Against Their Will: The History and Geography of Forced Migrations in the USSR

Supplement 3

Supplement 3 REPORT NO. 800 “ON PLANNED RESETTLEMENT FROM THE KURSK OBLAST,” 20 MARCH 1938 Head of the Kursk Oblast NKVD Department, State Security Captain Boyechin, to the People’s Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR State Security Senior Major Zhukovsky: The substantial experience of these matters, acquired in 1936– 1937 in the course of resettlement from the Kursk Oblast, demonstrated that—due to poorly organized control on the part of the USSR NKVD Resettlement Department, and the local executives’ negligent approach to the practical implementation of the directions—there were occasions when the resettlement measures fell short of requirements , which caused resentment among those to be resettled. The USSR NKVD Resettlement Department conveyed directives concerning the resettlement prior to the approval of the plans by the Sovnarkom [Council of People’s Commissars]. Based on the directives in question, the local executives launched preparatory work, thus engendering unrest among the district population, and—in point of fact—disorienting kolkhoz members. A couple of particular facts are described below: The central Resettlement Department conveyed information that 14 thousand households would be resettled from the Kursk Oblast in 1937 and 1930, and suggested that the practicability of the possible resettlement of 9 thousand households in spring 1937 be discussed. The matter was considered by the local authorities, and the possibility of the resettlement of the indicated number of households was confirmed by the delivery of the Oblast Executive Committee’s resolution of 5 October 1936. Subsequently, a large-scale instructive cam- paign was launched among kolkhoz members, and registration of potential volunteer resettlers was commenced. As of 7 January 1937, the registered number of households that handed in applications stating their willingness to resettle reached 1,455. However, no resettlement was carried out, as the due dates passed. Those persons that submitted applications grew increasingly concerned and started besieging the resettlement section in scores, since a part of the applicants considered themselves already recruited and had sold their houses, quit their work in kolkhoz and were eating away the resources at their disposal, while waiting for the planned resettlement. Due to this situation, and left with no specific instructions from the Resettlement Department, the oblast authorities had to terminate all activities for the recruitment of resettlers and to issue a categorical ban on property sale and dismissals from kolkhozy. With regard to those who had already sold their property, measures were taken to include them into the industrial resettlement campaign conducted by the oblast Planning Committee. A similar situation took place in the case of the resettlement of 500 households to Azov-Black Sea Kray. The Resettlement Department conveyed the dates for transporting resettlers by trains; and recruitment was carried out accordingly. Some 200 families sold their houses. Corresponding contracts were concluded with relevant oblast organizations concerning the provision of health care, hygiene and veterinary services for the resettlers and their cattle; railway carriages were ordered too. On the eve of the departure date, however, a directive was received, which stipulated the reversal of the resettlement and withdrawal of the executives from the destination regions, who had arrived in the Kursk Oblast in order to take over and escort the trains carrying the resettlers. It was only by means of categorical instant demands that 232 out of all recruited families that had sold their houses were delivered to their destinations (according to the letter of the Resettlement Department No. P-0/1016243 of 20 April 1937 and cable notification No. 0206228). I inform you of the above facts in order to avoid such incidents in the future. Source: RGAE, h. 5675, op. 1, d. 196, l. 23–25 (registered by the USSR NKVD Resettlement Department on 28 March 1938 under number No.1814). Supplement 3 374 ...