Polish voivodeships 1922-1939. The eastern voivodships can be considered as roughly equivalent with 'Kresy'.

The name Kresy (Polish for "borderlands", or more correctly Kresy Wschodnie, Eastern Borderlands) is used by Poles, mostly in a historical context, to refer to areas of Western Ukraine and Western Belarus that were annexed by Poland after a series of wars -- the Polish-Ukrainian War in 1918-1919, the Polish-Lithuanian War in 1920 and the Polish-Soviet War 1919-1921 -- and the signing of the Peace of Riga in 1921. These territories bordered the Soviet Union on the east, Lithuania and Latvia on the north, and Romania on the south. Main article: History of Poland In the period following its emergence in the 10th century, the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christianity, created a strong Central European state and integrated Poland into European culture. ... Image File history File links Polska_map_blank. ... Over the past millennium, the territory ruled by Poland has shifted and varied greatly. ... Administrative map of Poland Shaded relief map of Poland, 2000 Satellite photo of Poland taken from Landsat7 Topography Hypsometry Poland is a country in Central Europe, east of Germany. ... Kraków Katowice WrocÅ‚aw Łódź PoznaÅ„ Bydgoszcz Lublin BiaÅ‚ystok GdaÅ„sk Szczecin Warsaw Baltic Sea Tatra Sudetes Russia Lithuania Belarus Ukraine Slovakia Czech Republic Ger. ... Soldiers of the Greater Polish Army The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 (Polish: powstanie wielkopolskie 1918–19 roku; German: Großpolnischer Aufstand) or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland (also called the Grand Duchy of PoznaÅ„ or... The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was the peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ... The Silesian Uprisings (Polish: Powstania Å›lÄ…skie) was a series of three military insurections (1919-1921) of the Polish people in the Upper Silesia region against the German/Prussian forces in order to force them out the region and join it with Poland, that regained her independence after the World... A Polish map showing the territory known as the Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor was the name given to a strip of territory which was transferred from Germany to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. ... Reichsgau and General Governement in 1941 At the beginning of World War II, significant Polish areas were annexed by Nazi Germany. ... Under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, adjusted by agreement on 28 September 1939, the Soviet Union annexed all Polish territory east of the line of the rivers Pisa, Narew, Western Bug, and San, except for Wilno Voivodship with its capital Wilno (Vilnius), which was given to Lithuania, and... Image:Teheran Conference, 1943. ... The Big Three at the Yalta Conference, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin. ... Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin meeting at the Potsdam Conference on July 18, 1945. ... Territorial changes of Poland after World War II have been very extensive. ... The Treaty of Zgorzelec or the Treaty between the Republic of Poland and the German Democratic Republic concerning the demarcation of the established and existing Polish-German state border was signed in Zgorzelec, Lower Silesia, Poland on July 6, 1950 by the prime ministers Józef Cyrankiewicz of Poland and... The Treaty of Warsaw is a treaty between West Germany and the Peoples Republic of Poland. ... The Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany is the final peace treaty negotiated between the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and the Four Powers which occupied Germany at the end of World War II in Europe: France, the United Kingdom, the United States and... The Curzon Line was a demarcation line proposed in 1919 by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, as a possible armistice line between Poland, to the west, and Soviet Russia to the east, during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919–20. ... The Oder-Neisse line (German: , Polish: ) marked the border between German Democratic Republic and Poland between 1950 and 1990. ... Kresy Zachodnie - (Polish: Western Borderlines) - term used by Poles, mostly in historical context, to refer to western parts of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, that after Partitions of Poland were annexed by Prussia. ... NOTE: Although the terms Recovered Territories, or Regained Territories have clear meanings in Poland and Polish historiography, they are not accepted terms or concepts outside of Poland, especially in Germany and the other German-speaking countries. ... Former eastern territories of Germany (German: ehemalige deutsche Ostgebiete) describes collectively those provinces or regions east of the Oder-Neisse line which were internationally recognised as part of the territory of Germany after the formation of the German Empire in 1871. ... Zaolzie (Czech: , Polish: , literally: Trans-Olza River Silesia) was an area disputed between Poland and Czechoslovakia, west of Cieszyn. ... // Part of the motivation behind the territorial changes are based on events in the history of Germany and Europe, especially Eastern Europe. ... Download high resolution version (562x614, 14 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Second Polish Republic Voivodships of Poland Centralny Okreg Przemyslowy Categories: GFDL images ... Download high resolution version (562x614, 14 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Second Polish Republic Voivodships of Poland Centralny Okreg Przemyslowy Categories: GFDL images ... Western Ukraine (Західно-українська Народна Республіка, West-Ukrainian Peoples Republic) was a short-lived republic that existed in late... West Belarus is the name used by Russian and Belarusian government to denote the territory of modern Belarus that belonged to Second Polish Republic between World War I and World War II. The term is used mostly in historic context. ... Orlęta, a 1926 painting by Wojciech Kossak The Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of Poland and Western-Ukrainian Peoples Republic for the control over the Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary. ... Combatants Poland Lithuania Commanders Adam Nieniewski Silvestras Žukauskas Strength  ? ca. ... Combatants Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Republic of Poland Ukrainian Peoples Republic Commanders Mikhail Tukhachevsky Semyon Budyonny Józef PiÅ‚sudski Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Strength 950,000 combatants 5,000,000 reserves 360,000 combatants 738,000 reserves Casualties Dead estimated at 100,000... Central and Eastern Europe after the Treaty of Riga See also Riga Peace Treaty for other treaties concluded in Riga. ...

Kresy approximately corresponds to the territory to the East of the Curzon line. The Curzon Line was a demarcation line proposed in 1919 by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, as a possible armistice line between Poland, to the west, and Soviet Russia to the east, during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919–20. ...

During the period of the Second Polish Republic (1921—1939), Kresy comprised the following voivodeships (from North to South and then to the West, see the 1939 map in the Voivodeships of Poland article). Anthem: Mazurek DÄ…browskiego Capital Warsaw Language(s) Polish Government Republic President List Prime minister List Legislature Sejm Historical era Interwar period  - World War I November 11, 1918  - Invasion November 2, 1939 Area  - 1939 388,600 km2 150,039 sq mi Population  - 1939 est. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for full calendar). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... A Voivodship (also voivodeship, Romanian: Voievodat, Polish: Województwo, Serbian: Vojvodstvo or Vojvodina) was a feudal state in medieval Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Serbia (see Vojvodina), ruled by a Voivod (voivode). ... The voivodeship or province (Polish: województwo) has been a second-level administrative unit in Poland since the 14th century. ...

• Wilno Voivodeship, capital Wilno (now Vilnius, Lithuania)
• Nowogródek Voivodeship, capital Nowogródek (now Navahradak, Belarus)
• Polesie Voivodeship, capital Brześć nad Bugiem (now Brest, Belarus)
• Wolhynian Voivodeship, capital Łuck (now Lutsk, Ukraine)
• Tarnopol Voivodeship, capital Tarnopol (now Ternopil, Ukraine)
• Stanisławów Voivodeship, capital Stanisławów (now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine)
• Lwów Voivodeship, capital Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine)

The territory of Kresy constituted over 40% of Polish territory during the Second Republic. Wilno Voivodeship The Wilno Voivodeship (Polish: , Lithuanian: , Belarusian: ) (or Vilnius Voivodeship) was the capital voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 15th century and later the capital Voivodeship of Lithuanian part in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the partitions of Poland in 1795. ... Location Ethnographic region Aukštaitija County Vilnius County Municipality Vilnius city municipality Coordinates Number of elderates 20 General Information Capital of Lithuania Vilnius County Vilnius city municipality Vilnius district municipality Population About 600,000 in 2006 (1st) First mentioned 1323 Granted city rights 1387 Not to be confused with Vilnius... . Nowogródek Voivodeship (Polish: , Belarusian: ) was an unit of administrative division of Grand Duchy of Lithuania (from 1569 - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) and Poland between 15th century and 1795 and then between 1919 and 1939, with the capital in the town of Navahrudak. ... Navahradak (Нава́градак in Belarusian; Russian: Novogrudok; Polish: Nowogródek; Lithuanian: Naugardukas) is a city in western Belarus. ... Polesie Voivodeship (Polish: , Belarusian: ) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). ... Brest (Belarusian: , Russian: , Polish: ; Alternative names), formerly Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk, is a city (population 290,000 in 2004) in Belarus close to the Polish border where the Western Bug and Mukhavets Rivers meet. ... Volhynian Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo Wołyńskie, Latin: Palatinatus Volhynensis) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939) as well as of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... Lutsk (Ukrainian: Луцьк) is the capital of the Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. ... Tarnopol Voivodeship Tarnopol Voivodeship bis 17 September 1939 A voivodeship of Poland 1920-1939 Capital: Tarnopol Main cities: Brody, Brzezany, Buczacz, Czortków, Zloczów Area: 16,500 km² Population: Totals 1,600,406 Poles 789,114 (49. ... Ternopil (Ukrainian: , translit. ... Stanisławów Voivodeship (Polish: ; Ukrainian: ) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). ... Location Map of Ukraine with Ivano-Frankivsk highlighted. ... Lwow Voivodeship (Polish: ) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). ... Motto: Semper fidelis Location Map of Ukraine with Lviv. ...

While the majority of the population of Western Ukraine in the south was Ukrainian and the majority of the population Western Belarus in the north was Belarusian, ethnic Poles were the largest ethnic group in the combined region, and were the largest ethnic group in the region's cities. Other groups included Lithuanians and Jews. The Polish inhabitants of this region, known in Polish as Kresowiacy, constituted approximately 40% of the population and had a distinct culture, with accents and customs influenced by the presence of ethnic minorities. Among, these about 150,000 constituted osadnicy, or veterans of the Polish army given free land during 1921-1939. Western Ukraine (Західно-українська Народна Республіка, West-Ukrainian Peoples Republic) was a short-lived republic that existed in late... West Belarus is the name used by Russian and Belarusian government to denote the territory of modern Belarus that belonged to Second Polish Republic between World War I and World War II. The term is used mostly in historic context. ... Osadniks (Polish: osadnik/osadnicy, settler/settlers) was the Polish loanword used in Soviet Union for veterans of Polish army that were given land in the Kresy (Western Belarus and Western Ukraine) territory ceded to Poland by Polish-Soviet Riga Peace Treaty of 1921 (and regained by Soviet Union in 1939). ... Former crewmembers of the battleship Missouri pose for photos shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony, held aboard the famous ship. ...

In 1931, according to the National Census, the biggest cities in Polish Eastern Borderlands Voivodeships were (with the names given in Polish forms):

1. Lwów - pop. 312 200,
2. Wilno - pop. 195 100,
3. Stanisławów - pop. 60 000,
4. Brześć nad Bugiem - pop. 50 700,
5. Grodno - pop. 49 700,
6. Równe - pop. 41 900,
7. Borysław - pop. 41 500,
8. Łuck - pop. 35 600,
9. Tarnopol - pop. 33 900.

As a consequence of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, on September 17, 1939 the territory was annexed by Soviet Union, and a significant part of the Polish population was deported to other areas of the Soviet Union including Kazakhstan. ^[1] Motto: Semper fidelis Location Map of Ukraine with Lviv. ... Location Ethnographic region Aukštaitija County Vilnius County Municipality Vilnius city municipality Coordinates Number of elderates 20 General Information Capital of Lithuania Vilnius County Vilnius city municipality Vilnius district municipality Population About 600,000 in 2006 (1st) First mentioned 1323 Granted city rights 1387 Not to be confused with Vilnius... Location Map of Ukraine with Ivano-Frankivsk highlighted. ... Brest (Belarusian: , Russian: , Polish: ; Alternative names), formerly Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk, is a city (population 290,000 in 2004) in Belarus close to the Polish border where the Western Bug and Mukhavets Rivers meet. ... Hrodna City emblem Hrodna (Belarusian: ; Russian: ; Polish: ; Lithuanian: ) is a city in Belarus. ... Rivne (Ukrainian: , Russian: , translit. ... Boryslav as seen from the former castle hill Boryslav (Ukrainian: , Polish: ) is a town in the Lviv Oblast of Western Ukraine, on Tysmenitsa River (tributary of Dniester). ... Lutsk (Ukrainian: Луцьк) is the capital of the Volyn Oblast, Ukraine. ... Ternopil (Ukrainian: , translit. ... Molotov signs the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... The Polish minority in the Soviet Union refers to former Polish citizens or Polish-speaking people who resided in the Soviet Union. ...

After the German invasion, a significant part of the Kresy population was transferred to Germany as workforce (Ostarbeiter, "Eastern workers"). By the end of WWII, they were placed in camps for displaced persons in post-war Germany. Soviet representatives attempted to filter out persons of Belarusian and Ukrainian nationality from camps located in the Western occupation zones in order to transfer them to the Soviet Union. Many of those from Kresy who already have had an experience of Soviet life sought to avoid this kind of "repatriation". In particular, some camps that hosted Belarusians used terms White Ruthenians and Krivichs in their documentation. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with forced migration. ... Ruthenians is a name that has been applied to different ethnic groups at different times; for an explanation of the reasons for this, see Ruthenia. ... Kriwi  album cover The Krivichs (Кривичи́ in Russian, Крывічы́ in Belarusian or Krivichi), a tribe of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 12th centuries, which inhabited the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper, Western Dvina, the southern part of the Lake Peipus and parts of the Neman basin. ...

After the Second World War, the Kresy territory was officially ceded to the Soviet Union (becoming part of the Ukrainian, Byelorussian and Lithuanian Socialist Soviet Republics), and most of the ethnic Polish population was transferred to Poland's Recovered Territories that Poland had annexed from Germany after the war. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... State motto: Belarusian: Пралетарыі ўсіх краін, яднайцеся! Translation: Workers of the world, unite! Capital Minsk Official language Belarusian, Polish, Russian and Yiddish (before WWII) Established In the USSR:  - Since  - Until January 1, 1919 December 30, 1922 August 25, 1991 Area  - Total  - Water (%) Ranked 6th in the USSR 207,600 km² negligible Population  - Total   - Density... State motto: Lithuanian: Visų Å¡alių proletarai, vienykitÄ—s! Translation: Workers of the world, unite! Capital Vilnius Official language None. ... Population transfer is a term referring to a policy by which a state, or international authority, forces the movement of a large group of people out of a region, most frequently on the basis of their ethnicity or religion. ... NOTE: Although the terms Recovered Territories, or Regained Territories have clear meanings in Poland and Polish historiography, they are not accepted terms or concepts outside of Poland, especially in Germany and the other German-speaking countries. ...

See also

• Curzon Line
• Zaporizhia (region) - also known as Dzikie Pola (Wild Fields)
• Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
• Kresy Zachodnie

The Curzon Line was a demarcation line proposed in 1919 by the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Curzon of Kedleston, as a possible armistice line between Poland, to the west, and Soviet Russia to the east, during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919–20. ... Zaporizhia (Ukrainian: Запоріжжя, Zaporizhia; Polish: Zaporoże or Dzikie Pola (Wild Fields or Savage Steppe), Russian: Запоро́жье, Zaporozhye) is a historical region which is situated about the Dnieper River, below the Dnieper rapids (porohy, poroża), (now Ukraine), hence the name, translated as territory beyond the rapids. During the 16th to 18th... Under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, adjusted by agreement on 28 September 1939, the Soviet Union annexed all Polish territory east of the line of the rivers Pisa, Narew, Western Bug, and San, except for Wilno Voivodship with its capital Wilno (Vilnius), which was given to Lithuania, and... Kresy Zachodnie - (Polish: Western Borderlines) - term used by Poles, mostly in historical context, to refer to western parts of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, that after Partitions of Poland were annexed by Prussia. ...

References

• Mały rocznik statystyczny 1939, Główny Urząd Statystyczny, Warszawa 1939 (Concise Statistical Yearbook 1939, Central Statistical Office, Warsaw 1939).

Central Statistical Office (Polish: Główny Urząd Statystyczny or GUS) is the main government executive agency of Poland charged with the collection and publication of statistics related to the economy, population and society of the Poland, at both national and local levels. ...

External links

• http://www.kresy.co.uk/