“Operation Barrack” in Warmia and Masuria in the years

Abstract

Autumn 1945 saw the inception of “Operation Barrack”, the aim of which was the dismantling of old wooden German barracks built during the war by prisoners in camps. Once dismantled, these barracks were to be transported from newly acquired territories to prewar Polish territories. The destinations to which they were to be sent were to be decided by local authorities. They were to be allocated to people who had lost their homes and possessions during the war. In practice, it was not only typical camp buildings that were transported, but also farm buildings, eg. barns and storehouses, which often made their way to private business people or farmers who used them as storage spaces. In Autumn 1946 the Ministry of Reconstruction declared that this operation was no longer required and concluded that buildings of this type were “unpractical, unaesthetic and expensive”. In subsequent years, those barracks which were not taken down were mainly used as storehouses or temporary business premises.