America in the Post War and how it differs from what we know.
I think that what many of us, Americans, were taught about WW2 and American involvement was that American troops came to the rescue on D-day and subsequently ended the war with the atomic bomb drop. Then we quickly moved onto the Cold War. This narrative is an easy digest, without dwelling too much on the aftermath of the war and the influence of American policy on international issues. I can’t really hold it against our high school system, there’s only so much time in the school year. But with more knowledge comes more nuance and less of a chance of a hero narrative and this grey area is what I think comes from learning about displaced persons following the war.
The issue of what to do with the ‘lost million’ is an interesting debate. On the surface it seems like different Allied countries are debating which course of action would be best for Europe. Because while there were many displaced persons in Asia this didn’t seem to be the focus of international organizations (Cohen 14). However, when you look at the debate through the lens of the cold war the motives become a bit more complex. Cohen emphasized the role of Eleanor Roosevelt in directing the American policy on this issue. She stated that we had never seen so many displaced persons before and that it was our responsibility to grant them asylum and humanitarian aid. This philosophy became the backbone of American policy regarding this issue. American policy was still focused on an international solut
ion. Strict immigration policies were still in place from before the war. There was only one refugee camp in America. It housed 982 Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. They arrived in 1944 to Oswego, N.Y. and were housed on a military base. This program seemed like it was the start of more like it but this never materialized. These refugees had to sign a paper stating that they would return to Europe following the war. This didn’t happen; they were granted citizenship from Truman following the war, to the chagrin of the American people. This is a prime example of how and why the American policy was shaped around an international solution.
This was in contrast to what the Soviets wanted in response to the Dp issue. The Soviets wanted the Dps to be repatriated. They wanted people returned to the Soviet bloc to increase their labor forces as well as have the authority to punish collaborators, with either the Bolsheviks or the Nazis. Many European countries wanted vengeance and saw the Dp problem restitution. Zahra explains the thought process behind why certain people made ideal refugees. France was concerned with repopulating their country with moldable children. People who could develop national pride. They looked to Germany for French illegitimate white babies. While this wasn’t a massive success 484 children were repatriated to France (Zahra 339). The UN General council came up with a compromise between the American and Soviet plans, on the issue of Dps. This agreement included the right of amnesty to Dps as well as the ability for some Dps to live outside their home country for valid reasons. The main goal of the agreement was to repatriate Dps. The Soviets also retained their influence on international policy.
American foreign policy and aid given to Dps is an interesting nuanced issue. There was focus on human rights and assistance on aid to Dps. As well as a focus on stability in Europe with the assistance of children not repatriated from Germany. As well as fear of immigrants on our own shores.
I love your introduction because it is so true, we never learn the phases between all of the major events, just the events themselves, and learning about the entire timeline allows us to have a better grasp on all of the perspectives and the effect that they had over time. You mention the Cold War at the beginning and then dive into great analysis of the tension leading up to that with the problem of DPS, what do you think the main contributors of this DP issue were that prompted a movement into the cold war?
I was unaware that Jewish DPs in America had to sign a for stating they would return back to Europe, though it did not happen I find that act shameful by the US. You also draw attention to Americas fear of immigration which I think its interesting how this topic has made it into modern American politics.