„Mobilization of pioneers”. Recruitment of employees to the State Farms in the Zielona Gora province in the years 1950–1956

Abstract

The article presents the recruitment of employees to the State Farms in the Zielona Gora province, run by the communist authorities in the years 1950–1956. The Zielona Gora province was created in 1950 in the western part of the country. Up to 1945 these areas belonged to Germany. After World War II, the region was attached to the Polish state. The German population was displaced and the region was settled by Polish citizens. A large part of the agricultural areas of the Zielona Gora region was occupied by State Farms. They were former German estates. After World War II, the property was taken over by the state. State Farms needed a large number of employees, but there were few willing to do this job. Work at the State Farms was hard and low paid. Flats were not provided for employees. The communist authorities lured false promises of young people from all over the country to work at the State Farms. This action was called the “mobilization of pioneers”. Upon arrival, young people became convinced that they had been cheated. The remuneration they received for their work was not even enough for food. They often lived in terrible conditions. Young people were brutally exploited. The communist authorities knew that employees of State Farms were in a very difficult situation. However, the authorities did nothing to help these people. In 1956, the “mobilization of pioneers” action was completed.