Steve Pivarsky

Born: 1892, Veliki Bečkerek, Austria-Hungary (present-day Serbia)
Nationality: Yugoslavian
Ethnicity: Serbian
Occupation: Autoworker
Migration: Immigrated to US 1912
Affiliation: Communist Party of America

Employed by the Fisher Body Corporation in Detroit. In 1913 he joined Branch No. 61 (later Branch No. 17) of the Socialist Party’s South Slavic Federation, transferring into the Communist Party of America in 1919. Arrested during the second Palmer Raids in January 1920, he was deported to Yugoslavia on April 14, 1920.

Sources: INS file 54860/374; FBI file OG 388055.

Jacob K. Platek (or Platat)

Born: 1889, Podolovka, Russia
Nationality: Polish
Ethnicity: Polish
Occupation: Laborer; foundry worker
Migration: Immigrated to US 1913
Affiliation: Communist Party of America

His wife and child remained in Russia when he emigrated. He joined the Socialist Party and in 1919 became a member and financial secretary of Polish Branch No. 80 of the Communist Party in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Arrested January 2, 1920, he was deported to Poland August 4, 1920.

Sources: File 54859/527.

Mike Podalak

Born: Austria-Hungary, year unkown
Nationality: Austrian
Ethnicity:
Occupation:
Migration:
Affiliation:

Deported to Austria as a radical on, June 19, 1920. No further information has been identified.

Sources: INS file 54325/36G.

Mathew Podlipsky

Born: 1887, Rakitnitsa, Russia (present-day Belarus)
Nationality: Russian
Ethnicity: Polish-Belarusian
Occupation: Laborer
Migration: Immigrated to US 1909
Affiliation: Union of Russian Workers

A member of the Union of Russian Workers branch in Newark. Arrested during the Palmer Raids and deported on the Buford on December 21, 1919.

Sources: INS file 54709/356; FBI file OG 381187.

Marko Podner

Born: 1892, Okrug, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary (present-day Croatia)
Nationality: Yugoslavian
Ethnicity: Croatian
Occupation: Laborer; miner
Migration: Immigrated to US 1913
Affiliation: Communist Party of America

His wife remained in Croatia-Slavonia while he emigrated. In June 1919 he joined Branch No. 62 of the Communist Party in West Winfield, Pennsylvania, becoming its secretary. Arrested during the second Palmer Raids in January 1920, he was deported to Yugoslavia June 19, 1920.

Sources: FBI file OG 8000-382563.

Wolf Pohl (a.k.a. Pawlowicz; Pavlovich)

Born: c. 1896, Odessa, Russia (present-day Ukraine)
Nationality: Russian
Ethnicity: Jewish
Occupation: Housepainter
Migration: Immigrated to US 1912
Affiliation: Communist Party of America; IWW

Joined the Socialist Party in 1913 and later the Communist Party, becoming a speaker and distributor of literature in Buffalo. Arrested August 1919 for distributing radical material but released; arrested again January 1920. While confined in Erie County Jail he contracted pneumonia and required hospitalization. December 1920 he joined the IWW. Deported to Russia February 26, 1921.

Sources: INS file 54859/912.

George Polevoy

Born: 1883, Chernihiv, Russia (present-day Ukraine)
Nationality: Russian
Ethnicity:
Occupation: Miner
Migration: Immigrated to US 1907
Affiliation: IWW

Married with a child in the United States, he joined the IWW around 1914 in Moundsville, West Virginia, and also belonged to the United Mine Workers. Participated in miners’ strikes protesting the conviction of Tom Mooney and the imprisonment of Eugene V. Debs. Arrested June 1918 for disturbing the peace during a dispute with UMW leaders and sentenced to a $50 fine and ten days in jail; a union witness described him as a leader “of the foreign element…they have made all kinds of trouble.” Arrested again August 1919 and described by an immigration agent as “exceptionally shrewd and astute.” Deported to Russia February 1, 1921.

Sources: INS file 54709/49.

Osip Polulechka (a.k.a.Josef Polulech; Joseph Balluch)

Born: 1892, Grodno region, Russia (present-day Belarus)
Nationality: Russian
Ethnicity:
Occupation: Laborer
Migration: Immigrated to US 1913
Affiliation: Union of Russian Workers (alleged)

Arrested during the November 1919 raid on the Union of Russian Workers’ Russian People’s House in New York. He denied URW membership and said he had only attended arithmetic and Russian classes; no evidence of membership was produced. He had, however, been active since 1913 in the Methodist Episcopal Church of All Nations, whose leaders attempted to intervene on his behalf. He was deported on the Buford on December 21, 1919.

Sources: INS file 54709/449; FBI file OG 8000-382493; The Churchman (January 24 and February 21, 1920); Constantine M. Panunzio, The Deportation Cases of 1919-1920.

Jacob Popich

Born: 1892, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary (present-day Croatia)
Nationality: Yugoslavian
Ethnicity:
Occupation: Laborer
Migration:
Affiliation: Communist Party of America

A member of the South Slavic Branch of the Communist Party of America in Omaha. Arrested in St. Paul, Nebraska, January 8, 1920 and deported to Yugoslavia July 15, 1920. No further information has been identified.

Sources: INS file 54325/36G; Omaha Daily Bee, January 9, 1920.

Sergey Porchunoff (a.k.a. Sergy; Serjy)

Born: 1888, Chernihiv, Russia (present-day Ukraine)
Nationality: Russian
Ethnicity:
Occupation: Laborer
Migration: Immigrated to US 1913
Affiliation: Communist Party of America

Served two years in the Russian Army.

In the United States, employed by Standard Oil. Joined the Russian Branch of the Whiting, Indiana Socialist Party in 1914 and later the Communist Party, serving as secretary of both branches. Arrested in Chicago January 7, 1920, and deported to Russia March 18, 1921.

Sources: INS file 54809/82.

Andrew Postaruk

Born: 1881, Kiev Governorate, Russia (present-day Ukraine)
Nationality: Russian
Ethnicity: .
Occupation: Laborer
Migration: Immigrated to Canada 1913; then to US 1915
Affiliation: Union of Russian Workers

Previously emigrated to and worked in Austria and Germany. His wife and two children remained in Russia.

In 1918 he joined the Union of Russian Workers in Seattle. He told authorities, “I don’t believe in any government,” but also “stated believe in change through the ballot as a I fear that bloodshed would ensue by bringing a revolution through force of arms.” Arrested January 1920 and deported to Russia February 1, 1921.

Sources: INS file 54860/542.

Efrim Potenkin (or Potemkin)

Born: 1897, Gomel, Russia (present-day Belarus)
Nationality: Russia
Ethnicity:
Occupation: Steelworker
Migration: Immigrated to US 1913
Affiliation: Union of Russian Workers (alleged)

He attended meetings of the Union of Russian Workers in Monessen, Pennsylvania, but denied membership and no evidence of such was produced. Arrested in Greensburg during the first Palmer Raids in November 1919. The Immigration Inspector in Charge recommended cancellation of his deportation warrant for lack of evidence, but was overruled by Commissioner General A. Caminetti. He was deported on the Buford on December 21, 1919.

Sources: INS file 54709/519; Kate Holladay Claghorn, The Immigrant’s Day in Court.