Draft:Lida Purges

Lida Purges
Location	Lida, Generalbezirk Weißruthenien, Reichskommissariat Ostland
Coordinates	53°53′44″N 25°17′45″E
Date	Spring of 1942 and August 1943
Target	Poles
Attack type	Purge
Perpetrator	Francišak Kušal

The Lida purges were a series of anti-polish purges carried out by the Belarusian auxiliary police in the Lida and Novogrudok districts of the General District of White Ruthenia.

History

In early 1943, the Novogrudok Squadron was formed, subordinated to the Belarusian Auxiliary Police. Boris Rogula, the squadron commander, had previously served in the Polish army. The warriors of the Novogrudok Squadron engaged in fierce battles with Polish partisans. In the Lida district, units of the Home Army were actively operating, one of which crossed the Neman River and captured a glass factory in the village of Berezovka. Rogula managed to expel the Poles by threatening severe reprisals against the Polish population.

In the territory of the General District of “Belarus” which was under Polish control until 1939, a significant portion of the local police consisted of Poles. This was partly due to the reluctance to accept the Bolshevik regime and the desire to avenge Soviet crimes of 1939-1941, as well as the Polish underground government’s intention to have “their people” in collaborationist structures in the East. According to Belarusian data, by 1943, Poles made up to 40% of the local police forces in Western Belarus (in the Lida district, even around 80%).

This state of affairs caused discontent among Belarusians, especially Major Franz Kushel. In the spring of 1942 and August 1943, he conducted brutal reprisals against the Polish and Catholic population of the Lida district.

During this time, amid escalating tensions, the Novogrudok Squadron continued its operations, facing numerous difficulties and dangers.

With each passing day, the tension in the region increased. Polish units of the Home Army continued their sabotage actions, striking strategically important objects and communications. In response, Belarusian forces intensified their countermeasures, conducting operations to clear and neutralize partisan groups.

Major Franz Kushel, being an experienced military officer, developed and implemented new tactics and strategies aimed at suppressing Polish resistance. His actions, although receiving mixed evaluations from the local population, contributed to strengthening the positions of Belarusian forces in the region.

Ultimately, despite all the difficulties and losses, the Novogrudok Squadron managed to achieve significant success in the fight against Polish partisans.