Transcript Polish immigrations

from 1945 to the present
Immigration is the movement of people into another
country or region to which they are not native in order to
settle there. Immigration is a result of: including,
economic, political, family re-unification, natural
disaster, poverty or the wish to change one's
surroundings voluntarily. There are roughly 20 million
people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland.
As a result of general administrative order and by means
of fear 2 826 000 of Polish were deported to Germany
and packed into a system of discrimination, sweated
labour and lawlessness. There was no objection from
German public opinion.
Polish workers caught by German police.
Polish citizens were transported to the Reich for labour,
most of them against their will. Many were teenaged
boys and girls. They were forced to wear identifying
purple P's sewn to their clothing, subjected to a curfew,
and banned from public transportation.
Forced labour in stone pits
The only 520 000 of Polish returned from Reich.
About 800 thousands of Polish citizens remained in
Western Europe after World War II. Among them were
soldiers and generals, labor camp prisoners or people who
were involved in fight against Hitler on behalf of the Home
Army (Armia Krajowa) - and they could not come back to
Poland after the war because of the danger of Soviet
persecutions.
Headband worn by soldiers of the
National Army.
Army National brass eagle
Also many politicians, scientists and artists who did not
foresee their chance in the communistic of Soviet-type
run Poland. After the World War II the center of Polish
immigrant political life abroad was England with the
Polish Government in Exile which ceased to exist with the
fall of communism in 1989.
Travel abroad was restricted to Poles until 1980, still over
a million people left Poland permanently in that time:
about 600 thousands in years 1945- 1955 and the next
800 thousands in years 1956-1979.
More people left after 1956 not because the life became
more difficult (this was the time when Stalin-type of
regime ceased to exist and the thick wall became a bit
thinner and more transparent) but rather because it
was easier to receive the passport and to leave abroad.
Some of this emigration was legal - for instance in
the action of uniting families (akcja łączenia rodzin)
between Poland and Germany.
In the years 1967-1968 the exodus of Polish Jews
(about 20 thousands) took place. It was caused partly
by internal tensions in Polish communist party,
between so called patriots and nationalists and the
internationalists, some of the communists of the
second group were of Jewish origin. It was also
magnified by students� riots of March 1968 and by
the international situation in Israel.
In 1980’s immigrants came after the martial law in December
1981. Some won visa on the visa lottery. Some Immigrants
were very skilled professionals. Quite numerous group of
faculty in American universities consisted of well educated
Polish immigrants. Some of Polish immigrants live in lowincome housing mainly in Polish quarters in Chicago,
New York or Detroit.
The next big wave of immigration took place in years
1980-1990 when about 100 thousands people was
leaving Poland every year. This immigration was
mainly economical (so called "emigracja dorobkowa"),
although some Solidarity activists have to leave after
martial law was enforced.
Majority of people who left were young and well educated
people who did not foresee political or economical
change. Majority of people left to Germany, Austria, or
through the temporary camps in Italy to Canada,
Australia or the USA.
Since 1 May 2004, the Republic of Poland has been a member
of the European Union. In addition to the developments
mentioned which indicate Poland is becoming a destination
country for migration, increasing temporary work migration,
so-called circular migration, has also been observed. In
addition, since Poland joined the EU, its workers have
increasingly migrated to other EU states, in particular the
United Kingdom and Ireland.
In 2004, Poland joined the European Union, it was one of the so called
A8 countries.
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Czech Republic
Estonia
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia
These countries had a standard of living which was 40% of the European
average.
These encourage, or force, migrants to move from their
original locality.
The Treaty of Rome allows any European Union citizen to travel, work
and settle within another member state.
Due to the difference in living standards there were fears of mass
economic migration.
It was agreed that member states could limit migration from the A8
countries till 2011.
But, the UK agreed to accept migrants as long as they registered to
work.
Emigracja z Polski na pobyt czasowy w 2007 wg krajów
Francja
2%
Irlandia
9%
Hiszpania
4%
Niderlandy
4%
Austria
2%
Niemcy
22%
Pozostałe kraje
22%
Norwegia
2%
Włochy
4%
Wielka Brytania
29%
 Around 50% of Polish migrants return home.
 Economic crisis has resulted in a drop in the value of the pound, it is
less cost-effective.
 Current economic crisis has reduced job opportunities, whilst the
Polish economy has continued to grow.
 Wages in Poland have increased, but living costs have remained stable.
 Major building projects require construction workers.
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Missing home
As for the country of origin of foreign employees, in
2009 the largest groups were constituted by
citizens of
• Ukraine (9,504, 32%)
• China (4,536, that is 15%)
• Vietnam (2,577, that is 9%)
• Belarus (1,669, that is 6%)
• Turkey (1,422, that is 5%)
• and India (1,164, that is 4%).
© Karol Adam Karaś