People's Republic of Poland 1354:Crown of the Polish Kingdom 1050: 902:Generalbezirk Weißruthenien 168:annexed to Soviet territory 10: 1431: 1121:– via Google Books. 960: 934:Reichskommissariat Ukraine 916:Reichskommissariat Ostland 894:Reichskommissariat Ostland 756: 352:initially Reichsgau Posen 265: 150: 1344: 1251:Columbia University Press 1216:Robert Gellately (2013). 927:– the Polish province of 659: 597: 588: 455: 446: 439: 416: 407: 354: 345: 308: 305: 99: 83: 74: 70: 50: 41: 31: 1062: 1017:Polish Underground State 700:. The German equivalent 771:), with its capital at 257:German zone (1939–1945) 199:Molotov–Ribbentrop pact 197:Under the terms of the 147:Soviet zone (1939–1941) 37:by the occupying powers 1379:Second Polish Republic 1080:Revolution from Abroad 1037:Second Polish Republic 981:Vistula–Oder Offensive 977:Lublin–Brest Offensive 975:, specifically in the 887:was incorporated into 843:), which included the 828:Byelorussian republics 754: 746: 697: 687: 668: 241:(see exact numbers in 225:), which was given to 116:(in the west) and the 110:Second Polish Republic 880:Generalbezirk Litauen 752: 728: 184:soon attached to USSR 1103:Elżbieta Trela-Mazur 820:Operation Barbarossa 412:(Danzig-Westpreußen) 347:Reichsgau Wartheland 329:(government region) 278:Treaty of Versailles 274:Partitions of Poland 159:Elżbieta Trela-Mazur 1281:, 02.10.04 Nr 232, 1249:. Vol 2. New York: 1197:: 10,568,000 people 973:Operation Bagration 608:Autonomous Silesian 549:(attached in 1941) 441:Free City of Danzig 61:– aftermath of the 59:Partition of Poland 1173:on 18 October 2011 765:General Government 759:General Government 755: 747: 453:southernmost part 431:Greater Pomeranian 1397: 1396: 1374:Privislinsky Krai 1349:Kingdom of Poland 985:Tehran Conference 950:Distrikt Galizien 946:Galician District 718: 717: 595:easternmost part 139:in the south and 103: 102: 16:(Redirected from 1422: 1330: 1323: 1316: 1307: 1306: 1288: 1276: 1270: 1240: 1234: 1233: 1213: 1207: 1204: 1198: 1196: 1190: 1182: 1180: 1178: 1172: 1166:. Archived from 1165: 1156: 1150: 1149: 1143: 1139: 1137: 1129: 1099: 1090: 1076:Jan Tomasz Gross 1073: 836:Bezirk Bialystok 741:, Ernst Zörner, 704:was rendered to 688:Ostoberschlesien 546:Bezirk Bialystok 326:Regierungsbezirk 303: 302: 280:, including the 162:occupied by the 88: 63:Nazi–Soviet Pact 55: 29: 28: 21: 1430: 1429: 1425: 1424: 1423: 1421: 1420: 1419: 1400: 1399: 1398: 1393: 1369:Congress Poland 1364:Duchy of Warsaw 1340: 1334: 1297: 1292: 1291: 1277: 1273: 1241: 1237: 1230: 1214: 1210: 1205: 1201: 1184: 1183: 1176: 1174: 1170: 1163: 1161:"Archived copy" 1159: 1157: 1153: 1141: 1140: 1131: 1130: 1119: 1100: 1093: 1074: 1070: 1065: 1053: 1013: 969: 959: 849:Bielsk Podlaski 816: 793:Distrikt Krakau 761: 743:Richard Wendler 723: 709: 691: 681: 672: 661: 601: 594: 593:(Oberschlesien) 592: 590:(Upper) Silesia 573: 562:Bielsk Podlaski 548: 517: 503: 486: 459: 452: 450: 424: 420: 413: 411: 362: 358: 351: 349: 337: 328: 321: 282:Polish Corridor 270: 264: 259: 192:Soviet republic 176:was transferred 155: 149: 95: 66: 36: 34:interwar Poland 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1428: 1418: 1417: 1412: 1395: 1394: 1392: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1376: 1371: 1366: 1361: 1356: 1351: 1345: 1342: 1341: 1333: 1332: 1325: 1318: 1310: 1304: 1303: 1296: 1295:External links 1293: 1290: 1289: 1279:Rzeczpospolita 1271: 1235: 1228: 1208: 1199: 1151: 1117: 1091: 1067: 1066: 1064: 1061: 1060: 1059: 1052: 1049: 1045:Witold Pilecki 1012: 1009: 979:), leading to 958: 955: 954: 953: 938: 920: 907:White Ruthenia 898: 885:Vilna Province 876: 815: 812: 757:Main article: 731:Ludwig Fischer 722: 719: 716: 715: 657: 656: 643: 637: 636: 619: 613: 612: 610: 605: 596: 586: 585: 555: 550: 542: 541: 532: 526: 525: 468: 463: 454: 444: 443: 437: 436: 435:most counties 433: 428: 415: 405: 404: 401: 395: 394: 393:five counties 391: 385: 384: 383:most counties 381: 375: 374: 371: 366: 353: 343: 342: 339: 330: 323: 311: 310: 307: 266:Main article: 263: 260: 258: 255: 151:Main article: 148: 145: 101: 100: 97: 96: 89: 81: 80: 72: 71: 68: 67: 56: 48: 47: 39: 38: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1427: 1416: 1413: 1411: 1408: 1407: 1405: 1390: 1387: 1385: 1382: 1380: 1377: 1375: 1372: 1370: 1367: 1365: 1362: 1360: 1357: 1355: 1352: 1350: 1347: 1346: 1343: 1339: 1331: 1326: 1324: 1319: 1317: 1312: 1311: 1308: 1302: 1299: 1298: 1286: 1285: 1280: 1275: 1268: 1267:0-231-05351-7 1264: 1260: 1259:0-231-05353-3 1256: 1252: 1248: 1244: 1243:Norman Davies 1239: 1231: 1229:9780191644887 1225: 1221: 1220: 1212: 1203: 1194: 1188: 1169: 1162: 1155: 1147: 1135: 1128: 1126: 1120: 1114: 1110: 1109: 1104: 1098: 1096: 1089: 1088:0-691-09603-1 1085: 1081: 1077: 1072: 1068: 1058: 1055: 1054: 1048: 1046: 1042: 1038: 1034: 1030: 1026: 1022: 1021:Armia Krajowa 1018: 1008: 1006: 1001: 997: 993: 988: 986: 982: 978: 974: 968: 964: 951: 947: 943: 939: 936: 935: 930: 926: 925: 921: 918: 917: 912: 908: 904: 903: 899: 896: 895: 890: 886: 882: 881: 877: 874: 870: 866: 862: 858: 854: 850: 846: 842: 839:(district of 838: 837: 833: 832: 831: 829: 825: 821: 811: 809: 805: 801: 796: 794: 790: 786: 782: 778: 774: 770: 766: 760: 751: 744: 740: 736: 732: 727: 714: 713: 707: 706:Litzmannstadt 703: 699: 695: 689: 685: 680: 676: 675:Upper Silesia 670: 669:Südostpreußen 666: 658: 655: 651: 647: 644: 642: 639: 638: 635: 631: 627: 623: 620: 618: 615: 614: 611: 609: 606: 604: 600: 591: 587: 584: 580: 576: 571: 567: 563: 559: 556: 554: 551: 547: 544: 543: 540: 536: 533: 531: 528: 527: 524: 520: 515: 511: 507: 501: 497: 493: 489: 484: 480: 476: 472: 469: 467: 464: 462: 458: 449: 445: 442: 438: 434: 432: 429: 427: 423: 419: 410: 406: 402: 400: 397: 396: 392: 390: 387: 386: 382: 380: 377: 376: 373:all counties 372: 370: 367: 365: 364:Litzmannstadt 361: 357: 348: 344: 340: 335: 331: 327: 324: 320: 316: 313: 312: 304: 301: 297: 295: 291: 290:Upper Silesia 287: 283: 279: 275: 269: 254: 252: 248: 244: 240: 236: 232: 228: 224: 220: 216: 212: 208: 204: 200: 195: 193: 189: 185: 181: 177: 173: 169: 165: 160: 154: 144: 142: 138: 134: 130: 125: 123: 119: 115: 111: 107: 98: 93: 87: 82: 79: 78: 73: 69: 64: 60: 54: 49: 46: 45: 40: 35: 30: 27: 19: 1384:World War II 1383: 1282: 1274: 1246: 1238: 1218: 1211: 1202: 1175:. Retrieved 1168:the original 1154: 1122: 1107: 1079: 1071: 1014: 995: 989: 970: 949: 932: 922: 914: 900: 892: 878: 873:East Prussia 834: 817: 808:Nazi ghettos 797: 792: 768: 762: 739:Otto Wächter 705: 701: 662: 537:and part of 451:(Ostpreußen) 448:East Prussia 426:Marienwerder 298: 286:Wielkopolska 271: 203:Soviet Union 196: 156: 126: 118:Soviet Union 114:Nazi Germany 105: 104: 76: 43: 32:Division of 26: 1142:|work= 998:, PKWN), a 767:(in German 403:one county 350:(Warthegau) 334:voivodeship 322:(province) 243:Curzon line 182:, although 141:Belarusians 1404:Categories 1359:Partitions 1177:8 February 1118:8371331002 961:See also: 800:Hans Frank 735:Hans Frank 389:Pomeranian 360:Hohensalza 229:, and the 137:Ukrainians 1144:ignored ( 1134:cite book 1041:Auschwitz 889:Lithuania 865:Volkovysk 845:Białystok 841:Białystok 824:Ukrainian 630:Zawiercie 622:Sosnowiec 599:Kattowitz 579:Volkovysk 558:Białystok 553:Białystok 530:Białystok 519:Sochaczew 510:Ostrołęka 504:parts of 496:Przasnysz 475:Działdowo 471:Ciechanów 461:Gumbinnen 341:Counties 315:Reichsgau 227:Lithuania 190:became a 188:Lithuania 180:Lithuania 1187:cite web 1051:See also 929:Volhynia 650:Oświęcim 646:Chrzanów 539:Augustów 457:Zichenau 418:Bromberg 251:Slovakia 174:, which 942:Galicia 911:Belarus 861:Sokółka 853:Grajewo 679:Silesia 575:Sokółka 566:Grajewo 535:Suwałki 514:Pułtusk 332:Polish 247:Hungary 231:Suwałki 223:Vilnius 186:, when 77:1941–44 57:Fourth 44:1939–41 1265:  1257:  1226:  1115:  1086:  1033:SMERSH 1023:, see 883:– the 869:Grodno 867:, and 818:After 789:Kraków 787:, and 781:Lublin 777:Warsaw 773:Kraków 694:Polish 684:German 665:German 654:Żywiec 641:Kraków 634:Olkusz 626:Będzin 617:Kielce 603:Oppeln 583:Grodno 523:Warsaw 500:Sierpc 492:Płońsk 466:Warsaw 422:Danzig 399:Warsaw 369:Poznań 338:State 127:After 1336:Past 1171:(PDF) 1164:(PDF) 1063:Notes 940:East 937:; and 857:Łomża 806:into 785:Radom 570:Łomża 506:Łomża 488:Płock 483:Mława 479:Maków 356:Posen 235:Poles 211:Narew 172:Wilno 166:were 1263:ISBN 1261:and 1255:ISBN 1224:ISBN 1193:link 1179:2016 1146:help 1113:ISBN 1084:ISBN 1031:and 1029:NKVD 965:and 826:and 804:Jews 702:Lodz 698:Łódź 673:Gau 379:Łódź 294:Łódź 239:Jews 237:and 217:and 207:Pisa 164:USSR 1007:). 905:– " 795:). 319:Gau 219:San 215:Bug 178:to 1406:: 1245:, 1189:}} 1185:{{ 1138:: 1136:}} 1132:{{ 1094:^ 1078:, 1043:, 952:). 863:, 859:, 855:, 851:, 847:, 783:, 779:, 737:, 733:, 696:: 686:: 667:: 652:, 648:, 632:, 628:, 624:, 581:, 577:, 568:, 564:, 560:, 521:, 512:, 508:, 498:, 494:, 490:, 481:, 477:, 473:, 296:. 284:, 253:. 213:, 209:, 194:. 1329:e 1322:t 1315:v 1269:. 1232:. 1195:) 1181:. 1148:) 994:( 948:( 919:; 897:; 875:; 791:( 745:. 690:) 671:) 572:, 516:, 502:; 485:, 336:/ 317:/ 20:)

Index

Administrative division of Polish territories during World War II
interwar Poland
1939–41

Partition of Poland
Nazi–Soviet Pact
1941–44

German invasion of the Soviet Union
Second Polish Republic
Nazi Germany
Soviet Union
the German invasion of the Soviet Union
Germany and the Soviet Union conquered Poland in 1939
The area annexed by the Soviet Union
Ukrainians
Belarusians
Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
Elżbieta Trela-Mazur
USSR
annexed to Soviet territory
Wilno
was transferred
Lithuania
soon attached to USSR
Lithuania
Soviet republic
Molotov–Ribbentrop pact
Soviet Union
Pisa

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