Prior to World War II the Soviets considered the resettlement of the Karachai a landmark in their Caucasus policy. According to Walter Kolarzs study of nonRussian nationalities: It was Just that resettlement which in 1942 offered to the Karachal the opportunity of getting in touch with the German armies and rendering service to them.7 Upon liberation of the area at the end of 1943. the Soviets ordered the abolition of the Karachai Province and the evacuation of its population. The winter journey of the deportees in cattle trucks took a heavy toll among the migrant Karachai. During the several weeks of the journey. deaths of up to 50 percent were reported. These were concentrated among the elderly. but typhus victims were of all ages Like the Karachai. the exodus of the Crimean Tatars takes precedent in czarist policy.
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migrant deportees