Repatriation Of Russian Prisoners Of War In The World War I

Brest-Litovsk treaty and the problem of repatriation of POWs.

The echo of revolutionary events in Russia reached also camps in Germany, the Russian prisoners

of war were excited by news of overthrow of the tsar that caused concern of the administration of the

camps. On April 30, 1917 the Ministry of Defense published the circular letter about strengthening of

protection of prisoners of war where “tendency of the Russian prisoners of war to revolutionary

propaganda” was especially noted and it was offered to prepare “necessary measures against possible

revolts of the Russian prisoners which can happen as a result of purposeful propaganda” among them. To

all organizations related to the keeping and the protection of prisoners of war were ordered to report about

the taken measures by June 15, 1917 according to the circular letter of the Military ministry

(Kriegsministerium. 1917:211).

On November 26, 1917 negotiations began between the Soviet Russia and the Central powers

which ended on December 15, 1917 with a truce. On March 3, 1918 in Brest-Litovsk the separate peace

with the Central powers was signed. The 8th article of the Brest treaty provided return of prisoners of war

of both belligerents home. On March 7 “The German-Russian additional agreement”, the chapter 5

determined the main terms of the exchange of prisoners of a war, was signed. The 1st paragraph of 17th

article of the German-Russian additional agreement provided “sending prisoners of war of both

belligerents home if they don’t wish to remain with the consent of the state which took prisoner in its

territory or to go to other country”. In 3rd paragraph it was specified that “each of belligerent will

compensate the costs for keeping their prisoners-citizens which were made by the opposite party as these

expenses aren’t extinguished by work of prisoners of war in the state or private enterprises”.

Compensation should be made in currency of the state which took prisoner, installments for each 50

thousand people (Russische Kriegsgefangene).

The German Ministry of Defense of developed “Executive provisions to 7th chapter of the

German-Russian additional agreement”. The Russian prisoners of war who were subject to releasing and

sending home were listed in it. Provisions of the German-Russian additional agreement on exchange of

prisoners of war didn’t extend to citizens of Finland, Ukraine, the Aland Islands and the so-called “coastal

states” (Poland, Lithuania, Kurland, Latvia and Estonia). Prisoners of war who had the Russian

citizenship once should be also sent to Russia; the Russians of the German or neutral citizenship weren’t

subject to repatriation. If there were doubts concerning the prisoner’s of war citizenship, then such cases

shall be considered separately, taking into consideration all documentary evidences about the residence

and economic activity, as well as other factors such as a native language, religion, family accessory and

his statements (Kriegsministerium, 1918-1919:141-142). Thus, the German side in the conditions of the

beginning disintegration of the Russian Empire objectively solved a complex problem of repatriation of

prisoners of war on various territories. There were cases when the republican government of Germany

helped to the certain prisoners of war who wished to emigrate to other country.

Soviet government tried to support its prisoners of war in Germany due to a difficult situation of

the German economy which could not afford to provide the camp with necessary food. On June 10, 1918

the National Commissioner of foreign affairs G.V. Chicherin sent to the German envoy count Mirbakh

the letter with a request to aid to emissaries of the Central Board for prisoners of war and refugees

Ya.Ya. Preys, K.I. Grivin, B.S. Skibinevsky in delivery of the train with food and linen for the Russian

prisoners of war in Germany. Soviet government also cared about the soldiers and officers of the former

Russian army who were in France at the time of an exit of Russia from the war. This group arrived to

Switzerland after the truce between the Entente and Germany. The Soviet Russia through Germany

transferred 1 million rubles for their support (Kriegsministerium, Allgemeine: 337). However the civil

war did not only hinder to return prisoners of war home but also contributed to it. POWs lost material

support from Russia. On June 28, 1918 the German government informed all organizations responsible

for keeping and using prisoners of war labor about the results of negotiations with the Russian

government: since July 1, 1918 Russia will not going to refund expenses for keeping prisoners of war

therefore it is necessary to prepare the disabled prisoners of war to send home. Remain prisoners of war

engaged in German industry, agriculture and other spheres of economy should be retained until full

reimbursement of their expenses (Kriegsministerium, 1918-1919:241).

In all camps expenses on food for the Russian prisoners of war were cut down. During the Berlin

conference, May 1920 the prisoners of war told that since 1918 in the camps the Russian prisoners of war

suffered from bad food, violation of their rights, outrage of the camp’s staff and exploitation by private

businessmen (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1:4).

The Conditions of the Brest treaty on exchange of prisoners of war were not completely realized.

The Compiègne truce and the Versailles peace treaty demanded that Germany should refuse from the

Brest treaty and supplementary agreements to them. But the Brest-Litovsk treaty and additional

agreements could not be eliminated by Germany with other states agreement if the Soviet Russia didn’t

initiate to cancel them. On November 13, 1918 the Soviet government annulled the Brest-Litovsk treaty

and supplementary agreements. Thus, the diplomatic relations between Germany and RSFSR were

broken off, and the problem of return of prisoners of war home remained unresolved.

Versailles treaty and repatriation of Russian POWs.

According to 214th article of the Versailles peace treaty repatriation of prisoners of war should be

started immediately after this agreement came into force. The expenses on transportation of prisoners of

war home shall be paid by Germany. The countries of the Entente and Germany mutually refused from

refunding for keeping the prisoners of war. On January 17, 1919 the Inter-Allied Commission informed

the government of Germany about the sending of the representatives dealing with issues of returning the

Entente prisoners of war home. They ought to form the commission on repatriation of the Russian

prisoners of war. The soviet government declared the protest to this decision, it was afraid of the

Entente’s propaganda among the Russian prisoners of war in the favor of White Guards. On April 10,

1919 the Inter-Allied Commission gave the permission to return the Russian prisoners of war home.

However due to the lack of the arrangement on transportation of the Russian prisoners of war on the

territory of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia prisoners of war could not return home.

There was one circumstance which complicated the problem of repatriation of Russian prisoners of

war. In Germany there were three categories of prisoners: 1) armed forces of the Russian army,

2) P.M. Bermondt-Avalov’s army which were imprisoned during World War I and 3) interned part of the

Red Army.

In August, 1919 in Lithuania there was the meeting with the participation of the Commander of

the German reserve corpse Major-General von der Golza and the representatives of the White Guard West

Russian government. At the meeting they discussed about the formation of military army consisting of

7 000 Russian prisoners of war under P.M. Bermondt-Avalov’s command. Equipment of these troops was

financed by Germany. Military mission of the Entente in the Baltic tried to bring Bermondt-Avalovs army

under the control of the general Yudenich. However the German command had other plans. In September,

1919 when the Entente demanded to withdraw von Golz’s troops to Germany, the German command

transferred them under Bermondt-Avalov’s command as “the German volunteers”. “A voluntary army”

appeared which consist of German soldiers and Russian prisoners of war. According to the agreement

between the representative of the German government admiral Mr. Hoffmann and P.M. Bermondt-Avalov

with approval of Allied and United powers’ Bermondt-Avalov’s army was accepted by Germany as

guests. Therefore officers were not disarmed, they could leave the camp, some of them went to Serbia and

Hungary to recruit people for Bermondt-Avalov’s army in order to enter on the territory of Ukraine later.

Bermondt’s army was financed and supplied with food by the German side so they had money, visited

game clubs, they had even the machine for printing money. The Ministry of Finance considered that

Bermondt’s money – useless paper, however they had the firm course making about 20% of the German

money (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1).

During the Soviet-Polish war a part of Red Army was forced to cross border of East Prussia.

According to the state of peace between Germany and the Soviet Russia and in view of the announcement

of a neutrality from the German government in the Soviet-Polish war, these troops were subject to

disarmament and internment in Germany. The government of RSFSR undertook the liability to refund

maintenance costs the intern parts of Red Army. The German side disarmed this group of troops number

of 60 000 people and contained them in the Aruzsk camp (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1, 2). On

October 5, 1920 the address of CPG to the interned Red Guards was published in the Rote Fahne

newspaper. On October 18, 1920 the minister of armed forces sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the

Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Central bureau on prisoners of war the report on preparation of a

revolt of the interned parts of Red Army together with the German communists in camps (Russische

Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 2).

On April 19, 1920 “The agreement between RSFSR and Germany on sending home prisoners of

war and the interned civilians of both sides” was signed, providing immediate homecoming of prisoners

of war and the civil interned citizens of both sides. The exchange should be made transport to transport,

each side must be ready to send a transport after being informed from another side that it did the same.

The International Red Cross was responsible for the transport passage through others states territory. In

article 7 it was said that “each belligerent provides freedom from punishment for those who was sent

home who fought against a state system of the fatherland by political actions or up in arms” (Russische

Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 11). For the purpose of the effective organization of In May, 1920 the conference

of the representatives of 43 camps where the Russian prisoners of war accommodated was organized to

solve effectively repatriation of prisoners of war. At the conference the concrete decisions on

improvement of the prisoners’ of war conditions and the organizations of transportation were made. Also

the Bureau for prisoners of war which included 14 Russian prisoners of war was formed (Russische

Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1).

The soviet government required repatriation of Bermondt-Avalov’s group as prisoners of war of

the former Russian army according to the 3rd article of the German and Soviet agreement of April 19,

1920, “the Russian prisoners of war considered all Russians or the former Russian citizens who

imprisoned by Germans, who fought for the former Russian empire or for the Russian Soviet Republic or

against the Russian Soviet Republic” (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1). On June 8, 1920 in Berlin

there was the meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and

Reich with Imperial commissioner on prisoners of war D. Shtuklen. They discussed the legal status of

Bermondt-Avalov’s troops. At the meeting they decided to disarm this army totally, to divide the officers

and the soldiers from each other in general to destroy the name “troops, Bermondt’s army”, to forbid

them trips around the country and to contain them in different camps as prisoners of war, to strengthen

protection of officers. On June 26, 1920 the disarmed Bermondt-Avalov’s troops contained in the camps

located in Altengrabov and Havelberg (in Altengrabov there were 708 officers, 84 officials, 422 soldiers,

205 women and 58 children; in Havelberg – 1 482 soldiers). They were prepared for exchange for the

German prisoners of war at the rate of transport to transport. In July, 1920 the first train with 700

Bermondt soldiers was sent already (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1).

On July 7, 1920 the supplementary agreement was signed, in which the sides agreed about creation

German (in Moscow) and the Russian (in Berlin) missions for affairs of military and civil prisoners.

Missions had the right to contact with military and civil prisoners, their officials are responsible for

visiting camps and working groups. They could also draw the attention of the governments to

shortcomings of content and transportation of prisoners, Missions could publish the newsletter for

prisoners of war on condition of compliance with laws of this country, this bulletin should be used as

propaganda. However this period was marked by intensive propaganda works by communists among the

Russian prisoners of war in Germany. So, on May 4, 1920 the chief of police in Frankfurt an der Oder

submitted the official report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs about frequent cases of carrying out

Bolshevist propaganda in prisoner-of-war camps. In July, 1920 the Minister of Defense of Germany

informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs that almost all the camps of

the Russian prisoners of war on the territory of Germany are under the influence of Bolshevist

propaganda including German communists. On January 11, 1921 the chairman of the Central bureau for

prisoners of war Schlesinger reported to the administrations of the camps that in some camps among

prisoners of war and interned the Russian newspapers with Bolshevist propaganda were spread

(Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 1, 2, 4).

On October 5, 1920 the meeting of the commission on repatriation of prisoners of war was in the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany. At this meeting there was a major Mensh who arrived from

Russia. When the major Mensh told that he represents Wrangel’s government, the chairman of the Central

bureau of prisoners of war Schlesinger warned attendees that repatriation is made on the basis of the

international convention and the German-Russian agreement of April 19, 1920. So the transports with the

Russian prisoners of war will not be sent to the areas controlled by non recognized authorities from the

side of German government. After the message of the major Mensh the representative of the Soviet

Russia V. Kopp was afraid of accusation in a propaganda of Bolshevik ideas among the Russian prisoners

of war. So in camps he promulgated the circular letter which said thatt before landing to the ship in Stettin

it is forbidden to carry the signs of “red” (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 2). The Soviet party reported

the German commission in advance about the destination of each transport with the Russian prisoners of

war. So, in May, 1920 the first transport went to the central provinces, the second – to the Urals and the

Volga region, the third – to the western provinces, the fourth – to Siberia, the fifth – to the southern

provinces. Based on this information the German side in advance grouped prisoners of war on the basis of

belonging to these regions to facilitate their sending to native places.

On November 3, 1921 in honor of four-year anniversary of the October revolution under the

resolution of UCRC it was announced amnesty to Russians who fought in Kolchak, Wrangel, Savinkov,

Petliura, Peremykin, Yudenich’s troops and other White Guard armies against the Soviet power. It was

promised that upon an amnesty after returning to Russia they will be accepted as prisoners of war of the

former Russian army. On January 10, 1922 the head of Consular department of RSFSR representative S.

Ayzenbukh reported about it his German colleagues and asked to find out a location and number of the

Russian prisoners of war and the interned soldiers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Germany found out

that 4 005 Russian prisoners of war and interned are in camps in Kelle, Vunskdorf, Quedlinburg and

Mikhtenkhorst, there also officers and soldiers of Bermondt-Avalov’s troops in Altengrabov. 250

Hungarian communist activists from crushed Hungarian Soviet Republic were among one of groups of

the prisoners of war from Germany to the Soviet Russia. Austria exchanged them to their own prisoners

of war in Russia (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 8).

The way of the Russian prisoners of war home was long. During the World War I 1 434 529

servicemen of the former Russian army were imprisoned, among them 72 586 died from disease and

wounds, 453 committed suicide (Doegen, 1921:58). Due to a civil war, red and white terror and

emigration, department of Ukraine, Belarus, Transcaucasia and their accession to Russia already in new

quality of the federal Soviet republics it is impossible to determine how many prisoners of war of World

War I returned home, went to other countries or remained in Germany. Some part of the Russian

prisoners of war in Germany remained even in 1926. On May 11, 1926 the Ministry of Finance of

Germany informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that to the government of Germany content and

repatriation of the Russian prisoners of war is burdensome. According to of the Treaty of Rapallo of the

Russian prisoners of war in Germany entirely depended on the funds allocated by the German

government. The Treaty of Rapallo provided mutual refusal of Germany and the Soviet Russia of expense

recovery for content of prisoners of war. However the content and the transportation of the Russian

prisoners of war and interned cost much to Germany encumbered with heavy reparation payments. After

ratification of the Treaty of Rapallo at a meeting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

Ministry of Finance of Germany, and also Embassy of the Soviet Russia the parties agreed that Russia

since November 1, 1922 will foot the bill on homecoming of the former Russian citizens. However this

agreement wasn’t confirmed with soviet government in writing form. In 1923 the Russian Embassy

transferred 900 million marks for content of the insane of Russians in a clinic Nikolaszee and until 1926

no more money was sent to Germany (Russische Kriegsgefangene, Bd. 11).