ABSTRACT

Up until 1945, various attempts on the part of the Soviet government to regulate the position of special settlers and establish the regime of special settlements were sporadic and incomplete. Not until 8 January 1945 did Order No. 35 “On Legal Regulations and Rights of Special Settlers” finally officially codify the position of special settlers.1 The settlers were given “all the rights of USSR citizens but with special limitations.” These limitations, however, effectively annulled many rights that special settlers presumably possessed. German settlers were responsible for “working hard” at various jobs according to their employment distribution and assignments. They were stripped of the right to move from their present residence without special permission and subjected to numerous security checks (e.g. monthly registration with local authorities). The settlers were required to inform the authorities about any changes in their families (births, deaths, marriages) within three days of the event. Finally, settlers were required to “obey the regime of special settlements” and “keep themselves in good administrative order.” The last two statements left much room for personal interpretation, intervention, and control on the part of local officials. Local officials were allowed to fine settlers up to 100 rubles for disobeying any section of Order No. 35. This order was later supplemented by the 28 July 1945, Order No. 1927 “On the Rights and Privileges of Special Settlers”2 which established even closer supervision by local officials of various activities of special settlers (e.g. registration checks or employment).