Thank to Polish people for current relations with Ukraine

OK, it is my turn to make a comment since I am Ukrainian and was born in Poland.
My paretnts were resettled from the southern part of Poland in 1947 by the Polish army and were given 2 hours to pack their belongings. They travelled in cattle compartments for 2 weeks without knowing their destination. Upon arrival in the northern part of Poland, the families were relocated to different destinations, so there would be no contact between family members. Usually one or two families were settled in the Polish dominated village or town. They couldn't practice their religion until 1978, which was Ukrainian catholic. I haven't learned Ukrainian until my teeange years and was only exposed to it in family settings, usually behind the closed doors.
My father was taken to the police on number of occasions and threatened.
There is more but I will not bore you. Just wanted to present a bit of history.
Things have changed a bit, but most of my family emigrated to Canada in the 60s.
I have moved on a long time ago.

miranda's account sounds like what my experience was in regards to Ukrainians. I am not one. The very word "Ukrainiec" had a negative undertone, and that is the official name of the nationality. The relations between Poles and Ukrainians were not easy, to say the least, and the UPA (active till late 40's) did not help at all. Kinda like crossing the US/Canada border - don't line up behind a Middle Eastern looking people.


There was a lot of suspicion and the pro-communist hysteria. Everybody was a suspect for any reason, or for no reason at all. It really didn't matter whether you were a Ukrainian or Polish, although an obvious Eastern dialect most Ukrainians had gave them away.

As for forced resettlements - your ethnic background didn't matter either. My wife's family was forced to move to Wroclaw (not that is was such a bad thing), and my parents received an order to move to Zielona Gora in late 1960's. Those were the "Ziemie Odzyskane" (regained lands) and few Poles felt comfortable there. The government made sure that the vacuum left by expelled Germans was filled with Polish citizens. Many did not feel at home for decades, and the "Germans will come back" was a the minds of many.

good post D.

Miranda do you want to discusse details of XX century history of Polish - Ukriainain realtions ? There are some details you haven't mentioned ;-). If you want we can discusse it.

Polish theatre in Lwow (todays Ukraine)


Old square in wroclaw (todays Poland)



Ukrainian vilage ...


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as to Ukrianians we support their aspirations we will see what will happen.