Resettlement and Socialization of the Border Regions Illustrated on the Case of "Sociakol" Cooperative in the Years 1945-1950
Abstract
The history of Sociakol consumer cooperative is discussed in the context of the general postwar atmosphere with the social pendulum moving to the left, growing socialization trends and rapidly rising political influence and power of the Communist Party. The author describes the evolution of the cooperative and its leaders, and shows the conditions under which fraudulent economic activities could develop in the border regions.
The methods used by the cooperative management to enforce their interests are analyzed, such as, in particular: 1.) concentration of their supporters in one part of Děčín District to achieve majority in local factories and institutions; 2.) economic frauds by means of which the leading group generated means to "reward" their supporters; 3.) links to and interconnection with the Communist Party. The author also explains the reasons of pro-secuting and suing the leading managers of the cooperative in 1949-1950, which was particularly due to the new political, social and economic situation after the February coup when that group of people ceased to be useful for the Communist Party, which could now strengthen its positions directly by controlling the state's policy.