[Sanitary and relief activity of the Polish Red Cross in the repatriation and displacement action in the Western Pomeranian region].
The final period of World War II and the first months of peace were the time of massive migration of Polish and German population. The first stage of the Poles' repatriation from the territories taken over by the USSR to the liberated parts of Poland underwent in an organizational chaos, which resulted from poor coordination between the institutions responsible for this operation. In principle, the National Repatriation Office was in charge of the repatriation action. However, where the NRO had no branches or wanted a joint action, the Polish Red Cross took a vital part in sanitary and relief activities. They were particularly crucial in the western and northern regions of Poland, which faced three massive migration currents: the influx of Polish repatriates from the USSR, the return of concentration camp prisoners, POWs and slave workers from Germany and the displacement of the German population. Colonel Jan Ciałowicz gave a brief résumé of the role the Polish Red Cross played in the repatriation and displacement action: "... At the time when the foundations of the State of Poland were created in the Western Pomeranian Region, the Polish Red Cross was dressing, feeding and treating those who needed it most desperately, taking special care of the repatriates and children."
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Zakład Historii Medycyny i Etyki Lekarskiej PAM.
D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D011044:Poland; D012011:Red Cross; D012066:Relief Work; D012499:Sanitation; D014586:USSR; D014857:Warfare