POLISH BRIGADE IN WESTERN CZECHOSLOVAKIA REPORT #3.

Created: 7/26/1945

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

country : Czechoslovakia

SUBJECT : Polish Brigade In Western Czechoslovakia Report #J.

RVAL

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1. In June the Polish Brigade conflating or0 men and orricers uovedew area approximatelyoilometers froa the Cxech-Geraan border. At present the Brigade is billeted in tha following villages of the foraer Sudeten area: Bernartlee (Brigehetne, Valchne, Vltovlea, Straehovlce, Borek, Slehov, Vidllea, Dubee, Pavlovlea, all in tbe adalnlstrative District or Tachov and pdieed br tha Czech Gendarmerie station at Prlada.

2- food SuppIti Although the Brigade Is regularly supplied br American Army QU depot, periodic requisitions of food and forage froa loaal resources ara carried out ruthlessly by armed Polish soldiers, regardless of Czech protests. The following Items wara requisitioned by tha Poles froa local people froah to July

Bread 1

otatoes:

ilosilo1

Beefkilos

Calves liters

Pig* - liters

Geese

Illegally collected for the POLISB RED CROSS: Butter:ggs:ilos of cherries and many other rood Items In smaller

Where requisitioning or food supplieson Tom with Polish OM demands all rood collected ror distribution to civilians Is simply confiscated, ai happened In Dubec village. The above mentioned list oT supplies obtained froa local soureas does not include Items acquired by theft or looting of Barman farms by neabers of the brlgada.

3- gorJ<fi On5 Polish Brigade Bq was ordered by the Vth Corps Hq to turn over all their horses to tha local Czech authorities. This order was not carried out In full, and when the Poles moved out or the VSESJRi area someorses sere taken along. Forage consisting or approxinatelyons oron of straw,ilos or oats has already been requisitioned for horses which ths Poles ara not supposede. Suppleaentary *rree* grazing Is again practiced aa it was donein tha Vsekary area. Qtf orricers ara visiting outlying villages to requisition nav supplies or hay, straw and oats without the permission or

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i -a* local authorities.

1. lha Brigade retained ell lis arms which It usss for training ' and guard duty porposss. Largt supplies of newly acquired weapons ar* stored In easily accessible and lightly guarded dunps, usually located In farmhouses.

SontrLas and guards ars again posted In excessive numbers through-the whole area especially at all approeahes to villages,and Czech officials alike.

An "unofficial" curfew has again been lwposed on the local population.

Pollah Brigade personnel Ignore Czech authorities and act asm an Independent occupation fores "attached" to the American Army. This unwarranted attitude of tbe Poles causes grave concern aaong Czechwho do not know how to explain this unusual phenomenon of American occupation policies. Czechs believe that If tha Poles had behavedto the example set by American troops in this zone, there would have been no oraplelnt against tbea until their problea was solved. Aaertcan Amy uniforms worn by Polish soldiers and sorvlee women causa bitterness and rsssntaent aaong Czech soldiers whore ad to wear, for lack of decent uniforms, either civilian suits with tricolor arm bands or worn out Tehraacht sumaer uniforms.

According to sons Polss the Sudeten araa is not part ofbut Garaany and therefore thsy have the right of tictors.

Constant exchange or personnel within the Polish Brigade,new arrivals In British battle-dress leadsuspicion that the Brlrada Is being used as an assoobly and clearing eenter for many susplelous Individuals, possibly former Polish collaboraOors and lnforwers, I, who by joining the Brigade try to ovfold investigation by Allied and Czech authorltlea.

civilians, both male and resale, are still aecaptedBrigade which provides thsn with shelter and food. Theseare not reported to Czech authorities nor Displaced Personastrict orders to do so. Tounger sen and wosien are graduallyuniforms In which all traces of their former origin and

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defiance of Soviet Government la the renewed crado ofBrigade. "He will return onlyussian-free Poland withcolors flying" la tha essence or aorale boostingrumors constantly repeated to local people implyingew war between the Western Allies and Russia In which the Poles fight against Russia are disturbing the peace aaong local Inhabitantn. |

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who, have hardlyhance yet to recover froa the horrible blows of this war* The Anti-Russian activities of the Poles are tha source of constant worry for Czech officials aho fear reprisals in case the Russian command'should be Informed.

na.ma.orAzed Activities: by aeabers or tba Brigade continue without "any noticeable Intervention by Its commanding personnel. Local Czech;Gendarmerie stations receive dally reports of theft and othsracts committed by armed Polish soldiers In the billeting andareas, Since the Brigade'* arrUal at the ne- locationadiootorcycles and many srtleles of lesser value have been reported stolen by Polish soldiers.

Dss of eounterfalt ration coupons end books by Polas has been reported to Loeal ration boards.

The most important and possibly the most serious transgression, froa both the Czech and the international point of view, ooeurred at tha Orlov estate on the night of July lit, -hen irned Polish soldiers raped several displaced women of Russian origin now working cn farms while awaiting repatriation. Tha fiances of these wooes, also Russian Dpis, were forced by the Poles to stand by. Identification of Polish soldiers by tha Russian women in the presence of tha CO or tha Polish 3rddid not produce any action, even by tha Polish Gendarmerie. Czech authorities do not have sufficient forces In this area to protectagainst outrages such as this one. If there ara any mora such Incidents, Czech officials may have to request Americans billeted nearby to Intervene, as tha occupation force in charge of tha area.

- iP*probl"a' tnl" area could be alleviated if tho scores of truokauom ID Polish possession could ba turned over to

the Czechs, who claim to ba the rightful owners or these vehicles left

by ths.retreating Germans on Ciaeh soil and not taken into possession by

tha American Artsy- aa war booty. (When the Polas casta Into Western Bohemia

in April all they had'raw-one private passenger ear).

evenessantlal use such as ambulances, etc, is not

available to thand yet tha Poles seem to have enough of It to drive private ears on long pleasure trips. Questioning of Poles about the source of gas Indicates that they gat it from the American Aray.

15. pesuae: The continued presence of tha Armed Polish Brigade on Chechoslovakian soil without the peralsslon of tha Czech Governaent, which does not recognize the London Government to which the Brigade claims al-legl-iaee, and the anti-Russian lentlamnt or this Brigadeary serious international problem. Tha Czechs could sMv* It immediately according to their own law, but ara prevented froa doing so because the Anerlean occupation troops aeaa are allegedly protecting the Poles. The situation would not ba so acuta if tha Poles would behave aa tha Americana do, but under prasant conditions they will have to ba removed in order to

voidunnecessary conflict with friendly Russia.

In visa of this situation tha Czechs suggest three possible means of getting rid of tha Polest

of tha *hole Brigade to Northern Francarest of the Polish troops are concentrated; or

tohora tha Brigade can be putAmerican (British) al it tary control, (onlyr

e. Since the Government to ahoai they elata alleglanea does not exist any mora (Londonha (fellah Brigade should ba completely disarmed and putisplaced Persons Camp under Amerloan (British) control ahera thay could aaalt further decision as to their fata.

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