Polish Thieves in Soviet Prisons: History and Conflict in the Criminal World

One of the most infamous events in the history of Russian organized crime in the 20th century was the so-called “Sukha Wars” (“Bitch Wars”), in which a group known as the “Polish thieves” also took part. These two groups—“suki” (traitors to the thieves’ code) and “Polish thieves”—are often confused, though in reality, they were two very different castes within the criminal underworld. They disliked each other, and attitudes toward them within the broader criminal community were also very different.

 How the “Polish Thieves” Appeared

After the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union annexed the Baltic states, as well as Western Ukraine and Western Belarus, which previously were part of Poland. All prisons on these territories, along with their inmates—including professional criminals—fell under Soviet control.

In November 1940, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree mandating a review of sentences handed down by courts in these territories prior to Soviet rule, specifically for those convicted of banditry, murder, and systematic theft. This review rarely favored the prisoners. If prison authorities considered a convict connected to the criminal world and saw their release as undesirable, they applied Article 35 of the RSFSR Criminal Code, which added an extra 3 to 10 years to their sentence.

Later, a mass transfer of the local criminal element to Siberia took place, and the emptied prisons were used to detain “anti-Soviet nationalist underground forces.” Many newcomers ended up in labor camps, where, over the previous two decades, a rigid system of rules and traditions had developed—rules the newcomers did not know.

However, these new inmates were professional thieves who demanded respect, which Soviet criminals were unwilling to give them because they did not live by the established “blatnoy” code. Consequently, they could not be on the same hierarchical level. From this point on, “allied” Soviet inmates began calling these criminals from the Baltic states, Western Ukraine, and Belarus “Polish thieves” or simply “Poles”.

 First Conflicts and Key Differences

From the very first days in Soviet labor camps, “Polish thieves” faced serious problems with the local blatnye (career criminals). Unfamiliar with the strict “thieves’ code of honor” (vorovskoy zakon) observed by Soviet “authorities,” the Poles repeatedly violated key rules. In some cases, they even tried to impose their influence on other inmates and criminal leaders—provoking harsh backlash.

So, what were these ideological differences? How did the “moral norms” of the Polish thieves differ?

Writer Mikhail Demin summarized it well:

“According to Russian criminal law, a thief has no right to work or serve anywhere. Any contact with the authorities is strictly forbidden! He can earn a living only by his craft—through theft…
In Western Europe, it was different. Even in such ‘thieves’ countries as Poland and Italy, these bans never existed. A man could easily combine the incompatible: be a clerk by day and a burglar by night. He could work in a shop or café while robbing apartments at night.
The same applied in prison. Once behind bars, a thief did what he could to make life easier. If there was a chance to get a job as a helper for the administration, he took it without hesitation. Entering into contact with prison authorities was not a disgrace.”

This approach clashed head-on with Soviet thieves’ values. Such behavior in camps was considered unacceptable and provoked strong protests from Soviet criminals. Initially, this protest took brutal forms: in some camps, the “Poles” were stabbed; in others, they were humiliated, mixed with common inmates, and “pressed” (extorted and beaten). This, in turn, only hardened the Poles, who were skilled professionals and demanded respect.

 Attitudes Shift During the Suki Wars

The situation began to change with the outbreak of the “Sukha Wars.” First, “suki” appeared—former thieves who consciously broke the thieves’ law by taking weapons from the authorities or otherwise collaborating with them. Their betrayal was far worse than the Poles’ cultural differences. Moreover, in the midst of bloody conflicts, making enemies of the Poles was impractical. Especially since Polish thieves only wanted to live by their own rules and stay out of the Russian conflict. As a result, Soviet criminals stopped paying much attention to them.

Another reason was geopolitical: in the immediate postwar years, Soviet borders with European countries—such as Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria—became blurred. This allowed criminals from both sides (mostly Soviet) to roam and operate freely. However, criminal traditions differed significantly, causing more conflicts.

To address this, the Soviet underworld proposed holding an international thieves’ conference, which took place in 1946 in Lviv, Western Ukraine, in a slum district called Zelenaya Gorka (Green Hill). The goal was to establish a common “international thieves’ law.” However, the conference produced only a compromise: “At home, you may do as you please, but in another territory, you must obey the local criminal code and traditions.”

Despite this, foreign criminals in Soviet camps continued bending the rules, taking “soft jobs” and maintaining ties with the administration. Since most of these offenders were Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Balts, who had long lived under Polish rule, such inmates were labeled “Polish thieves” or simply “Poles.”

 Why They Were Not Like “Suki”

It is important to note: “Polish thieves” were not the same as “suki.” Yes, both groups tolerated some form of cooperation with prison authorities, but the similarity was superficial. Poles never sought power in the camp hierarchy; they only wanted to survive and eventually regain freedom. “Suki,” on the other hand, waged an all-out war against traditional thieves, with active support from camp administrations.
Polish thieves merely adapted to circumstances, trying to stay close to the “helpers” class (pridurki) and avoid conflicts. Therefore, the blatnoy world treated them differently: suki were hated and murdered, while Poles were despised but tolerated.

Interestingly, Polish thieves themselves disliked suki and sometimes even fought on the side of “honest thieves” during the wars. For this reason, the criminal community never fully equated Poles with traitors.

 Later Misconceptions

Over time, confusion between Poles and Russian traitors arose. In the postwar years, many Soviet criminals traveled abroad and ended up in foreign prisons. There they encountered a completely different prison culture—lighter conditions and more lenient relationships with the authorities—which influenced some of them. Returning home, they tried to reform the thieves’ laws, effectively becoming suki. These renegades were also sometimes called “Poles,” but in reality, they were full-fledged traitors, not the original Polish thieves.