Refugees In 1930S-40S - Any Lessons For Today's Migration Dilemma?

[Mosaic]

I'm wondering what's to be learned from history that might help clarify thinking and planning for dealing with the current migration crisis in Europe.
How did 'final destination' countries cope?
I have heard from descendants that the repatriation camps were very unpopular, and escaping from these and doing your own thing seemed quite rife.
The sheer numbers of people displaced is quite astounding when you look:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_evacuation_and_expulsion (seems quite well-referenced)

What impact did this vast number of people have in the societies they entered? eg even in this dozy little northern town there was a Polish Club - but Polish immigrants of that time quickly settled and integrated.

And these migrants were 'coped with' at a time when Europe was on its arris, having endured two massive wars and an economic depression.

[Zacs-Master]

If we had the same population now as then maybe lessons could be learned but it's now a completely different scenario.

[Mosaic]

Sheer numbers of people already here is a good point of comparison. However, is the comparatively higher wealth of countires now, compared to in the 1940s, something that might make the equation possible to balance?

[mikey4444]

Mosaic...there was an interesting, if brief discussion on this subject during "Broadcasting House" this morning. The Kindertransport managed to rescue children, mainly Jewish, during the months prior to WW2 starting. Britain took in nearly 10,000 children alone. Often these kids were the only survivors of their families, due to the Holocaust.

10,000 refugees...now where have I heard a similar figure being mentioned in the last 48 hours ?

Here is the Wiki entry on the Kindertransport ::::

( also well researched )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindertransport

[Mosaic]

That's an interesting link Mikey - it doesn't go to the heart of the practicalities though, and I can't find anything that does. ie did the children go to private families? Was there any charitable aid to support them?
I suspect - but don't know - that local synagogue committees raised funds and help in kind.
Mosque committees are well known for giving to charities and also giving help in kind.
Is a full and frank conversation with mosque committees in Britain regarding help for co-religionists something that we need - in fact, is it happening as we speak?

[Zacs-Master]

I think the comparative wealth is another argument against large numbers of immigrants which might well affect that wealth.

[anotheoldgit]

Most Polish refugees, either had to live in Mud Huts, Tents or Camps, in India, British Africa, The Near East, New Zealand or Mexico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_civilian_camps_in_World_War_II

[mikey4444]

Mosiac...from what I have understand, almost all the Jewish children did go to private families, and not all of them Jewish families at that. The link does say that Quaker families were much involved in the adoption of the kids.

[retrocop]

Mikey
How the heck does that statement compare betwen today and 1930/40s ridiculous??
//10,000 refugees...now where have I heard a similar figure being mentioned in the last 48 hours ?//
Just tell me how many mosques,temples there were in the UK in 1940.
Was Bradford,Sheffield,Leeds Moslem enclaves? No
Was Brixton and Stockwell Black Carribbean enclaves ? NO
The first Black faces most British kids saw were U.S. GIs.
!0,000 child refugees didn't pose a logistical problem in 1940. Today we already are FULL and 10,000 more is a problem. Ridiculous comparison.

[mikey4444]

Retro...calm down dear...its only a debate !

The children rescued by the Kindertransport went to all sorts of families, all over the UK, not all of the Jewish by any means. If and when we have this new batch of refugees, I would expect the British Muslim community to do their bit in helping, as I am sure that they will.

[retrocop]

//I would expect the British Muslim community to do their bit in helping, as I am sure that they will.//
Good luck on that. The British Muslim communities help extends to converting Muslims into radical jihadists as far as I have seen. They certainly do BA to keep their own thugs in check here,.

[anotheoldgit]

I well remember our own 'evacuees' that were sent to families in safer areas of the country, these families took care of them and fed and clothed them, I am not sure whether or not these families were paid anything by the government.

Some were very well looked after, whereas others suffered a very sad existence, and almost all of them even found it very hard to integrate or be accepted by the local children.

[retrocop]

Mikey
I know it is only a debate but what with your houses and cities started on Monday morning to suddenly accommodate our proposed arrivals how can one seriously debate against that logic ?

[Mosaic]

AOG thanks for that link - something I never imagined, unbelievable numbers of people involved. I think you're link also goes a step nearer explaining something, namely government involvement. The Polish evacuees seem to have been given weekly allowances (one lady mentions 5 shillings), basic rations, and were encouraged to 'grow their own'. So clearly even at a time of great economic need, these thousands of extra people were somehow supported and accommodated.

[Hypognosis]

Pope is asking all Parishes to take in at least one family.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/sep/06/thousands-of-refugees-arrive-by-train-and-bus-in-germany-live#block-55ec1da2e4b0edba32b60b27

(scroll down to 12:05, if that link fails to take you straight there).

Strategecally, spreading them around should allay fears of them acting en masse and by having *everyone* having some daily contact with people not like themselves, there may be a slow increase in mutual understanding.

[mikey4444]

Retro...you know full well my meaning on the housing issue. If we were to start building houses, it would benefit everybody, including any future immigrants and that was my point.

[Mosaic]

Retrocop, please try and add some positive insight instead of immediately resorting to name-calling.
There were a few mosques in Britain in the 1940s
Black people have contributed to the british insular gene pool since Roman times
Many Liverpudlians and Bristolians have black heritage dating from the 18th century
Black footballers and cricketers existed well before 1940 http://www.vasili.co.uk/history-of-black-footballers.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcm/content/story/134939.html

So you are incorrect to state that GIs were the first black people seen by British (you mean white British) children.
Incidentally those black GIs were really quite popular with the ladies. Ask your mum why.

[retrocop]

Mikey
Another thread. :-)

[mikey4444]

Retro...I agree !

[retrocop]

Mosaic
My mother is dead. Please explain yourself. What name calling?

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps we should consider the reintroduction of 'prefabs' these served us well after WW2? They even had fridges, something that the majority of British, had only seen in American movies.