#title Trained for a Free Poland
#subtitle Newspaper Coverage of the Polish Falcons, Polish Independence, and the Wars of 1914–1920
#author Theo Slade
#topics old news stories, history, diaspora, World War I, Polish-Soviet War, antisemitism, pogroms, Kaczynski family history
#lang en
#pubdate 2026-10-25T03:24:55
** Introduction
This collection gathers American newspaper coverage of the Polish Falcons, a fraternal organization whose members drilled for Polish independence, and of the wars that followed in Poland between 1914 and 1925. Ted Kaczynski’s paternal grandfather, Jacob Kaczynski, was a member, and he appears in two of the 1916 Pittsburgh items below. The articles show the world Jacob came from: a diaspora preparing for war, and a homeland where that war brought devastation and violence against civilians. For more on the family history, [[https://www.thetedkarchive.com/library/the-various-players-in-kaczynski-s-life-story#toc15][click here]].
*** Why this history matters
Quoting Ted’s brother David Kaczynski:
When something like what happened here happens, people all over the world question; how could any human being do this? And when somebody like my brother does this from our family, the question becomes extraordinarily, existentially intense, like how could my own brother do this.[1]
[1] David Kaczynski. David Kaczynski on Emotional Healing from a Buddhist Perspective [Lecture]. Ishkah. March 13th, 2013. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik8kq4GMIaI][Original link]]. [[https://www.thetedkarchive.com/library/david-kaczynski-david-kaczynski-on-emotional-healing-from-a-buddhist-perspective-excerpts][Archived link]].
Personally, I think it was likely a combination of these four main reasons:
- A socially alienating culture + a neurological diversity
- A desire to return to a more innocent time in his childhood
- An uncompromising idealism
- Human nature
With regards to that last point, I think there is a naturally wide capacity in everyone to either be intensely cruel or radically compassionate, and so a person’s character is almost always going to be dependent on how we construct our environments and whether we receive an element of moral luck.
Again, quoting Ted’s bother David:
[I] think we’re not being honest with ourselves if we don’t look at human history and say there’s something somewhat normal about violence in human beings, we have murders, we have genocides and we have wars.
I remember my father telling a story from his father who had been born in Poland and pressed into the polish army and he said ‘well, we went to fight this battle and I don’t know what happened, but we started killing everybody in the town and then men started raping women’.
And these were normal family, how did this happen? We know that part of the training of soldiers is to desensitize to the humanity of the enemy so it’s true we can be trained for compassion, we can be trained to shut down compassion, so I think the highest teachings of all religious traditions is to try to create an antidote to this nihilistic possibility that probably lives to some extent in all of us, to smaller or greater degrees.[2]
[2] David Kaczynski. David Kaczynski on Emotional Healing from a Buddhist Perspective [Lecture]. Ishkah. March 13th, 2013. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik8kq4GMIaI][Original link]]. [[https://www.thetedkarchive.com/library/david-kaczynski-david-kaczynski-on-emotional-healing-from-a-buddhist-perspective-excerpts][Archived link]].
I’ve no idea what battle David may have been referring to, and nothing below links Jacob to any particular incident. However, there certainly were pogroms committed by Polish officers in this period:
Polish command was able to maintain order by promising its troops forty-eight hours of looting in the Jewish quarters. Polish officers and soldiers, reported Wright, perceived looting as an integral part of warfare, ... Wright concluded that sixty Jews had been killed and that many more were robbed, wounded, or raped.[3]
[3] [[https://www.thetedkarchive.com/library/alexander-victor-prusin-nationalizing-a-borderland][Nationalizing a Borderland]] by Alexander Victor
Plus, Polish people were likely conscripted into fighting in battles during the days of the Russian Empire, where rape not only happened spontaneously, but where mass rape was also threatened by generals to bring the leaders of towns to heel:
There were about fifteen thousand women left in Yengi Sheher on the retreat of the army, and these the general threatened to abandon to the soldiery unless their male relatives should return at once and submit to the Czar.[4]
[4] [[https://www.thetedkarchive.com/library/edmond-o-donovan-the-merv-oasis][The Merv Oasis]] by Edmond O’Donovan
Finally, some people have suggested there might have been a spike in the number of serial killers in the generation of children brought up by WW2 veterans. That wasn’t Ted’s situation, but it would be interesting if some tiny amount of coldness that Ted felt in his father’s behaviour to him could be traced back somewhat to his grandfather’s PTSD. This is highly speculative, of course, and I have no evidence it applies to Jacob. It’s also getting away from the more interesting point: that everyone’s nature can be harnessed for evil ends.
Without further ado anyways, here are the news stories from history...
** Polish Falcons and the Struggle for Independence
*** 30,000 Poles Offer Services.
**Source:** The Daily Inter Lake (Montana), April 25, 1914. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-inter-lake/208976195/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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Pittsburg, April 25 — Dr. T. A. Starzynski, president of the Polish Falcons Military alliance, sent a telegram to Representative A. R. Barehfeidt of Pittsburg, tendering to President Wilson the entire membership of the organization of 30,000 trained men, in the event volunteers are needed for a war with Mexico.
*** Poles Drill in Quaker City to Free Their Native Land
**Source:** Billings Daily Tribune (Montana), November 20, 1914. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/billings-daily-tribune/208976038][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 20.— Twice a week. 1,200 Polish Falcons, residents of this city undergo gruelling military drill. Once a month they participate in field manoeuvers. Several hundred women folk of Polish decent undergo training no less rigorous, some as nurses for wounded, some as amazons.
These are but a part of 40,-000 men and 4,000 organized Polish women in America, who are waiting the opportune moment to strike for the freedom of Poland. Three previous uprisings of the Poles—in 1830–48 and ’63—failed to bring independence to Poland as a nation and that country is now divided between Austria, Russia and Germany.
After the present war is over the Polish leaders will present a petition signed by 3,000,000 of their folk, demanding their national independence. If it is refused, the leaders say an armed attempt will be made to gain their rights. For this reason 1,200 Poles are drilling here.
*** Poles Celebrate Deeds
**Source:** Livingston Enterprise (Montana), August 5, 1915. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/livingston-enterprise/208975435/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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CLEVELAND, O., Aug. 5—Under the auspices of the local branch Of the Polish national defense committee a four-day celebration was begun in Cleveland today to commemorate the first anniversary of the Polish legion as an active participant in the European war on the side of the Teutonic allies. It was a year ago today that an army of 25,000 young Polish Falcons and Sharpshooters invaded Russia and occupied the city of Kielce In Russian Poland. The Polsih legion, under which name this military body became recognized, has since increased to 65,-000 men, and has distinguished itself in many engagements. At the present time, the legion is participating in the fighting in the vicinity of Warsaw.
*** Falcons Make Plans
**Source:** The Gazette Times (Oregon), 16 May 1916. <[[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eoNRAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA21][books.google.co.uk/]]>
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**Drill Will Be Held on Schenley Oval in July.**
Polish residents of Pittsburgh are preparing to entertain 3.W of their fellow countrymen at the annual convention of District 4, Polish Falcons’ Alliance of America, during the week of July 1. A field meet will be held at the Schcnlcy oval on July 3. There will be more than 700 participants. The sessions of the convention will be held In the hall of the Polish Falcons in Brushton.
The members of the local convention committee are Jacob Kaczynski, chairman: S. W. Kalinowski, secretary: C. & Tarkowskt. treasurer; C. Gorny. T. Palcsynskl. 8. RembowsM. M. Rem-bowakl. B. Mrvczek. M. Zlo1owskl. A. Huminski. 8. 8sware. L. Laszklcwlcz. Z. Russkowakh 3. Fljowskl, 3. Hoffma F. Kaminski. J. Karwowskt Z. Brzezinski. M. Pudclski. S Lewandowski. K. Grodzickl. J. Zlcmianskl, A. Plut-nickl, J. Zaucha and W. Czachowaki.
*** Polish Falcons Preparing for Big Drill in July
**Source:** The Pittsburgh Post (Pennsylvania), Jun 18, 1916. <[[https://archive.org/details/img-3856_202607][https://archive.org/details/img-3856_202607]]> & <[[https://www.newspapers.com/image/86670410][www.newspapers.com/image/86670410]]>
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[[t-f-trained-for-a-free-poland-1.jpg]]
*Polish Falcons in charge of arrangements for drills next month.. Top row, left to right—Stephen Hoffman, P. Maslowski, H. R. Rudzewski, J. Gauda I. Palczynski, S. Schwartz,‘M. Rembowski. Second row—J. Karbowski, F. Kaminski, C. S. Tarkowski, Jacob Kaczynski, S. W. Kalinowski, C. J. Gorny. Third row—Z. Ruszkowski, J. Zielinski.*
*** Poles Offer War Services
**Source:** Sheridan County News (Montana), April 6, 1917. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/sheridan-county-news/208975250][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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**48,000 in This Country Pledge Allegiance to President.**
Pittsburgh, April 2. — A resolution placing at the disposal of the President in case of war, 48,000 members of the Polish Falcons’ Alliance of America, many- of whom have had military training, was adopted at the opening session of a special convention of that organization here.
The regular convention was to have been held in 1918fbht to perfect plans for sending to the front as many trained men as possible, should a call for volunteers be issued, the supreme officers called the convention here at once.
*** Polish Offer War Services
**Source:** The Billings Gazette (Montana), November 26, 1918. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/208974872/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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**By FRANK J. TAYLOR**
(United Press Staff Correspondent).
WITH THE AMERICAN TROOPS IN FRANCE, Nov. 12. — (By Mail)— Polish falcons, more than half of whom are from America, have won the admiration of armies in Europe by their consistent service. Recently the French honored these Poles, in an impressive ceremony in Lorraine, when the entire division swore allegiance to the allies.
The Polish falcons are volunteers, serving- on the same basis as the other members of France’s foreign legion. All the Poles from America could have joined the American army, but chose to serve in the Polish legion at live cents a day. and to fight as Poles for an independent Poland. The division is commanded by an Austrian general.
After their training in the rear areas of France, the Poles had their first taste of front line service in the hills of Alsace. Just before the last German offensive of the spring, they were brought to the Champagne sector. where they fought side by side with the American Rainbow division.
The Yankee troops were delighted to find most of these lively and optimistic fighters in blue uniforms and square topped caps spoke good American slang, and the Poles were open in their enthusiasm at being with doughboys. Since then the Polish division has been in continuous service in several sectors.
The Lorraine ceremony was a fitting climax to a hard summer’s fighting. It began with a breakfast on Place Stanislas, Nancy, at which President Poincaire of France, numerous French notables, and a number of French officers were present.
The door of the breakfast room opened upon a spot on the place in front of the huge bronze statue of Stanislas, last king of Poland and duke of Lorraine, renowned for his benefices and cherished in memory by Poles and Lorrainers alike. One hand points north, and under this the group’ I of Poles and Frenchmen stopped.
They say it was not part of the program, and that both the Frenchmen and the Poles fighting against a common tyrant had to stop—impulse dictated it—and the president of France made a short talk to those who grouped around, civilians having joined the party.
The prefect of Nancy spoke, and the general of the Polish division, and they shook hands all around. Then some noticed some American officers, bystanders, who had slipped into the crowd, and by common impulse and enthusiasm the Yankees were pulled into the ceremony, which consisted of wildly shaking hands with everyone.
Being short on French words to express themselves, and this part of the ceremony was in French, the Americans followed a happy hunch to shout, “Vive la Pologne.” The words were magic and it was a mighty “Vive la Pologne” that rang out from that beautiful Stanislas square in Nancy.
The official ceremony was on a hillside east and south of Nancy. Here three natty regiments of infantry, with clean blue uniforms, shining bayonets and spotless equipment were drawn up at attention on three sides of an altar built out in the open. On the fourth side were the machine gun companies and a group of mounted soldiers.
In the center around the altar were some Polish priests, and a group of officials and officers who conducted the ceremony. Overhead a group of French aviators swooped and dived, grazing less than 10 feet from the heads of soldiers.
As the United Press car pulled away from the ceremony, a Polish private shouted. “Hullo. Americans, guess this world series about over—home run for us. Hooray!”
** Poland’s Post-Independence Conflicts and Political Crises
*** Tells of Slaughter
**Source:** Lewistown News-Argus (Montana), Nov 18, 1919, Page 2. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/lewistown-news-argus/208981562/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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WARSAW. Thursday, Nov. 13 — Jan Paderewski, the Polish premier, in a long statement in the diet today on the external and internal situation of Poland, described conditions in the Ukraine as chaotic. He declared that murder and pillage reigned there and asserted that 10,000 Jews had been massacred. The Ukrainian authorities have kept silence about the massacres, he charged.
*** Poland Today
**Source:** The Butte Daily Bulletin (Montana), July 14, 1920. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-labor-bulletin/208981173/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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The amazing fact has leaked that the United States Treasury holds $58,000,000 worth of Polish bonds, of six years maturity at 5 per cent. This was taken in payment for war supplies, and accounts for the fact of Polish soldiers marching on Soviet Russia dressed in American uniforms, and armed with American arms. Silesian coal and forest lands are the collateral. It is authentically reported that the United States will eventually hold $100,000,000 of bonds issued by the little new countries that were once a part of the Russian empire — Ethonia, Livonia and the Ukraine. To show what all this means, the New York Evening Post is quoted:
The heavy pre-war investments which the French made in Russian imperial bonds have, since the termination of the World war, been a factor in determining the relations between the Republic of Soviet Russia and the French Republic, in the future the debts owed to the United States by countries carved out of Imperial Russia may be a factor in determining peace or war for America. While no army officer has or admits full information as to the Soviet resources, and therefore satisfactory conclusions cannot be formed, there are many who expect that Gen. Pilsudski will in time come to the end of his resources, and unless army supplies are shipped from America in quantity, the Polish republic will pass.
This is a piece of highly-perfumed news, that should open the eyes of every American citizen to the utterly rotten and base intrigues that are slowly coming to light. It also shows the mad desire of the swash-buckling gang of imperialistic cut-throats for a large American army to send to Poland to collect the collateral, if the Polish soldiers, dressed in American uniforms, are unable to do the job.
The Post further states that “The navy has also been selling to the Polish republic and taking bonds in payment therefor, but it is difficult to get the Navy Department officials to talk on the subject.” Secretary Baker is reported to have said that he was satisfied with the deals.
The question would seem to arise, as to whether the American people are satisfied with these “deals,” and another question would seem to be as to how long the people intend these “deals” to go on. The whole infamous business creates the impression that the political governments stand together the world over to plunder and murder without let or hindrance.
The dissolution of the Supreme Council is a dire necessity, for it has become a menace to the world. It now practically consists of Lloyd George and Premier Millerend, with two soldiers to give them the necessary military information — these two are Sir Henry Wilson and Marshall Foch. The Supreme Council represents nobody, nor any public opinion. It works in absolute secret. There has never been so ignorant, vicious, and all-powerful despotism in the history of the world. It has made a complete political and economic wreck of Europe. It must be disbanded at once, or it will wreck America, too.
*** Reports Exaggerated
**Source:** The Great Falls Leader (Montana), Jul 29, 1919, Page 7. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-great-falls-leader/208981722/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
**Note:** A darkly amusing title given the next news story in this collection.
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Paris, July 29. — (Havis.) — Henry Morgenthau, appointed by President Wilson as head of the American commission to investigate reported progroms in Poland, told newspapers here today that the short visit which he had made to Poland had convinced him that the reports of programs were tremendously exaggerated.
Mr. Morgenthau added his view that the Polish Jews sometimes overlooked the fact that equal right involved equal duties.
*** Pogroms Begun By Poles in Warsaw
**Source:** The Butte Daily Bulletin (Montana), August 24, 1920. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-labor-bulletin/208980795/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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Advance of Bolsheviki Is Signal for Persecutions of Jewish Folk in Poland Says Berlin Dispatch
(By the Federated Press.)
Berlin, Aug. 1 — (By Mail.) Coinncident with the recent advance of the Russian Soviet troops toward the Polish capital comes a revival of the persecution of the communists and Jews still under the rule of the Polish junkers, say reports just received here from Warsaw. Judging from the descriptions of the activities of the so-called Haller volunteers, these Polish soldiers, mostly recruited from the middle class elements, are trying to play the same role in Poland as the notorious military bands of outlaws in reactionary Hungary.
Like their Hungarian prototypes, the Haller soldiers make it their special busniess to arrogate to themselves the task of “saving society” from the Bolshevist propagandists and in so doing they raid private and public houses: arrest any one suspected of being a communist, beat up prisoners, abuse Jews, and do their worst to intimidate the Polish workers who are half inclined to welcome the capture of Warsaw by the Soviet forces. General Pilsudski has vainly protested against these outrages, but without much result. General Haller’s reactionary attitude is said to have been the real reason for his retirement from active command by General Pilsudski.
The regular authorities are also active in the campaign against the communists and have thrown more than 1,000 of them into jail in Warsaw alone. Scores have been sentenced to from two to eight years imprisonment for the “crime” of belonging to the communist labor party. The prisons are said to be in a horrible condition and the lot of the unfortunates sent there is a hard one. There are rumors of an impending massacre of Jews and labor leaders to take place when Warsaw is abandoned to the Soviet forces, with the object of making it more difficult for the latter to find enough able labor men with whom to co-operate in setting up a really representative Polish government.
*** Poles Gathering for Ukraine Attacks
**Source:** The Butte Daily Bulletin (Montana), October 13, 1920. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-labor-bulletin/208980711/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
**Note:** It’s unclear what was meant by this news story, and what information it was based on, but what happened in actual fact was Polish troops pulled back. The abandoned ‘Ukrainian People’s Army’ attempted to launch an independent offensive against the Bolsheviks from Polish-held territory, however by November 1920, they were entirely defeated by the Red Army and forced to cross back into Poland permanently where they were finally disarmed and interned.
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(Special United Press Wire.)
Warsaw, Oct. 13. — A Polish communique said Polish troops were being concentrated near Omorynka for an attack on the Ukrainians, to be started soon after the signing of the Polish-Russian treaty of peace.
** War’s Humanitarian Aftermath
*** Poland Faces Typhus Scourge
**Source:** The Fallon Herald (Montana), November 26, 1920, page 5. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-fallon-herald/208982026/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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600 Victims Are Dying Every Day in Warsaw
DISEASE SWEEPS COUNTRY
Polish Bureau of Information Tells Plight of People of New Republic— Deaths of Thousands Predated This Winter, in Spite of the Relief From America—Bolsheviki Tried to Solve Own Problem by Foisting Thousands of Their Sick on Poland.
The following statement was made public by the Polish bureau of information, telling of the conditions which Poland faces this coming winter:
“The Polish army 1ms turned back the Bolsheviki before Warsaw. With The tension occasioned by danger of immediate attack over, comes news of the deplorable conditions in the city. For the last two months (MX) a day have been dying in Warsaw from typhus. Even before the- sick and wounded from the armies flooded the city all hospitals were tilled to capacity with typhus and spotted fever Victims.
“The Bolshevist advance threw tens of thousands of sick and starving refugees on the city, many of whom have had to remain there because they had no means of getting out. Warsaw, normally a city of 5(X),000 inhabitants, today has a population of 1,(MX),000 and home building has been at a standstill for the last six years. Before the Bolshevist advance the municipal authorities were caring for 40,(MX), the majority Russian, who were without ’homes of any sort.
“Tn June the agricultural ministry estimated this year’s crops at about CO per cent of normal. Of this potential food supply more than half was in the lands Invaded by the Bolsheviki and is a total loss.
**** Death of Thousands Predicted.
“The conditions that Warsaw faces prevail to a greater or lesser extent throughout the country. Dr. Jesse H. Holmes of Swarthmore, who returned In July from Poland, reports that thousands will die this winter from cold, hunger and typhus in spite of relief work now being carried on.
“‘Poland today/ Doctor Holmes says, ‘is fighting a far greater enemy than the Bolshevists. Typhus has already raged in that country and next winter an extreme epidemic all over the country is expected.’
“Tn the first four months of 1920 2,500,000 refugees had come into the towns and cities of Poland, bringing fresh waves of disease with each new wave of exiles. In the advance of the Russians easily a million more have been turned out of their homes.
“The Bolsheviki have tried to solve their own problem by foisting thousands of their sick on the Poles, and have Keen sending armored trains before their advance into Poland loaded with typhus victims.
**** Poor Poles in Worst Plight.
“The story of Poland’s refugees is by itself a tragic history. Six years ago Poland was mobilized for war—in three different armies, fighting on two sides of the same question. In 1914 a million Poles united on the ideal of an independent Poland were forced to take service in the Russian, German and Austrian armies, and more were called each year while the war lasted.
“Poland thus drained of its man power then became the theater of activities. Whatever way the tide Gt battle flowed, the Polish plain was inundated. Al the beginning of the war came the Russian successes and (he invasion of Austrian Poland. The retreating Germans and Austrians left a trail of devastation in their wake and drove before them all the refugees that were able to travel and the victorious Russians, led by advance guards of Cossack cavalry, finished the work of destruction as thoroughly as possible in the short time before the German counter-offensive. Thus twice in the early days of the war, devastation and the sad wave of refugees parsed over Poland.
“But Poland was to face this most terrible feature of warfare again. The German counter-thrust and the Russian retreat commenced.
**** Plight of Civilian Population.
“The details of a retreat are always horrible, and the most horrible element is the plight of the civilian populations. Ordered destruction for military purposes and the confiscation of all medical supplies and food is followed by the vandalism of uncontrolled soldiers. Starvation and disease, the handmaidens of war, aided by the awful systematic destruction so efficient in the German school of warfare, continued to be Poland’s lot.
“In 1918 came the end of the European conflict and the real commencement of Poland’s struggle to realize her dream of a free Poland.
“The allied powers, the Red Cross and various relief committees from America and Europe had hardly commenced the fight against disease and starvation: the Polish soldiers had but begun to return to their homes and factories when war came once more to Poland. Ret reals, devastations and more refugees. The Polish legions which fought first against the Russians and then against the Ger mans were called once more to the colors against the Ukraine, Czechs Slovakia and the Bolsheviki, this time in the name of their own Poland, new born, to save it from final destruction.”
*** Nearly Half Prewar Jews in Russia Gone
**Source:** The Hinsdale Tribune (Montana), Dec 17, 1925, Page 7. <[[https://mthspublic.newspapers.com/article/the-hinsdale-tribune/208979418/][mthspublic.newspapers.com]]>
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Washington.—According to a report prepared by the council of nationalities of the Soviet union received by the Russian information bureau here, the Jewish population of the Soviet union has decreased to 2,800.000. as compared with 5,000,000 in the territory of the former czarist empire.
The decrease of 2,200,000, or more than two-fifths, is explained by the loss of heavily populated Jewish centers to Poland, Lithuania and other states at the close of the war and also by the numerous pogroms of the white guard and the Petlura and Polish armies in the Ukraine and in White Russia during the periods of civil war and invasion.