Polish Resettlement Corps
For many Polish families in Britain, the Polish Resettlement Corps marks the transition between wartime service and civilian life. A camp address, discharge paper or reference to the PRC can help place a relative in that transition. This guide explains the historical background and how to connect it with a family’s surviving papers, rather than treating a reference to the Corps as a complete service history.
What was the Polish Resettlement Corps?
Established in 1946 by the British Government, the Polish Resettlement Corps was a response to the political turmoil and border changes in post-war Europe. With the shift of Polish borders westward and the subsequent Soviet control of Poland, many Polish servicemen in the West found themselves unable or unwilling to return to their homeland.
The Origins of the Polish Resettlement Corps
World War II was a profoundly transformative period for Poland and its people. The conflict resulted in the displacement of millions of Polish citizens. As the war concluded, and with the Yalta Conference’s political ramifications becoming increasingly apparent, many Poles who had fought alongside the Allies found themselves in a predicament. The political shift in their homeland, now under Soviet influence, made it difficult and often undesirable for them to return.
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When was the Polish Resettlement Act?
Amidst this uncertainty, the British government, acknowledging the Polish servicemen’s contributions during the war, enacted the Polish Resettlement Act of 1947. The Corps had already been established in 1946, before the Act was passed. Its mission was to aid the demobilisation and civilian transition of the Polish Armed Forces members stationed in Britain and the West.
How many people were in the Polish Resettlement Corps?
At its peak, the PRC had a significant presence, and it is estimated that the corps consisted of around 85,000 Polish men and women. These individuals, known as the “resettlers,” were primarily Polish soldiers and airmen who had served in the Polish Armed Forces under British command during the war.
The Impact of the Polish Resettlement Corps
The role of the Polish Resettlement Corps was not merely administrative or transitional. It marked a seminal point in Polish-British relations, forging a path for one of the most significant immigration waves into Britain in the 20th century. The PRC members, through their work in various sectors, significantly contributed to Britain’s post-war economy and recovery efforts.
Furthermore, the integration of the PRC into British society set a precedent for multiculturalism in post-war Britain. Today, the Polish community is an integral part of British society, significantly contributing to the country’s cultural, social, and economic fabric.
Polish Resettlement Corps – Military records
Polish soldiers located in the UK held many documents. State and military archives have created many archive units open to all and some directly to family members. If you would like to find out more, we invite you to read an article about available Polish military documents.
Follow a relative’s route into civilian life
Keep camp names, British addresses and employment details alongside the military papers. A reference to the PRC is a lead to investigate; record its date and the document it appears on before assuming it describes the whole of a person’s service.
For an individual file, consult the guide to UK-held Polish service records. GOV.UK’s application guidance includes Polish personnel who served with British forces in the Second World War.
Check the chronology
The National Archives places the formation of the PRC in 1946. The archival introduction to post-war migration provides context for reading papers dated before the Polish Resettlement Act 1947.