Skoblin's History Blog

This blog is composed of articles and translations written by Skoblin pertaining to the Soviet Security forces, White Russian underground movements and Russian counter-revolutionary forces during the 1920s and 1930s. Skoblin can be reached at skoblini@hotmail.com.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Polish Prisoners of War - Documents (I)

Message from the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs, L. Beria to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, Molotov, concerning the collection of Polish Prisoners of War.

Top Secret
No. 4271/B

To Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Union SSR
comrade Molotov

The General Staff of the RKKA requests that eight collection points be established in the Belorussia and Kiev Military Districts for receiving war prisoners and that two transit camps be set up for prisoners of war at Kozel'sk (BSSR) and Putivl (USSR).
Security for the collection points, the transit camps and the escorting of prisoners of war is to be assigned to the cavalry forces of the NKVD.
In order to maintain security and escort the prisoners of war, the NKVD requests approval of the attached draft resolution of the Committee of Defense of the SNK [Council of People's Commissars] USSR concerning the transfer over to a wartime footing and the complete mobilization of all NKVD cavalry forces located in the Belorussian and Kiev Special Military Districts and the Leningrad Military District, in accordance with the current mobilization plan.
Enclosed: Draft resolution of the KO [Committe of Defense], SNK USSR

People's Commissar of Internal Affairs
Union SSR
L. Beria
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Excerpt from the Minutes of the Politburo, 19 September 1939, Approving the Mobilization and Use of NKVD Cavalry Forces for Maintaining Security involving Prisoners of War.

Decision from 18.IX.39
150. - Question from the KO [Committee of Defense]
Concerning the transfer over to wartime footing of the cavalry forces of the NKVD USSR.
Approve the following decision of the KO:
1. To transfer over to wartime footing from 20 September 1939, the cavalry forces of the NKVD in the Belorussian and Kiev Special and Leningrad Military Districts.
2. To place under the security of the cavalry forces of the NKVD all collection points for receiving military prisoners, located in the Belorussian and Kiev special military districts and the transit camps for prisoners of war located at Kozel'sk (BSSR) and Putivl (USSR).

Secretary TsK [Central Committee].
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Instructions to the Belorussian and Kiev Special Military Districts concerning the transfer of war prisoners to the organs of the NKVD.

Top Secret

For immediate direct delivery through the operational duty room

No. 574970
To the Military Councils BOVO [Belorussian Special Military District], KOVO [Kiev Special Military District]
Copy: To the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs, com. Beria

The People's Commissar of Defense USSR orders the the transport of prisoners of war to be carried out as follows:
1. Prisoners of war are to be under the command of the front line Military Councils until reaching the border.
2. Prisoners of war are to moved along specially determined routes. The movement of prisoners of war is not to interfere with the regular movement of our forces.
3. Refreshment points are to be organized along the routes assigned for the prisoners of war. Cooking pots are to be used at the refreshment points instead of field kitchens.
4. Special detachments are to be organized for escorting prisoners of war and are to be drawn from rifle companies, and from cavalry squadrons attached to rifle and cavalry divisions.
5. Prisoners of war are to be handed over to the organs of the NKVD at transfer points.
6. Transfer points for handing over prisoners of war to the NKVD are to be established:
a) for BOVO -
Orekhovno, Radoshkovichi, Stolbtsy, Timkovichi, Zhitkovichi;
b) for KOVO - Olevsk, Shepetovka (border), Volochisk, Yarmolitsy, Kamenets-Podol'sk.
7. Further evacuation from the NKVD transfer points are to be carried out to Kozel'sk and Putivl through the use of empty rail wagons upon their return, according to the instructions of the Head of VOSO [Central Military Transportation Administration] and according to the demands of the NKVD. Dispatch of the first echelon is to take place on the evening of 20.9. [20 September 1939]
9. Information concerning acceptable measures and instructions to be given out will be announced.

Shaposhnikov
Gusev

Fathfully
Chief of the 12th Section
General Staff RKKA
Utkin.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home