San River

   The San River is located in southeastern Poland and western Ukraine. Following the Nazi defeat of Poland in September 1939, the Wehrmacht expelled thousands of Polish Jews into Russian-occupied territory. The San River was the demarcation line between German- and Soviet-occupied Poland. On 12 September 1939, the Wehrmacht deported Jews from East Upper Silesia over the San River into Soviet territory. Subsequently, the German 14th Army gave the Einsatzkommandos the responsibility for “cleansing” operations and deporting Jews over the river. The Einsatzkommando was also given the responsibility of securing the demarcation line bordering on the Soviet part of Poland and forcibly preventing refugees who had fled to the east during the first days of the war from returning home by crossing the San River.

   See also Soviet Union.