Polish material losses during World War II
Polish material losses during World War II - are losses suffered by the Second Polish Republic and its inhabitants during World War II.
During World War II, Poland incurred the greatest biological and material losses. In 1946, during the International Reparations Conference in Paris, Poland's material losses were evaluated to be $16,9 billion U.S. Dollars, $9,1 billion in Yugoslavia. Two-fifths of Poland's cultural property was destroyed. Due to the World Powers, Poland was forced to hand-over 48% of its territory to the Soviet Union, equating to 178 000 km² of land. Most material losses were as a result of the German invader, others that of the responsibility of the USSR.
Material losses under German occupation
Material losses endured by Poland under the German occupant can be subdivided into several categories:- Losses as a result of warfare and resultant destruction,
- Losses as a result of loot and confiscation of property via the occupier,
- Losses as a result of ransack exploitation of the economy and slave labour of the populace.
- Loss of national capital - 38% in relation to the pre-1939 state.
- Loss of property - residential buildings, agricultural granges, factories and industrial complexes, private sector and state shops, workshops, 968 223 households.
- Destruction of urban areas and towns - war losses of Warsaw - 85% of the city matter, 90% of industry, 72% of housing, 90% of cultural and landmarks, 700 000 deaths. Total destruction and loot of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943, 95% loss, Jasło and the destruction of the Port of Gdynia.
- Loot of cultural artifacts - 43% en masse. Destructtion of 25 museums, 35 theatres, 665 cinemas, 323 community centres. Although it is difficult to estimate museum losses, library losses amount to 66%. The irreversible destruction of 22 mil. books. Collectively, the German occupant ransacked 516 000 individual pieces of art, with an estimated worth of 15,46 bil. U.S. Dollars. Due to postwar vindication, only a small fragment of cultural artifacts, works of art and exhibits were recovered.
- Loss in Polish education - destruction of 17 institutes of higher education, 271 secondary schools, 4880 common schools and 768 other schools. Additionally, the destruction of research institutes, scientific societies and other types of foundations.
- Loss of healthcare services - 55% in relation to the pre-1939 state. Destruction of 352 hospitals, 29 anti-tuberculosis sanatoriums, 47 insurance societies, 778 health centres and out-patients' clinics, 1450 doctor and dental clinics.
- Loss in industry - 64.5% of chemical, 64.3% of printing, 59.7% of electro-technical, 55.4% of clothing, 53.1% of food and 48.0% of metal industry pillaged or looted.
- Loss in forestry as a result of the seizure of national capital - 75 mil. m³ of trees cut down, equating to 400 000 hectares of forest.
- Loss in agriculture and cultivation - 1908 thousand horses, 3905 thousand cattle, 4988 thousand swine and 755 thousand sheep.
- Destruction of over 50% of railway, road, sea and air transport infrastructure. Destruction of telecommunications infrastructure. The loot or destruction of 2465 locomotives, 6250 rail carriages, 83 636 rail transport wagons, 25 sea ships and 39 close-shore port ships. The destruction of 5948 km of railway tracks, 47 767 metres of railway bridges and viaducts, 14 900 km of hard-surface roads, 15 500 km of road bridges.
Conclusively, the material losses and destruction was valued at 258 billion prewar zlotys, which amount to 50 billion US Dollars. In relation to the 2017, the aforesaid US dollar transfers to US$850–920 billion. As such, Poland's capital city of Warsaw suffered US$60 billion in war losses.
Material losses under Soviet occupation
In September, 1939 the Soviet Union occupied the eastern voivodeships of Poland. During World War II, the occupied territory was annexed and ceded to the Soviet republic of: Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR and the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. The annexation of this part of Poland was accepted at the Tehran and Yalta Conference. As a result, under the pressure of world powers, Poland was forced to cede the Soviet Union 48% of its territory, equating to the loss of 178,000 km² of land, gaining the equivalent of 101 000 km² in the west. The modification of Poland's borders by the United Kingdom and the United States of America was a direct violation of the Atlantic Charter.After World War II, the Polish state did not assess the material losses incited by the USSR on Polish territory between 1939 and 1945. Due to the de facto occupation of Poland by the Soviet Union, the Bureau of Reparations during the Presidium of the Council of Ministers did not take these losses into consideration.