Victims of Stalin and Hitler: The Exodus of Poles and Balts to Britain

by T. Lane

Overview

In contemporary Britain there are substantial ethnic minorities of Polish and Baltic origin, who arrived here shortly after World War II. Using official records and the words of survivors and their children, the author explores the reasons for their savage uprooting at the hands of Stalin and Hitler, their subsequent odysseys, and the reasons for their resettlement in Britain. This is a study of totalitarianism, political asylum, and the relationship of ethnic minorities to the host society, combining first-hand accounts with historical analysis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403932204
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	09/30/2004
Edition description:	2004
Pages:	281
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

THOMAS LANE was formerly Head of the Department of European Studies and founder member of the Baltic Research Unit, University of Bradford, UK. He is the author of two books, the most recent being Lithuania: Stepping Westward (Routledge, 2001), and four edited books, as well as numerous articles.

Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction 'A Timeless and Magical World' Defeat German Colonies Soviet Fiefs Deportations Penal Camps Release Soldiers and Refugees 'Midway to Nowhere' Resettlement Communities Identities Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

'This book is a fascinating history of the Polish and Baltic communities who arrived in the United Kingdom shortly after the Second World War. The author relies on interviews with elderly members of these communities and on documents from the Public Record Office. It was perhaps the last opportunity to obtain these important oral histories and Lane is the first British researcher to do so.' - International Affairs

'Its originality lies in the author's ability to weave personal stories into the otherwise dry facts concerning population movements. In this respect, the book becomes an inspiring social history.' - A.J Prazmowska, European History Quarterly

From the Publisher