Pahiatua Polish Children
A historical journey from one side of the world to the other
Starting in 1939
The history of the Pahiatua Polish Children began in the early days of World War II. On 1 September 1939 Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. Two weeks later Russia’s Soviet Union invaded Poland and disarmed and imprisoned an estimated 200,000 Polish soldiers retreating from the German front.
1940
One of the cattle trains that forcibly deported Polish citizens to Soviet forced-labour camps
1941 – 1942
Forced into hard forestry work at the Soviet forced-labour camps
The effect of inhuman conditions in the Soviet forced-labour camps and the arduous journey to Uzbekistan is evident in these children upon arrival in Iran, 1942
Months later on 10 February 1940 the Soviet Union began the first of its large-scale forced deportations and ethnic cleansing of up to 1.7 million Polish citizens from Eastern Poland (now Ukraine). Families were forced from their homes and transported in cattle trains thousands of kilometres to Soviet forced-labour camps. As a result by the end of the war, up to 1 million Polish citizens had died and 200,000 remained unaccounted for in Stalin’s genocide.
In June 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union, forcing the Soviets to seek alliance with the Western Allies, which included Poland. This led to the Polish Government-in-Exile in London and the Soviet Union establishing diplomatic relations.
The conditions included Stalin releasing the Polish civilians and soldiers from the forced-labour camps and prisons and the ability for a Polish army to form in the Soviet Union. The released Poles travelled in a mass exodus in the direction of Uzbekistan where the Polish army was being formed. Many died along the way of disease and starvation.
When in 1942 the newly formed Polish army was transferred to Iran to defend the oil fields that were vital to the Western Allies, 43,000 civilians (including 20,000 children) were evacuated with it. The mostly orphaned children were placed in Polish orphanages in Isfahan.
1,000,000
BY THE END OF THE WAR UP TO
POLISH CITIZENS HAD DIED AND 200,000 REMAINED UNACCOUNTED FOR IN STALIN’S GENOCIDE
1943 – 1944
The USS General Randall. Interestingly, years later it carried Private Elvis Presley to service in Germany
1 November 1944
New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser greets the Polish refugees aboard the General Randall in Queen’s Wharf, Wellington
Some of the 733 mostly orphaned Polish children refugees in the Polish Children’s camp in Pahiatua
Polish ex-servicemen, displaced persons and relatives (who arrived after the war), along with some of the now grown children, celebrate New Years Eve in Wellington, 1954
The Polish Association in Wellington welcomes Cardinal Karol Wojtyła (future Pope John Paul II) to the Polish House in 1972
By 1943 the Poles were still unable to return to Poland because of the war and Iran was unable to sustain such a large number of refugees. So arrangements were made to relocate them, mainly within the British Empire. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Peter Fraser offered refuge to some of the children for the duration of the war.
The journey in 1944 from Iran to New Zealand on the USS General Randall was not without its dangers. The war was still raging and Japanese submarines were patrolling the Indian Ocean. Though the ship was under an armed escort, it was grazed by a Japanese torpedo. There was much terror and uncertainty onboard.
Finally, on 1 November 1944 a group of 733 mostly orphaned children and 105 caregivers docked in Wellington Harbour on board the USS General Randall. A train pulled in alongside the ship, which they boarded for the Polish Children’s Camp in Pahiatua. The camp became a home away from home and was known as “little Poland”. Even the camp’s streets had Polish names.
The orphaned children remained under the care of the New Zealand Government until they finished secondary school. The children whose parents survived and found them after the war (with the help of the Red Cross) came under their responsibility.
The Polish refugees integrated successfully into New Zealand society, while retaining their Polish culture. They worked hard, raised families and became actively contributing citizens and New Zealanders, more than repaying their debt to the country that offered them refuge and care in their time of need.
Polish ex-servicemen, displaced persons and relatives (who arrived after the war) established the Polish Association in New Zealand, based in Wellington, in 1948. The Pahiatua children became the nucleus around which post-war Polish communities in New Zealand developed.
Other Polish Associations and groups eventually formed around the country, including Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Christchurch and Dunedin. They provided a focal point and meeting place for generations to maintain a link with their Polish heritage. In 2013 they formed a united Federation of the Polish Organisations in New Zealand.
More information
There are numerous resources available on the history of the Pahiatua, including:
Kresy Siberia Virtual Museum – an online museum of the deportations and resulting diaspora.
Life After Pahiatua – The Polish Embassy in New Zealand presents personal stories and profiles of several members of the Polish Children of Pahiatua.
New Zealand’s First Refugees: Pahiatua’s Polish Children – non-profit book with 100+ personal recollections from the Pahiatua children and those that knew them. Includes historical information, 50 pages of photos and complete list of all 733 children and 105 adults.