1951 Polish-Soviet territorial exchange

The 1951 Polish-Soviet territorial exchange or Polish-Soviet border adjustment treaty of 1951 was the largest in Polish history and one of the largest border adjustments in post-war European history. 480 km² were exchanged between the People's Republic of Poland and the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union gave up a part of the Ukrainian SSR's Drohobytskyi Raion: the city of Ustrzyki Dolne and the villages of Czarna (Ukrainian: _uk. Чорна "Chorna"), Shevchenko (whose name was changed back to the Polish Lutowiska in 1957) , Krościenko, Bandrów Narodowy, Bystre and Liskowate. All of that territory became part of the Krosno Voivodeship in 1975, and of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship on 1999-01-01.

Poland gave up part of the Lublin Voivodship, with cities of Bełz (Ukrainian: _uk. Белз "Belz"), Sokal ( _uk. Сокаль "Sokal"), Uhnów ( _uk. Угнів "Uhniv"), Krystynopol ( _uk. Червоноград "Chervonohrad") and Waręż ( _uk. Варяж "Varyazh"). Currently all of that territory is part of the Sokalskyi Raion ( _uk. Сокальський район), Ukraine.

After World War II, the territory of Poland changed dramatically, moving westwards. Poland gained the former German provinces of Silesia and Pomerania, with the eastern part of Brandenburg and the southern part of East Prussia. The eastern border of the country was established roughly along the so-called Curzon line, leaving Białystok in Poland and Lviv in the Soviet Ukraine.

The border of Poland and the Soviet Union remained almost unchanged until early 1950s (with minor corrections in 1948, when the village of Medyka near Przemyśl was transferred to Poland). Then, rich deposits of coal were discovered in the so-called Bug river knee, Polish territory between the upper Bug and the Sołokija river. The Soviet government decided to gain control over this land, which possessed not only coal, but also fertile black soil.

On February 15, 1951 the governments of Republic of Poland and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics signed a bill which confirmed the change of the eastern border of Poland. According to the agreement, Poland transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic 480 sq. kilometers of territory located west of the town of Sokal, which had been located in the Hrubieszów county of the Lublin Voivodeship (together with the towns of Bełz, Sokal, Krystynopol and Uhnów as well as rail line Rawa Ruska - Krystynopol). Currently, these towns are located in the Sokal Raion of the Lviv Oblast. Several coal mines have been constructed there, and former town of Krystynopol is now known as Chervonohrad.

In return, the Soviet side transferred part of the now nonexistent Drohobych Oblast, with the town of Ustrzyki Dolne and a few villages. Even though territory ceded to Poland was roughly as large as territory transferred to Soviet Union, land around Ustrzyki Dolne was attractive only for tourism (see: Bieszczady Mountains). It lacked industry and its soil is not so fertile. Also, it was in early 1950s almost deserted (see: Operation Wisła). Currently, the territory is part of the Bieszczady County (Subcarpathian Voivodeship). In 1968 the Polish government constructed there a 664-meter long, 81-meter high Solina Dam on the San river, which created Lake Solina.

According to the mutual agreement, all real estate present on the exchanged territories (buildings, infrastructure, farms, rail lines) was automatically transferred to the new owner and both sides relinquished all future claims. However, movable goods were allowed to be kept under the condition that the owners had to take them. Polish population of the Sokal area was moved in May 1951 mainly to the Recovered Territories. Inhabitants of the town of Belz settled in Ustrzyki Dolne.

Officially, the Polish side claimed that the exchange took place on Warsaw’s initiative. However, in early 1950s, Poland was de facto ruled by Moscow and all decisions were taken there. The Soviets claimed that the area of Ustrzyki possessed deposits of oil, but it turned out that all sources had been exploited.

See also

* Territorial changes of Poland after World War II
* Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union
* Curzon Line
* Kresy
* List of national border changes since World War I
* History of Ukrainian minority in Poland
** Repatriation of Ukrainians from Poland to USSR (1944-1946)
** Operation Wisła
* Polish minority in Ukraine
** Repatriation of Poles (1944–1946)#From Ukraine
** Repatriation of Poles (1955–1959)

References

* http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/13/3/00024116.pdf
* http://pl-sci-historia.net.pl/?action=artikel&cat=29&id=63&artlang=pl
* http://www.alfa.com.pl/slask/200506/s19.html