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The Association of Polish Refugees (ZPU)

The history of the organisation began immediately after the Second World War when many Poles were still in the western occupation zones of Germany. They were particularly made up of former concentration camp inmates, forced labourers and prisoners of war, colloquially known as DPs (Displaced Persons). Once they had regained their freedom they began to structure their social, institutional and political life. Since there was a vital need for a central organisation to represent all Polish interests, in 1946 it was decided to set up an association entitled Zjednoczenie Polskich Uchodźców w Niemczech (ZPU). The new organisation arose from a merger of smaller associations and was a kind of institutional representation, a Polish parliament in Germany. At the same time, however, its further work was influenced by various parties and groups, and this was marked by contentiousness, internal disputes and many crises. Ultimately, the association was unable to cope with the many conflicts of interest and consequently disintegrated. This condition prevailed until the beginning of the fifties.

The former headquarters of the ZPU in Velbert and the office of the central ZPU board of management. This is where Kazimierz Odrobny and Witold Szwabowicz lived. It was also the headquarters of the League of Ukrainian Refugees.

Łukasz Wolak, 2016

In conclusion, it should be noted that the association achieved its goals for many years and with great effectiveness. Its activities proved successful in the interests of independence, education, legal advice, compensation and social welfare. During this time the pace of work increased from year to year. Unfortunately, the situation worsened dramatically following the withdrawal of funding by Radio Free Europe and the split in 1968 that led to a further cut in funding. However, those responsible did not allow themselves to become discouraged and continued to work for the success of their stated goals. Nevertheless, despite all the good intentions and attempts, the association was no longer able to build on its old strengths.

Łukasz Wolak, March 2017

Further reading:

W. Hładkiewicz, Emigracyjne dylematy. Działalność Zjednoczenia Polskich Uchodźców w Niemczech, [in:] W kręgu idei, polityki i wojska. Studia ofiarowane Profesorowi Januszowi Farysiowi w siedemdziesiątą rocznice urodzin, edited by T. Sikorski, H. Walczak, A. Wątor, Szczecin 2009, pp. 425-436.

Z. T. Klimaszewski, Emigracja Polska w Niemczech, Białystok 2007, pp. 107-109.

K. Ruchniewicz, Polskie zabiegi o odszkodowania niemieckie w latach 1944/45-1975, Wrocław 2007.

Ł. Wolak, Szkolnictwo Polaków w RFN pod egidą Zjednoczenia Polskich Uchodźców w latach 1951-1959, [in:] Zeszyty Naukowe PUNO, [Essays, articles, reviews], edited by J. Chwastyk-Kowalczyk, Londyn 2015, dritte Reihe Nr. 3, p.142-143.

Ł. Wolak, Działacze Zjednoczenia Polskich Uchodźców w Niemczech w materiałach organów bezpieczeństwa PRL w latach 1945-1970, [in:] Letnia Szkoła Historii Najnowszej 2010. Referaty, edited by Natalia Jarska and Tomasz Kozłowski, with an introduction by Łukasz Kamiński, Warszawa 2011, pp. 142-152.

Ł. Wolak, Pierwsze trudne lata działalności. Zjednoczenie Polskich Uchodźców w Republice Federalnej Niemiec w latach 1951-1954, [in:] Zimowa Szkoła Historii Najnowszej 2012. Referaty, edited by Łukasz Kamiński and Grzegorz Wołek, Warszawa 2012, pp.141-153.

Ł. Wolak, Zjednoczenie Polskich Uchodźców wobec emigracji solidarnościowej w latach 1981-1989, [in:] Świat wobec solidarności, edited by Paweł Jaworski and Łukasz Kamiński, Warszawa 2013, pp. 703-717.