# Population transfers (1945)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1945-population-transfers
Location: Poland

Millions of Germans were expelled from the new western territories, while Poles from the lands annexed by the USSR were resettled in the west. 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 (1945), the governing authority was Bolesław Bierut (President of the State National Council, later President of Poland). Communist leader who headed the KRN from 1944, was President 1947–1952 and led Poland through its Stalinist period. Population transfers mattered because movements of peoples reshaped the population, languages and cultures of the lands that became Poland. 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
Population transfers mattered because movements of peoples reshaped the population, languages and cultures of the lands that became Poland.

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

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–1950)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_and_expulsion_of_Germans_(1944%E2%80%931950))
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Population transfers](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Population+transfers)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland (1939–1945) (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1939%E2%80%931945))