The 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade

(1 Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa)

Ship No 11 (Wave 2)
The Zhdanov

Overview Of The Zhdanov

The Zhdanov was a XXXXX and was owned by XXXX

It was one of the official ships (unofficial flotillas of fishing boats were also involved) organised by Stalin in 1942 at Krasnovodsk (Russian: Красноводск) (Modern day Türkmenbaşy) to transport Polish exiles (also mistakenly called "deportees") who had been held captive in Siberia/Kazakhstan labour camps over the Caspian Sea to Pahlevi (Pahlavi) now called Banzar-e Anzali which is in modern day Northwest Iran.

Ship Movements

From passenger testimonies & any other available data this is a "best educated guess" of the ships movements.

  • Embark: 1942 | Time:
  • Depart: 1942 | Time:
  • Arrive: 20/08/42 (Ross Report) | Time:

Extract From "The Ross Report"

According to the Ross Report, here is who was on this ship;

Date Civilians Soldiers Others Total
20/08/194222981916153 PCK4366

Related Accounts

  • Stalin's Ethnic Cleansing in Eastern Poland By Teresa Jeśmanowa (Link to book )- "In a terrible crowd, we left there on the boat called "Kaganovich", loaded to the brim, and reached Pahlevi on 21 August.

Please Donate!

Donate_heart

Uncover The Past - Support The Future

Each year, about 12,000 people visit this website to trace their Polish ancestry, uncover family stories, and connect with their roots. I believe that history should be accessible to all - but keeping this website alive comes at a cost, 7 years @ £1000 with has left a £7K dent...with only £11 in total donated up to 8/4/25 😱😱😱

Every detail you uncover and every story you piece together helps you piece family history together. Please donate if you found this site useful, help me keep the site alive! Thanks! Jason Nellyer (Researcher & Site Owner)