In article is investigated a problem of social and economic and political position of the Czech and Slovak prisoners of war of the First World War placed in military districts of Russia. On the basis of materials of the Prague archives the policy of Russian authorities is shown, related to finding of prisoners of war on territory of Russia. The followings questions were included in the circle of aspects of this policy: numerical strength of prisoners of war, placing and terms of their maintenance, use of labour of prisoners of war, attitude of official authorities and society toward them. As it will be shown in the article, in works of the Czech historians are insufficiently used materials of the Prague archives therefore the purpose consists in expansion sourse base of this point