Keynote
A story about the largest forced resettlement
operation in post-war Europe –
the deportation of Ukrainians, Boykos
and Lemkos from the south-east of Poland
and their dispersal over the entire country.

Selling Points
 The story of Operation Vistula is
still today a painfully sensitive subject
in Polish-Ukrainian relations, and
the book – in the context of the present
war – assumes special significance.
 The dramatic events of 1947 are still
poorly known and are seldom mentioned
in Polish public debates.
 Operation Vistula was one of the largest
acts of re-settlement in post-war Europe
and was carried out in an extremely
dramatic way.
 The books is written in a compelling,
readable way.
 A historical and social panorama
of post‑war Poland and Europe.
 The author is a well-known and
celebrated historian in Poland,
and an expert in matters of the East.
Description
In 1947, the communist government,
exploiting Polish-Ukrainian tensions,
decided to carry out a mass deportation
of Ukrainians, Boykos and Lemkos from
what is today the south-eastern corner

of Poland. Over one hundred and forty
thousand people were taken from their
family homes and relocated in distant
parts of Poland. The operation, whose
aim was to ethnically unify the territory
of the newly-formed Poland, represented
a tragedy for many people, and their
suffering has still never been appropriately
dealt with. Grzegorz Motyka’s book
talks about these events, which are still
a sensitive issue in the relationship
between Poland and Ukraine. The time is
right for an honest reassessment.

Target Market
Lovers of history books.
Readers interested in Central European
history.