Sylence Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 A Polish woman and her grandchildren in a Red Cross camp in Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS In September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. As part of Germany’s nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union, eastern Poland was occupied and annexed by the USSR. Approximately 1.25 million Poles were deported to various parts of the Soviet Union, including half a million “socially dangerous” Poles who were packed into trains and shipped to labor camps in Kazakhstan and Siberia. Thousands died of exhaustion, disease and malnutrition. When Germany reneged on its pact and invaded the Soviet Union less than two years later, the Soviets were compelled to side with the Allies. An agreement was signed to reestablish the Polish state and form an army from the Poles held in the USSR. Polish prisoners were told they were now free to join the new army, which was assembling in the critical supply corridor of Iran, then under occupation by Soviet and British forces. From across the country, thousands of starving men, women and children slowly made their way to a hope of refuge in Iran. They were in bad shape, thin, ill and in rags.... A friend of mine, a carpenter, used to make [coffins] for them. About 50 were dying every day. GHOLAM ABDOL-RAHIMI, IRANIAN PHOTOGRAPHER A tent city houses Polish evacuees on the outskirts of Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Crossing the Caspian Sea in crowded boats, over 116,000 Poles made it to Iran. Most landed in the port city of Pahlevi, where they were fed and quarantined — malaria, typhus and starvation-related ailments were widespread. Many died and were buried there. Those who survived were transported to Tehran, where they were warmly welcomed by the Iranian government. Buildings were repurposed to house them, and Polish schools, businesses, and cultural organizations were established. People who had spent years in freezing and disease-ridden conditions now had clean beds and plenty of food. The friendly Persian people crowded round the buses shouting what must have been words of welcome and pushed gifts of dates, nuts, roasted peas with raisins and juicy pomegranates through the open windows. KRYSTYNA SKWARKO, POLISH REFUGEE A Polish boy carries loaves of bread provided by the Red Cross. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Polish refugees in a camp on the outskirts of Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A Polish girl landscapes the patch of earth in front of her tent. The photographer noted that "the Poles take great pride in the cleanliness of their camp." IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Evacuees wear donated woolen bathrobes as overcoats. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Polish women make their own clothing at a camp in Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Polish maids were sought by well-to-do Iranian ladies who wanted to learn makeup and Western fashions from their servants, who often had better backgrounds and education than the employers themselves. KHOSROW SINAI, IRANIAN DIRECTOR IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A Polish woman at Red Cross camp in Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Polish refugees at a camp on the outskirts of Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A Polish woman holds her baby girl at an evacuee camp in Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Polish children play among the dormitories of a Red Cross camp on the outskirts of Tehran. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A Polish refugee who works as a guard at the camp. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Polish women do laundry at a Red Cross camp. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A Polish girl wears a heavy sheepskin coat at a refugee camp. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Most of the refugees signed up to fight in the new Polish army, while many, including thousands of orphans whose parents had died or desperately put them on trains bound for Iran, settled into life in Iran for the remainder of the war. While many of the refugees were eventually moved on to temporary settlements in other countries, a few decided to stay in Iran permanently, marrying Iranian spouses and starting families. A young Polish refugee salutes outside his tent. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A woman decorates the front yard of her tent with a Polish eagle. IMAGE: NICK PARRINO/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS MASHABLE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha&Omega666 Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Excellent historical collection of photos, beautiful and sad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyme2 Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Thank you saeed. Shame that generosity and acceptance of refugees in our day and age seem to be so lacking in comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Nice article! And beautiful demonstration of humanity despite the sad context! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
------ Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 ...unfortunately, this is just one of many examples of the effects when Western "allies" did flake out on Polish people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Off-topic content removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jogs Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 This is a high time that all countries come together as we all have only one enemy now i.e. terrorism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humble3d Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 Many peoples throughout released history found safety in Iran... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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