The orphans of World War Two | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Polish war orphans
• Soviet deportations
• World War II child refugees
• UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration)
• IRO (International Refugee Organization)
• Leansborn program
• Repatriation vs. resettlement
• Cold War political exploitation of children
• Greek Civil War child evacuations
• UNICEF
• Children's villages

Deportations and Displacement (1939-1941)

• Soviet Occupation of Eastern Poland and Baltic States: Following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the USSR occupied eastern Poland and the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), imposing Soviet citizenship and repression.
• Deportations: Starting in February 1940, mass deportations targeted "undesirable" elements in Poland and the Baltic states. Over 400,000 people were deported to the Soviet Union between 1940 and 1941, a third of them under 18.
• Conditions of Deportation: Deportees were transported in overcrowded freight cars with minimal food and water, leading to high mortality rates. Felix, 10, recalled, "We had no water and no bread for 27 days. When we got out, half the people were dead."
• Life in Special Villages: Deportees were sent to remote "special villages" in the Soviet Union, essentially open-air prisons where they faced forced labor, starvation, and disease. Valente, 10, wrote, "We were housed in barracks. There were bugs everywhere. Papa, me, and Mama went to work. Everyone who could walk had to work."
• Orphanages: Children who lost their parents were sent to orphanages where they were subjected to Soviet indoctrination and forced to abandon their Polish or Baltic culture. Vades, 14, stated, "Anyone who refused to go to school was locked in the bathroom and given nothing to eat."

Wartime Efforts to Protect Children

• Early Measures: France introduced the "ward of the nation" status in 1917 to care for war orphans. Eglantine Jebb founded Save the Children in 1919 to protect children affected by war, regardless of nationality.
• Pedagogical Approaches: Maria Montessori and Yanush Korchuk advocated for child-centered education to preserve individuality.
• Totalitarian Indoctrination: Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany used institutions to indoctrinate children, with outdoor play becoming pre-military exercises. The Hitler Youth served as a recruitment organization.
• Evacuations: Thousands of children were evacuated from cities in Britain and other countries in anticipation of bombing raids.

Anders' Army and Evacuation to Iran (1941-1942)

• Shikorski-Msky Agreement: The agreement between the Polish government-in-exile and the Soviet Union in 1941 led to the release of Polish soldiers and civilians interned in the Soviet Union.
• Formation of Anders' Army: Brigadier General Vadisv Anders formed a new Polish army in the Soviet Union.
• Civilian Exodus: Polish civilians, including many children, traveled to join Anders' army, facing immense hardship, starvation, and disease. Stanisv, 14, recalled, "The people starved and froze to death. Their bodies were thrown into pits. The Russians didn't allow us to bury them."
• Evacuation to Iran: Anders evacuated his army and accompanying civilians to Iran, defying Soviet and British reluctance.
• Conditions in Iran: Palavi, Iran, became a transit camp and infirmary where the evacuees received medical care and food. Within 6 months, 115,000 Poles were evacuated, including 18,000 children.

Life in Iran and Africa

• Life in Iranian Camps: Polish children in Iran attended schools taught in their native language and were cared for by Catholic sisters and other organizations. Yanush, 12, said, "Our lives have changed since we got there. We're being looked after and have a good school. If we didn't miss Poland so much, we would be doing really well here."
• British Propaganda: British Ministry of Information filmed the arrival of the Poles in Iran, but concealed the Soviet's role in their suffering, blaming Hitler for Stalin's crimes.
• Relocation to Africa: Many Polish orphans were relocated to British territories in Africa, particularly Tangana (present-day Tanzania), where they lived in camps like Tangaroo.
• Life in Tangaroo: The Tangaroo camp was a structured Polish community with schools, community work, and leisure activities.

Post-War Displacement and Repatriation (1945-1949)

• UNRRA's Role: The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was established in 1943 to provide aid and organize the repatriation of displaced persons.
• Challenges of Repatriation: UNRRA faced challenges in identifying and repatriating orphaned minors, particularly Jewish orphans and those from countries under Soviet rule.
• Leansborn Children: UNRRA struggled with the fate of children from the Leansborn program, deciding whether to return them to their countries of origin or leave them with their German adoptive families.
• Children of German Fathers: Children born to German fathers in occupied countries faced discrimination and were often placed in orphanages or psychiatric institutions.
• Polish Government's Efforts: The new Polish government appealed to national pride and urged displaced Poles to return, but many were afraid of the communist regime.
• IRO's Role: The International Refugee Organization (IRO) replaced UNRRA and was tasked with helping deportes integrate into third countries.
• Greek Civil War Evacuations: During the Greek Civil War, both sides evacuated children, leading to a propaganda battle and intervention by the UN.
• Transfer to Canada: Through the intervention of the Catholic Church in Quebec, 123 Polish orphans from Tangaroo were transferred to Canada in 1949.

Conclusion

The video details the harrowing experiences of Polish war orphans during and after World War II, highlighting the mass deportations to the Soviet Union, the formation of Anders' Army, the evacuation to Iran and Africa, and the challenges of repatriation and resettlement in the post-war era. It emphasizes the role of international organizations like UNRRA and IRO, as well as the political exploitation of children during the Cold War. The story of these orphans underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of international efforts to protect vulnerable populations in times of conflict.