Polish Resettlement Act 1947 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to provide for the application of the Royal Warrant as to pensions, etc., for the military forces to certain Polish forces, to enable the Assistance Board to meet the needs of, and to provide accommodation in camps or other establishments for, certain Poles and others associated with Polish forces, to provide for their requirements as respects health and educational services, to provide for making arrangements and meeting expenses in connection with their emigration, to modify as respects the Polish resettlement forces and past members of certain Polish forces provisions relating to the service of aliens in the forces of the Crown, to provide for the discipline and internal administration of certain Polish forces and to affirm the operation up to the passing of this Act of provision previously made therefor, and for purposes connected therewith and consequential thereon. |
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| Territorial extent | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Polish Resettlement Act 1947 was a very important law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was the first time Britain had a law specifically for a large group of immigrants. This act allowed over 250,000 Polish soldiers and their families to become British citizens. These Poles had fought bravely against Nazi Germany in World War II. They also opposed the Soviet takeover of their home country. The act also helped Britain rebuild after the war by providing a new workforce.
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Why the Act Was Needed
The Polish contribution to World War II was huge. Their efforts directly led to the Polish Resettlement Act 1947. This act also helped create the Polish British community we see today.
Before the war, Polish code-breakers helped Britain. They shared their knowledge about the Enigma machine. This helped the British create Ultra intelligence. This secret information was key to many Allied victories.
Most Poles came to the United Kingdom to help the Allied war effort. This happened after Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Poland in 1939. By 1940, France had fallen to Germany. The Polish President and government moved to London. About 20,000 Polish soldiers and airmen came with them. Thousands more arrived throughout the war.
Polish forces were the fourth-largest Allied army in Europe. They were behind the Soviets, Americans, and the British Empire. Many Poles were also non-British personnel in the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Elite Polish troops worked closely with the Polish resistance. The Polish Army fought in major battles. These included the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Battle of Arnhem. They also helped free cities like Bologna.
By July 1945, 228,000 Polish troops were serving under British command. Many of these soldiers were from eastern Poland, called Kresy. Cities like Lwów and Wilno were in this region. These Poles had been sent to Soviet prison camps, called gulags, when the Soviets occupied Poland in 1939. Later, Britain and the Soviet Union became allies against Hitler. The Poles were released from the gulags. They formed the Anders Army and joined the British forces.
The Yalta Agreement and Its Impact
The Polish army was very important in defeating Germany in North Africa and Italy. Its members hoped to return to an independent Poland. However, at the Yalta Conference, Allied leaders made a difficult decision. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreed that the Soviet Union could keep parts of eastern Poland, including Kresy. This meant that tens of thousands of Polish soldiers under British command would lose their homes. Their families would also be left in Soviet-controlled areas.
Churchill explained his actions to the British Parliament in February 1945. Many Members of Parliament (MPs) openly criticized him. They felt loyal to Britain's Polish allies. Churchill said that Britain would "never forget the debt they owe to the Polish troops." He hoped they could gain British citizenship if they wanted.
Some MPs protested against Poland being controlled by the Soviet Union. One MP, Henry Strauss, even resigned from the government. This showed how strongly some felt about the treatment of Poland.
The New Law for Polish Soldiers
After World War II ended, the Soviet Union did not keep its promises about Poland. A Communist government was set up there. The British government first tried to get Poles in the UK to go back home. However, most Poles felt betrayed by their wartime allies. They refused to return to Poland for several reasons.
They were worried about Soviet repression. They also remembered the 1944 Warsaw Uprising and the Trial of the Sixteen. Many pro-democracy Poles, including members of the Home Army, were executed. The creation of the Eastern Bloc also meant Poland was no longer free.
Because of this, the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 was created. It was Britain's first law for mass immigration.
Many Poles first lived in special camps called the Polish Resettlement Corps. Later, they settled in London and industrial areas in the North of England. Many Poles also became European Volunteer Workers. Others moved to other parts of the British Empire. They formed large Polish Canadian and Polish Australian communities.
By 1951, about 162,339 people born in Poland lived in the UK. This was a big increase from 44,642 in 1931.
Britain needed a workforce to rebuild after the war. The Polish Resettlement Act allowed Poles to settle in Britain and work. They became a big part of the Polish British community. This was before Poland joined the European Union in 2004.
See also
- Polish British
- Western betrayal
- Federation of Poles in Great Britain
- World War II Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West
