Police Enclave

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Police Enclave (1945–1946) was a Soviet‑administered area centered on the town of Police, in what is now western Poland. It existed from 5 October 1945 to 25 September 1946 as part of the Randow District in the Soviet occupation zone in Germany, even though the land was Polish territory. The enclave’s administrative seat was in Hohenholz, and the district administrator was Eric Spiegel.

The Red Army created the enclave to secure and move to the Soviet Union the machinery of the Hydrierwerke Pölitz AG factory, which produced liquid hydrocarbons from coal. About 20,000 German workers and prisoners of war worked there. Poles were not allowed to settle in the enclave.

The territory was split into two zones: Zone A stretched from the south of Police to Stołczyn and existed until 19 July 1946; Zone B stretched from the north of Police to Trzebież and lasted until 25 September 1946. At its largest, the enclave covered about 90 square kilometers (35 square miles). On 25 September 1946, it was abolished and its lands were returned to Polish administration.