78 years ago on 28 April 1947 Operation “Wisła” began.
Resettlement operation of Ukrainian civilian population, in order to cut off the Ukrainian Insurgency Army operating in the state territory of Poland, from the natural backdrop and complete decommissioning of its troops. The “Wisła” operation, however, put an end to the genocide and drama of Poles, which lasted 8 years, since 1939. It was carried out by troops of the Polish People's Army, the interior safety Corps and the State Repatriation Office. The originator and chief commander of the full operation was General Stefan Mossor.
As part of Operation Wisła, the fight against UPA, against the anti-state partisan rebellion was conducted in a two-track: armed and civilian way, by resettlement. Contrary to many opinions, the Polish State carried out a gathering action, not a displacement action. Civilians were provided with transport, food and shelter.
The legal basis for the evacuation of Ukrainian population from the territory of the terrorist activities of the CNS and UPA was the Act of 30 March 1939 on the withdrawal of offices, population and property from threatened areas of the state. The Ukrainian population was settled on alleged reclaimed lands, i.e. in western and northern Poland. Resettlementists received post-German homes and farms in exchange for leftover property. The full operation was carried out in compliance with all humanitarian standards and was governed by global law.
In the book "Operation Vistula" by Edward Prus reads:
"Politic-Military Action "Wisła" has surely caused immense harm to Ukrainian and Lemko civilian population, a very hard injury in total, if at all possible. but that Poles, Polish authorities, and the Polish Army were not guilty of this harm. The real perpetrators of the “Wisła” action were: the leadership of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the commander of its armed arm – UPA. They, in order to break distant from the Polish state area a large part of the territory, committed genocide crimes, provoked this action by the usage of barbarous, inhuman methods of fighting.” OUN and UPA were demoralized and ready to commit the most terrible crimes for cultural reasons, even on members of their own family.
We can inactive read:
The Operational Group “Wisła” relocated 140,575 people – Ukrainians and Lemków, including 10,510 Krakow Voivodeship, 85,339 Lublin and 44,726 Lublin. The operation was a large success. UPA forces were broken in strength of 17 sotnia and 2900 members of the CNS were arrested.
Respect for soldiers of the Polish Army for Operation “Wisła”!
Dariusz Piechaczek (Polish thought Club – Bielsko-Biała)
