The Return of Polish soldiers held captive in Germany to Lithuania in 1939-1940

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LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuva; Vokietija; Antrasis pasualinis karas; Lenkų karo belaisviai. Keywords: Lithuania; Poland; WWII; Polish war prisoners.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Vilniaus regionas (Vilnius region); Karo belaisviai; Okupacija; Tautinis tapatumas; 20 amžius; Prisoners of war; Occupation; National identity; 20th century.

ENFollowing the agreement between Lithuania and the Soviet Union signed on October 10, 1939, Vilnius region was transferred to Lithuania. Lithuanian government officials had to resolve many political, economic, and social problems, as well as the problem of returning Polish solders mobilized from Vilnius region and held captive by Germany. In December, 1939, after the agreement with Germany had been reached, Lithuanian government officials prepared to return the soldiers to Lithuania. First, the war prisoners whose national identification question did not pose any doubts had to return to Lithuania. Later, the permission was given to the soldiers who conformed to the conditions necessary to obtain the Lithuanian citizenship, which were approved in 1939. During the process of returning war prisoners to Lithuania, 2,148 persons were asked to be returned. However, only one fifth of them, i.e. 463, returned until July, 1940. On August 2, 1940, after more than one month had passed after the occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, Lithuanian leaders suspended the process of returning Polish soldiers.