The Polish Diaspora, 1939-55

ENGLAND
Fairford Polish Hostel, Gloucestershire, England, creche, 1948. My mother never forgave me for not returning to Poland. She said that "there is enough bread for everyone in Poland except for you." My brother had trouble getting into Technical College after the War because I was in the West. It was only on the 3rd try when my mother pleaded with the administrator not to note that he had a sister in England that he was accepted... Things were difficult in those days. Celina Kabala Wojciechowska b. 1924, Warszawa 1944-45, Germany, Austria 1945-46, Italy 1946-present, England	Fairford Polish Hostel pre-school, 1954.
The Russians were the heroes at this time: when they (the British) saw Stalin in the cinema, they applauded. They called us fascists: “why don’t you return to Poland?” It was not pleasant for us; there was a strong Communist Party here in England. Kazimierz B¹czyñski b. 1920, Bielsko Bia³a 1939, deported to the Soviet Union 1939, Hungary 1940-45, Yugoslavia, France, Morocco, Gibraltar, England, Scotland 1945-present, England	Stowell Park Polish School for Girls, Gloucestershire, England, 1947.
The Union representatives asked me for my Union card. I didn’t have one so they threatened to go on strike if I was employed. The employer let me go. I found another job and was asked to start almost immediately. When I told the employer my name he said that he would “send me a letter in a few days.” When I confronted him about this change of heart, he said that this was a closed shop, but he suggested I turn up at work and we’d see what would happen. When I turned up for work there was a Union representative waiting for me at the gate. He asked if I was a member of the Union; I said that I supposed I was. He then asked for my Union card which, of course, I did not have. I said to him “Were you born with a card in your mouth? Why won’t you give me a chance to get one?” I was allowed to stay for a 4-week trial period. I got my card and everything was OK. Jerzy Koz³owski b. 1929, £uck February 1940, deported to the Soviet Union 1942-47, Palestine 1947-present, England	The conditions in the Polish camps in England were very primitive, there was a communal kitchen staffed by 'cooks', (people like ourselves); some of us starting working in the camp administration. The camps eventually closed and people left, mainly to work in factories, on farms or in the mines; they worked physically. Those of us who had been in India knew English because we had studied it there, others didn’t and so there was no social contact with the English. Those who left for Australia or New Zealand knew no English – they learnt it there. There was some ‘antagonism’ towards those who decided to return to Poland – even our teacher reluctantly bid them goodbye. Many students and soldiers returned and were badly treated by the Communists. My husband’s friend returned and endured much hardship. Danuta Suchecka Szyd³o b. 1925, Wilno June 1941, deported to the Soviet Union 1942-43, Iran 1943-47, India 1947-present, England