[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Volhynia as Germans from Russia -Revisited

[Ray Bloch]

Another reason why those Germans from Polish Volhynia wanted to 
differentiate themselves from Germans from Russian Volhynia following WWII 
was due to the efforts of the Soviets to repatriate all former citizens back 
to the Soviet Union.  My father and his brothers (all born in Russian 
Volhynia) ended up in the West zone following the war and they were 
constantly looking over their shoulders knowing that if they were ever 
questioned by Soviet authorities, that there was a good chance of their 
going back.  Since my two oldest uncles were in the German army, that was 
the equivalent of a death sentence for them.  I don't consider it paranoia 
on their part but rather dealing with reality.  They have first hand 
knowledge of others being turned over by occupation forces in the West zone 
to Soviet authorities, never to be seen or heard of again.  It's only been 
in the last few years that my father and his brothers talk about their 
experiences.  I do not believe that the Germans from Polish Volhynia had the 
same concern.  I could be wrong.

Ray Bloch