Nationalisation and Reprivatisation of Forests in Poland after World War II

Abstract

The article concerns the transfer of ownership of forest property, nationalized after World War II. It covers the process of property acquisition by way of nationalization decrees and dilemmas related to the issue of reprivatisation. Nationalization of forests throughout the country was mainly based on the Decree of the PKWN of December 12, 1944. on the takeover of some forests under the ownership of the Treasury. This decree was a supplement to the decree on agricultural reform, which initiated changes in the system and ownership after the Second World War. In a sense, it crowned the ‘task’ of nationalization, covering forests with a smaller area, not subject to the takeover under the agricultural reform decree. Different legal grounds for the nationalization of forests determined different re-privatization procedures initiated after 1989. The work includes issues proposed over the years and existing statutory solutions, as well as case law affecting the interpretation of legal norms.