Communist authorities viewed with suspicion so-called autochthons (members of borderland societies including Silesians, Warmians and Mazurians living in prewar German territories) and citizens of the Second Republic from areas included into the Third Reich during the war who had joined the Volkslist in mass. They were often accused of betrayal and forced to leave. Communist repressions by the secret services many times also hurt people, families and societies that had stood for Poland during the Silesian uprisings and plebiscites.