What name should we use for 1939-45 deportation of Polish to Siberia?

We’re talking here primarily about the deportation (that’s not the same as resettlement) in 1940 and at the beginning of that year. That was not done for security reasons and had nothing to do with any German attack.
However it would be very interesting to know about the people you are talking about. Have you got any more information about them?

Genocide of Cossaks.

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Deportation of Germans in Volga to Siberia

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Deportation of Crimean Tatars and Greeks to Siberia

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Deportation of Chcechen muslims

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Whole list of Stalin's deportations.

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Polish families (Kresy area)were arrested Oct. 1939 (the earilest) I have read and kept in cattle cars until filled. My family were taken/arrested Jan. 10, 1940 and kept in their cattle cars until deported Feb. 10, 1940 to go to Siberia. Our family was split up (common practice) with my grandmother and two oldest daughters going to Vorcuta (headquarters). Rest of the family were in Kotlas area. They were in Siberia 2 years 8 months. My grandfather left as soon as amnesty was given to set up Polish army. I know there were Jewish as well as Roman Catholics. Carol

Though the actual figure may never been known for sure (even to the
nearest 100,000), the calculation of 1.7 million (or variations of that)
was never just the number deported in the 4 major waves. It was an
estimate of all the Polish citizens caught in the USSR during the war.
It was calculated based on estimates of the 4 mass deportations, plus
military prisoners of war, plus civilians arrested, plus Polish citizens
who went to the USSR as refugees and got stuck there during the war.

Carol

He was captured by the Soviets on Sept. 9th, 1939 but he doesn't have any other details. My grandfather was in the 9th Baonu Strzelcow Flandryjskich under Gen. Anders, but I don't have details about his military activity prior to Sept. 1939. I know he was definitely in the Polish Army at that time because we have pictures of my grandfather in his military uniform that is distinctly different from the one under Gen. Anders (which I have). My dad also said something about being used for TB experiments by the Gestapo/Nazis. He didn't say anymore.

This one is before signing, I am still looking for dates before Sept. 17th, 1939. Carol

Just been reading about Sławomir Rawicz.
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Who walked from Siberia to India ( although this claim has been challenged ).
A walk has been organised in his memory -
The Long Walk
In memory of Slavomir Rawicz, the Polish officer who escaped from a Siberian labour camp and walked to India. Four and a half miles. Not for softies. Phone 01358 726417. Meet at the Stevenson Forvie centre car park, 19 January, 10am
Link for Collieston - Aberdeenshire.
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Can we just catch a train and claim to have done the walk? That would be more accurate for a Rawicz re enactment memorial thingy........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6098218.stm

The Soviets did such things.It was very funny when they captured the pilots of an american B29.They took the plane to military factory to examine and make the exact copy since they did not have such a long range bomber and they sent the Americans to prison in central Siberia.The world was amazed when the americans managed to escape and reach Iran by foot.
The truth was that the Soviets took them with trucks from the prison and let them next to iranian borders with orders to tell journalists that they escaped.(no reason to embarass relationships with Japan at that moment).

the bit that clinches it for me with Rawicz is his claims to have seen Yetis/abominable snowmen..........................There are many more true stories of remarcable escapes from the USSR, why of why does his pile of doo doo keep getting brought up as an example of heroism?

The links regarding the Cossacks and other ethnic groups deported are very interesting and the treatment they received is indeed similar.
The difference between them and the Poles is that the Poles were deported following the invasion of their country, a sovereign State, and their deportation was an Act of War.
A further difference is that whereas the Cossacks and the other people actively collaborated with the Nazis, the Poles didn’t. During the period under discussion it was in fact the entire USSR which was actively collaborating with the Nazis.
Another point is that whereas the plight of the Cossacks and the other USSR citizens has come to public knowledge and has been much lamented if only following the publication of Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s excellent book “Archipelago Gulag”, the fate of the deported Poles (dismissed as a little blip by Solzhenitsyn who is no fan of the Poles) is still largely unknown and it would be nice if at least here, on a Polish Forum, they received pride of place and a smidgen of interest.

That said, the fate of the Cossacks in Austria in June 1945, is a peculiarly sad one and yet another black page in British history. The whole event and the manner of their arrest is more worthy of Caligula than a modern day statesman such as Winston Churchill.
Nonetheless the Cossacks didn’t come out of the war with the cleanest of hands as can be read here: http://home.hetnet.nl/~gabby-pat/1944%20english.htm
so their whole story, beginning to end, is extraordinarily complex.

Thank you for reminding me of my posting. With a "name" like "Katyn" has now people will be able to link together. Having no home to go to when amnesty was granted or even being able to go back to prior homes has left us scattered. Documents that are now being released tell one part of this history while personal stories tell another. What saddens me the most is the Polish people that feel our families made a choice when leaving their homeland to places like Britian or USA.

Like I said prior, I have sent letters to Poland asking that Feb.10 be observed (I also sent one to US President) for the same. I have also sent all the names that have been suggested (not yours, sorry isthatu, WW2 is not clear enough) and asked if there is a way to get the Polish people to decide what is best. Please continue to give me any names you come up with as I am sure I will be writting again, even if it's just follow up or to let them know I am not going away.

Our first lady, "Laura Bush" was a school teacher and is also addressed in my letter to the White House. Hopefully she can give me an answer to education being taught on this subject today.

Thanks, Carol USA

Why we need a name?

In 1951 when my grandfather was exiled to USA along with the other families, it was not a choice. He was born in Rzym and given Lewkowce (eastern Poland) as a gesture by Poland, for setting her free in "Miracle of Wisla". Fighting for this very thing since he was a 15 year old boy. He was a hero, that Poland proudly called their own. Willing to give his life for Poland and yet losing her in the end.

When I first went to Ukraine looking for our home it was as if we never were there. Wiped off the face of the map. Records of births, deaths, marriage or baptism never took place. How could this family that built with there own hands a home just vanish? My grandfather was educated and wrote everything down, into politics’, farmer, postal worker and teacher to the boys and men wanting to learn reading and writing.

They were Roman Catholic and made a point of raising their children not to be prejudice, least they be judged. They lived in a predominately Jewish area. Ukrainian, Jewish and Polish lived in peace with each other. As we all know this changed due to outside influence. A kill or be killed swept over the towns in eastern Poland. I thought the rest was history. I was wrong.

“Our Forgotten Polish” are still just that. I use this name because we never were given one. I need a name for your hero’s. Poland’s blood that was spread across a nation. When our people are remembered and taught to the children I will not be just one of the Polish exiled to another country. I will be one of my own.

I grew up in USA being humiliated for being Polish. When I turned 15 I became popular, I was accepted for being Polish and a good hearted person. I overcame the pain of being abused for who I was. I decided to embrace my homeland and love the country and people as if I were there. I could not hide the “ski” attached to my name I was literally caught between two worlds.

From the USA I defended Poland and who I am, yet, now see my country was not missing us. Maybe for some it hurt too much to think of family buried or separated. Please remember I could be your niece, grand daughter or great grandchild. Maybe today I would be your best friend living next door. One thing I am to all Poland is blood. Please bring back our memory. I was denied American blood because I was Polish. Please prove you are the people that my grandfather loved? The ones that stuck together and would never turn their back on each other.

This is why naming the 1939-45 deported, killed and exiles is important to me. As Poland’s citizens you can be proud of whom you are and the loved ones you lost your forgotten Polish families.

Carol, USA