Wooden rack wagon, yolk, and pole typical of those used in prewar Poland

Wooden farm wagon, handle, and pole of the type used by many Polish farmers and refugees before and during World War II. Poland was invaded by Germany on September 1, 1939. Many Polish Jews and non-Jews fled to eastern Poland in an attempt to escape the advancing German Army. On September 17, the Soviet Army occupied eastern Poland, per the German-Soviet Pact, signed on August 19, which included a secret agreement to partition Poland. Approximately 300,000 Jewish refugees were trapped in eastern Poland when it was annexed by the Soviet Union. In 1940-1941, the Soviets arrested and deported thousands of refugees and residents of eastern Poland to Soviet territories further east. No restrictions on access