860C.00/11–2845: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland ( Lane ) to the Secretary of State
Warsaw
, November
28, 1945—11 a.m.
[Received November 29—2:36 p.m.]
[Received November 29—2:36 p.m.]
609. Captain Rucinski and Lieutenant Channey of our repatriation center at Dziedzice 30 kilometers north of Czech-Polish border have reported orally to me as follows regarding developments:
- 1.
- Repatriation DP’s (displaced persons) from US zone virtually completed totaling 150,000. Remainder elect not to return to Poland.97
- 3.
- DP’s on arrival Dziedzice are given papers good for 2 weeks permitting them travel to their respective homes by truck plus 100 zlotychs [zlotys] for food. In addition Govt bank exchanges their occupation marks at rate of 50 zlotys for 100 marks (12 [apparent garble] for $10.00 at current rate of over 400 zlotys to dollar).
- 3.
- Some DP’s are forced to sign statement agreeing to work as informers for Security Police under assumed name. Form which was seen by above officers stated that penalty for divulging information is death. They personally saw two instances of forcible signing. In one instance signer broke down and begged them to help him return to Germany. Those who sign are imprisoned in cellars for 3 days or more and reimprisoned unless they bring in information after release. Security Police working under NKVD and under latter’s technique.
- 4.
- In late October elections held in mines resulting in defeat of PPR candidates. PPR then called election void and in new election PPR candidate won. He and wife were murdered following day presumably by underground. Imposing funeral held all shops ordered closed about 6000 persons attending including Governor and staff guarded by militia with tommy guns. Following funeral three families suspected of complicity with underground were ordered out of their houses. Their three houses including all possessions inside were then burned to ground by Security Police.
- 5.
- Spirit of resistance of people growing in this region as during Nazi occupation. People friendly to United States but cannot understand [Page 421] distribution of UNRRA supplies only to those with party affiliation. Officers were told it would be better not send anything.
Comment follows.
Lane
- For documentation regarding the negotiation of arrangements for the repatriation of Polish displaced persons from Germany, see vol. ii, pp. 1187–1192, passim.↩