{"id":40,"date":"2020-09-01T12:45:19","date_gmt":"2020-09-01T12:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/?post_type=chapter&p=40"},"modified":"2021-08-30T15:58:45","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T15:58:45","slug":"poles-in-world-war-ii","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/chapter\/poles-in-world-war-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Poles in World War II"},"content":{"raw":"

Recruitment Attempts<\/em><\/h2>\r\nShortly after the German attack on Poland and the <\/span>bombing of Warsaw, appeals were made to gain the support <\/span>of the American Poles and their descendants similar to <\/span>those made at the outbreak of World War I. <\/span>\r\n\r\nGeneral Sikorski and other renowned Polish leaders <\/span>toured the United States and spoke to residents earnestly <\/span>soliciting their help. The recruitment was poor, however, as <\/span>the second and third generation young American Poles <\/span>were willing to fight only in the American Army.<\/span>[footnote]Ibid., p. 261.[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n\r\nDuring a second tour through the United States, <\/span>Sikorski's appeals to the Poles were filled with sarcastic <\/span>remarks which accused the Poles of neglecting their <\/span>homeland. Because of his remarks, Sikorski's cause was <\/span>lost. Moreover, the American Poles retaliated in an anger <\/span>which was shocking. Now there existed an obvious <\/span>attitudinal change among the American Poles quite <\/span>different from what was felt in World War I. The PNA <\/span>(Polish National Alliance) stated in their newspaper the <\/span>\"Alliance Daily\": \"We have our own problems.\" The <\/span>concern for Poland was much less than it was in the past. <\/span>The greater concern was now for America and her war <\/span>problems.<\/span>[footnote]Ibid. [\/footnote]<\/span> Polish Americans not only enthusiastically <\/span>supported President Roosevelt's action on behalf of the <\/span>anti-axis powers, but also enlisted in great numbers in the <\/span>military. <\/span>\r\n\r\nOver 900,000 Poles were in the Armed Forces in <\/span>World War II. Army and Navy records list 20 percent as <\/span>American Poles. The names of Poles were heard throughout the Marine Corps, Army and Navy, as well as the WACS, SPARS, and WAVES. Throughout the United States recruiting offices stated that 50 percent of their volunteers were of Polish descent and were \"among the first to enlist.\" Some of the men who attained the rank of General in World War II were: John Wisniewski, Joseph Berzynski, and John Rataj.<\/span>\r\n

Poles at Home<\/em><\/h2>\r\nAmericans of Polish ancestry contributed to war <\/span>efforts heavily. The Polish National Alliance and the Polish <\/span>Roman Catholic Union purchased enough United States <\/span>bonds to cover the cost of five bombers; all the planes were <\/span>given Polish names. <\/span>\r\n\r\nThey also contributed generously to service <\/span>organizations and organized special committees to aid both <\/span>war victims of Poland and Polish refugees. More than ten <\/span>million dollars was contributed to alleviate the suffering. <\/span>They also provided additional means for religious services <\/span>for needy war victims. <\/span>\r\n\r\nFinally, they contributed additional funds for relief, <\/span>and in doing so, kept alive in America the reasons for <\/span>Polish freedom.<\/span>[footnote]Wytrwal, Poles in America, op. cit., p. 64.[\/footnote]<\/span>\r\n
\r\n
Upon the termination of World War II many of the <\/span>prejudices that prevailed among ethnic and racial groups, <\/span>prior to World War II were now diminishing rapidly. <\/span>People accepted new ideas, listened to each other, and <\/span>learned while fighting for a common cause that there were <\/span>similar, if not the same, emotions, fears, problems, among <\/span>all regardless of their heritage.<\/span>[footnote]Wytrwal, Poles in American History and Tradition, op. cit., pp. 412-413.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n

Displaced Persons<\/em><\/h2>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
By the end of the war about ten million were left <\/span>homeless in Europe. They were labeled Displaced Persons <\/span>or D.P.'s, and were given shelter in camps which were <\/span>headed by the occupying armies and under the advise of the <\/span>United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration <\/span>(UNRRA). It was anticipated that the countries of <\/span>Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, would <\/span>eventually absorb them. <\/span><\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
The United Stated, still apparently sympathetic <\/span>towards Poland's cause and remembering the aid received <\/span>by past Polish leaders in previous wars, passed the D.P. Act <\/span>which permitted 205,000 to enter the United States <\/span>providing they were assured jobs, shelter, and a sponsor.<\/span>[footnote]Ibid., pp. 413-415. [\/footnote]<\/span><\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
The Commission for the Displaced Persons stated on <\/span>January 2, 1952 that over 300,000 had entered the United <\/span>States at a cost of $100,601,000 thus giving residence to <\/span>more persons than any other nation. <\/span><\/div>","rendered":"

Recruitment Attempts<\/em><\/h2>\n

Shortly after the German attack on Poland and the bombing of Warsaw, appeals were made to gain the support of the American Poles and their descendants similar to those made at the outbreak of World War I. <\/p>\n

General Sikorski and other renowned Polish leaders toured the United States and spoke to residents earnestly soliciting their help. The recruitment was poor, however, as the second and third generation young American Poles were willing to fight only in the American Army.[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

During a second tour through the United States, Sikorski’s appeals to the Poles were filled with sarcastic remarks which accused the Poles of neglecting their homeland. Because of his remarks, Sikorski’s cause was lost. Moreover, the American Poles retaliated in an anger which was shocking. Now there existed an obvious attitudinal change among the American Poles quite different from what was felt in World War I. The PNA (Polish National Alliance) stated in their newspaper the “Alliance Daily”: “We have our own problems.” The concern for Poland was much less than it was in the past. The greater concern was now for America and her war problems.[2]<\/sup><\/a> Polish Americans not only enthusiastically supported President Roosevelt’s action on behalf of the anti-axis powers, but also enlisted in great numbers in the military. <\/p>\n

Over 900,000 Poles were in the Armed Forces in World War II. Army and Navy records list 20 percent as American Poles. The names of Poles were heard throughout the Marine Corps, Army and Navy, as well as the WACS, SPARS, and WAVES. Throughout the United States recruiting offices stated that 50 percent of their volunteers were of Polish descent and were “among the first to enlist.” Some of the men who attained the rank of General in World War II were: John Wisniewski, Joseph Berzynski, and John Rataj.<\/p>\n

Poles at Home<\/em><\/h2>\n

Americans of Polish ancestry contributed to war efforts heavily. The Polish National Alliance and the Polish Roman Catholic Union purchased enough United States bonds to cover the cost of five bombers; all the planes were given Polish names. <\/p>\n

They also contributed generously to service organizations and organized special committees to aid both war victims of Poland and Polish refugees. More than ten million dollars was contributed to alleviate the suffering. They also provided additional means for religious services for needy war victims. <\/p>\n

Finally, they contributed additional funds for relief, and in doing so, kept alive in America the reasons for Polish freedom.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Upon the termination of World War II many of the prejudices that prevailed among ethnic and racial groups, prior to World War II were now diminishing rapidly. People accepted new ideas, listened to each other, and learned while fighting for a common cause that there were similar, if not the same, emotions, fears, problems, among all regardless of their heritage.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Displaced Persons<\/em><\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n
By the end of the war about ten million were left homeless in Europe. They were labeled Displaced Persons or D.P.’s, and were given shelter in camps which were headed by the occupying armies and under the advise of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). It was anticipated that the countries of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, would eventually absorb them. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The United Stated, still apparently sympathetic towards Poland’s cause and remembering the aid received by past Polish leaders in previous wars, passed the D.P. Act which permitted 205,000 to enter the United States providing they were assured jobs, shelter, and a sponsor.[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Commission for the Displaced Persons stated on January 2, 1952 that over 300,000 had entered the United States at a cost of $100,601,000 thus giving residence to more persons than any other nation. <\/div>\n
  1. Ibid., p. 261. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  2. Ibid. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  3. Wytrwal, Poles in America, op. cit., p. 64. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  4. Wytrwal, Poles in American History and Tradition, op. cit., pp. 412-413. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  5. Ibid., pp. 413-415. ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":3,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-40","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":26,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":365,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40\/revisions\/365"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/26"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/40\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=40"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=40"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/polish-americans-and-their-communities-of-cleveland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}