Overview

At the end of the Second World War, the Polish Allied Forces under British Command refused to stand down when America, the Soviet Union and Britain decided that Poland would be part of Russia's new sphere of interest in Europe. This defiant gesture became known as the 'Polish problem' and was extremely symbolic, for it threatened to embarrass Britain's entry into the War on behalf of Polish independence. To resolve the issue Britain established the Polish Resettlement Corps, under the country's first ever mass immigration legislation. The initiative was just as much a face saving exercise, as it was a noble act of one ally on behalf of another. This book describes the methods and the legacy of the resettlement program, which not only required the support of the Trade Unions, Professional Associations and the Departments of Employment, Health and Pensions amongst others, but also the lobbying of the Vatican City, the governments of Argentina, Brazil and southern Africa, as well as the Commonwealth countries. Britain's solution to the Polish problem eventually became a heroic, as well as a tragic act; often referred to but rarely explained. AUTHOR: Wieslaw Rogalski was born in Britain and is the child of Nicholas and Stanislawa. During the Second World War his parents served in the Polish Allied Forces under British operational command and were invited to settle in Britain after the War. They arrived in 1947 and were demobilised by British authorities. They eventually settled in London. Wieslaw studied the history of Curriculum Development Projects at London University where he was awarded a higher degree. He is currently the Vice Chairman of the Third Carpathian Infantry Division Ex- Servicemen Association and a museum trustee at the Rural Life Centre, Tilford near Farnham in Surrey. 51 b/w photographs, 4 cartoons, 21 line figures, 30 tables

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9781912390892

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Wiesław Rogalski was born in England in 1950. His parents came to Britain after the Second World War as members of the Polish Allied forces under British command. He studied the history of curriculum development projects at London University - and in 2012, together with his brother, directed a National Lottery project dedicated to the displaced Polish Army (which included setting up a permanent exhibition), writing a book on Polish displacement camps and producing a DVD on the recollections of children born to displaced Polish ex-service personnel. His interests include the history of the Second World War, Polish history and culture and presenting talks on Polish resettlement in Britain. Wiesław also plays an active part in supporting Polish veterans.

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