Zielona Góra Commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the Mass Deportation of Poles to Siberia

On Sunday, February 9, the residents of Zielona Góra will commemorate the 85th anniversary of the first mass deportation of Poles to Siberia. The event will begin with a solemn mass, followed by a ceremony at the Monument to the Mother of Siberian Deportees, a historically significant site.

The first deportation took place on the night of February 9-10, 1940, as a result of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, which led to the division of Poland between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Hundreds of thousands of Poles were forcibly taken from their homes and sent to Siberia, where an estimated 400,000 perished due to harsh conditions. Survivors often referred to Siberia as the “white crematorium.”

Many former deportees, now elderly, emphasize the importance of preserving the memory of these tragic events. The Siberian Deportees’ Association, which was reactivated in 1989, continues to organize commemorations and educate younger generations about the historical injustices suffered by Poles.

The monument in Zielona Góra was strategically placed near the railway station, a key location for repatriates returning to Poland. The association also works with schools to ensure that the history of deportations is remembered and taught.

Source: GL