The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and the Repatriation of East Prussian Deportees from Simbirsk during World War I.

This article examines the repatriation of civilian prisoners of war, primarily East Prussian deportees, from Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk) to Germany between April and June 1918, assessing its compliance with the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. It concludes that the repatriation was largely not conducted according to the treaty's supplement, due to unclear responsibility for organizing the evacuation, poor dissemination of treaty provisions, and prisoners leaving independently amid distrust and uncertainty. The chaotic evacuation involved unauthorized actors, exclusion of military-age males, and violations such as charging fees for transport, contrasting with the treaty's stipulation for free and prompt repatriation. The article suggests that this historical case offers policy lessons for the repatriation of civilians deported from Russian-occupied Ukraine, emphasizing the need for clear organizational responsibility, effective communication, oversight mechanisms, and preparedness for self-initiated returns to avoid disorderly evacuations.