# Soviet deportations (1940)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1940-soviet-deportations
Location: Eastern Poland

The NKVD began mass deportations of Polish citizens from Soviet-occupied eastern Poland to Siberia and Kazakhstan; hundreds of thousands were deported. Within the broader World War II period: Invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland suffered brutal occupation and the Holocaust, while its underground state and armed forces fought on every front of the war. At this point in the timeline (10 February 1940), the governing authority was Władysław Raczkiewicz (President of Poland (in exile)). President of the internationally recognised Polish government-in-exile in France and London during World War II. Soviet deportations mattered because violence against people and institutions left a lasting mark on Polish political life and memory. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Soviet deportations mattered because violence against people and institutions left a lasting mark on Polish political life and memory.

Ruler at the time: [Władysław Raczkiewicz](https://poland-history.com/rulers/wladyslaw-raczkiewicz)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Soviet repressions of Polish citizens (1939–1946)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_repressions_of_Polish_citizens_(1939%E2%80%931946))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Soviet deportations](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Soviet+deportations)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland (1939–1945) (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1939%E2%80%931945))