Polonia

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Polonia, the name for Poland in Latin and many Romance and other languages, refers in modern Polish to the Polish diaspora—people of Polish origin who live outside Polish borders. There are roughly 15–20 million people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland, making the Polish diaspora one of the biggest in the world. Reasons for their displacement vary from border shifts to forced resettlement to political or economic emigration. Major Polish minorities can be found in Germany and the United States.

A large proportion of the Polish citizens who migrated in the early twentieth century were Polish Jews, and are also a part of the Jewish diaspora. The Holocaust virtually decimated over 3 million Polish Jews to put an end to Poland's status as the largest Jewish population in the world (as of 1938) before the establishment of Israel and only 4,000 are known to live today in post-WWII Poland.

Poland is regarded as homogenous, but has large numbers of Gypsies numbering at one million across Poland, and remnants of ethnic German persons, when over 8 million ethnic Germans in former German provinces of Silesia and Pomerania were expelled by invading Soviet troops in the end of WWII (1945). The Polish-German community has resided in Germany for a thousand years as a result of interchangeable political boundaries between the two countries (see Oder-Neisse Line of 1965).

Contents 1 Europe 1.1 Belarus 1.2 Czech Republic 1.3 Denmark 1.4 France 1.5 Germany 1.6 Hungary 1.7 Iceland 1.8 Ireland 1.9 Italy 1.10 Lithuania 1.11 Latvia 1.12 Norway 1.13 Romania 1.14 Russia and former Soviet Union 1.15 Spain 1.16 Sweden 1.17 United Kingdom 2 North America 2.1 Canada 2.2 United States 3 Latin America 3.1 Argentina 3.2 Brazil 4 Asia, Africa and Oceania 4.1 Australia 4.2 New Zealand 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Europe

[edit] Belarus

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Belarus.

There are presently 396,000 Poles living in Belarus (according to the official 1999 Census;^[1] the estimates are higher according to various NGO organizations).They form the second largest ethnic minority in the country after Russians. The majority of Poles live in the western regions of Belarus (including 294,000 in Hrodna region).

The Polish minority in Belarus consists mainly of people settled to West Belarus in the period between the two World Wars.^{[citation needed]} Many Catholic Belarusians and descendants of the Belarusian nobility historically identified themselves as Polish, though this is becoming less and less common as the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus undergoes the process of self-depolonization.

During the Second World War the Soviet Union forcibly resettled large numbers of Belarusian Poles to Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Few Belarusian Poles live in Siberia and the Russian Far East and some migrated to China and Japan to escape Stalinist rule in the 1940s and 1950s. It's unclear whether or not ethnic Poles reside in China or Japan today to be a significant community.

[edit] Czech Republic

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in the Czech Republic.

The Polish community in the Czech Republic is concentrated in Cieszyn Silesia (so-called Zaolzie), in the north-east of the country. It traces its origins to post-First World War border changes that partitioned the area between Poland and what was then Czechoslovakia, leaving many Poles on the Czech side of the border. The Polish population numbers 51,968 (2001 census).

[edit] Denmark

It is estimated that around 40,000 Poles live in Denmark, majority of them in Copenhagen. Arguably, the most famous Dane with Polish roots is a retired soccer goalkeeper Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel.

[edit] France

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in France.

About one million people of Polish descent live in France, concentrated in the Nord-Pas de Calais region, in the metropolitan area of Lille and the coal-mining basin (bassin minier) around Lens and Valenciennes. Prominent members of the Polish community in France have included Frédéric Chopin, Adam Mickiewicz (temporarily), Rene Goscinny, Marie Curie, Raymond Kopa, Edward Gierek (who was raised there) and Matt Pokora. Large numbers of Poles settled in France during the rule of Napoleon when 100,000 Poles fled Russian rule of Poland in the early 1800's, many enlisted to fight in the French army. Another wave of Polish migration took place in the interbellum period, when they were hired as contract workers to work temporarily in France. Polish refugees also fled Nazi or Soviet occupation (1940s). There are estimates of 100,000 to 200,000 Poles living in Paris and many E.U. program guest workers in regions of the South of France (Arles, Marseille and Perpignan).

[edit] Germany

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Germany.

The second largest Polonia in the world, and the largest in Europe, is the Polish German community. As many as three million people living in Germany may be of Polish descent, although the vast majority of these identify themselves as Germans. The main Polonia organization is Kongres Polonii Niemieckiej / Polnischer Kongress in Deutschland. Polish surnames are very common in Germany.

[edit] Hungary

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Hungary.

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The Polish minority in Hungary numbers around 20,000 and has a long history of Polish inhabitation for over a thousand years. The Polish-Lithuanian Union has included large portions of Hungarian territories, same goes to the Austrian-Hungarian empire (1867-1918) had the Polish sector of Galicia. The Polish-Hungarian relationship was strong and positive, best described in the poem: Pole, Hungarian, two good friends about the fraternal sense of commonality of Polish and Hungarian cultures. Budapest is home to a large Polish community, but more ethnic Polish are in the northern part of the country facing Slovakia and Ukraine to the east. Most Polish-Hungarians are practicing Roman Catholics, but many are members of the Uniate, Eastern (Polish-Carpathian or Carpato-Ukrainian) and Greek Catholic churches.

[edit] Iceland

Polish minority in Iceland is a fresh phenomenon, however, number of Poles living there rises year by year. According to the official statistics, there are almost 8500 Poles in Iceland ^[2], and they form the largest ethnic minority in the country. However, according to Polish sources, the number of Poles in Iceland is higher, Polityka weekly put it at around 17,000, which is almost 5.5% of the whole population.

[edit] Ireland

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Ireland.

After Poland joined the European Union in 2004, Ireland was one of just three existing EU members to open its borders and welcome Polish workers as relatively cheap qualified labour (the others being the United Kingdom and Sweden). Ireland quickly became a key destination for young Poles seeking work outside the country. According to the 2006 Census, there are 63,090 Poles living in Ireland,^[3] constituting the largest ethnic minority, after British nationals, in the country. These figures reflect official numbers of Poles who have settled permanently in Ireland and is likely to be an underestimation.

[edit] Italy

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Italy.

The Polish minority in Italy numbers around 100,000. The majority of Polish residents are recently arrived immigrants in the late 20th century drawn to the stellar economy of Italy in need for imported labor. Large Polish immigrant sections/communities are found such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples and Palermo. Also the location of the Holy See (Vatican city) where Polish native John Paul II was pope (1979-2005). Polish immigration to Italy might continue while the EU contract labor program between the two countries remains in place.

[edit] Lithuania

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Lithuania.

The Polish minority in Lithuania numbers 234,989 persons and, at 6.74% of the population of Lithuania, forms the largest ethnic minority in modern Lithuania. Poles are concentrated in the Vilnius region, and form the majority of population in Vilnius district municipality and Šalčininkai district municipality. People of Polish ethnicity have lived on the territory of modern Lithuania for many centuries.

[edit] Latvia

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Latvia.

[edit] Norway

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Norway.

Norway has recently experienced an influx of Polish migrant workers. It has been estimated that more than 120 000 Poles work in Norway,^{[citation needed]} although the number of registered permanent residents is substantially lower, about 18,000.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Romania

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Romania.

According to the 2002 census, 3,671 Poles live in Romania, mainly in the villages of the Suceava region (Polish: Suczawa). There are even three exclusively Polish villages: Nowy Sołoniec (Soloneţu Nou), Plesza (Pleşa) and Pojana Mikuli (Poiana Micului). Poles in Romania form an officially recognised national minority, having one seat in the Chamber of Deputies of Romania (currently held by Gerwazy Longher) and access to Polish elementary schools and cultural centres (known as "Polish Houses").

[edit] Russia and former Soviet Union

Further information: Polish minority in the Soviet Union, Population transfer in the Soviet Union, Polish minority in Russia

During the Second World War, the Soviet Union annexed large parts of Poland's former eastern territories of Kresy. Many Poles were expelled, but a significant number remained in what are now parts of Belarus, Ukraine and Lithuania. The Soviet authorities also forcibly resettled large numbers of Poles to Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The following post-Soviet countries retain significant Polish minorities:

• Belarus – 396,000. See the Belarus section in this article and the Polish minority in Belarus for details.
• Kazakhstan – between 60,000 and 100,000.
• Lithuania – between 250,000 and 300,000. See the Lithuania section in this article and the Polish minority in Lithuania article for details.
• Latvia – between 60,000 and 75,000. See the Latvia section in this article and the Polish minority in Latvia article for details.
• Russia – about 300,000.
• Ukraine – 144,000. See the Polish minority in Ukraine article for details.

[edit] Spain

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Spain.

The Polish minority in Spain numbers around 45,000. Most of the Polish population consists of guest workers drawn into Spain's economic boom during the 1990's. Main sections of the Polish population are in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, San Sebastian and Valencia.

[edit] Sweden

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Sweden.

The Polish minority in Sweden numbers around 40,000 people. The majority of them are guest workers invited to Sweden since 1990 in contracts with the Swedish government. Most Polish residents live in Stockholm and the rest farther south towards the Baltic Sea. Historically, Poland and Sweden had some cultural exchange with each other and the Swedish Empire's occupation of the Polish Baltic Sea coast (Gdansk and Pomerania) in various times from the 13th to 18th centuries.

[edit] United Kingdom

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in United Kingdom.

Polish people have travelled to the United Kingdom throughout the centuries for a variety of reasons. In the 16th century Polish travellers came as traders and diplomats. In the 18th century a small number of Polish Protestants arrived as religious refugees due to the counter reformation in Poland. In the 19th century, due to the collapse of the November Uprising of 1831, many Polish fighters came to Britain in search of sanctuary.^{[citation needed]}

However, it was only after the First World War that Poles settled in large numbers in London – many from the London Polish Prisoner of War camps in Alexandra Palace and Feltham. During the Second World War many Poles came to the United Kingdom as political emigrés and to join the Polish Army being recreated there. When the Second World War ended, a Communist government was installed in Poland. Many Poles felt betrayed by their wartime allies and were extremely reluctant to return home.^{[citation needed]} Many soldiers refused to return to Poland, and around 200,000, after occupying resettlement camps, later settled in UK. The Polish Government in London was not dissolved until 1991, when a freely elected president took office in Warsaw.

Following Poland's entry into the European Union in May 2004, Poles gained the right to work in some other EU countries. While France and Germany put in place controls to curb Eastern European migration, the United Kingdom (along with Sweden and the Republic of Ireland) did not impose restrictions. Many young Poles have come to work in UK since then. Estimates vary between 300,000 and 800,000 moving to the UK since May 2004.

Estimates for the total number of people living in the UK and born in Poland, or of Polish descent vary significantly. The figure has been quoted as 600,000 (February 2007)^[4] and "well over a million" (October 2007),^[5] but more recently it is reported that the numbers are decreasing.^[6] Other than London, Poles have settled in Manchester, Bolton, Bury and Chorley in Lancashire, and there are also concentrations in Nottingham, South Yorkshire, South Wales, Rugby, Banbury, Slough and Swindon.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] North America

The USA and Canada were the major focus of Polish political and economic immigration after 1850.

[edit] Canada

For more details on this topic, see Polish Canadians.

There are about 850,000 Polish Canadians. The Canadian Polish Congress is an umbrella organization founded in 1944 by Polish-Canadians in Canada to coordinate the activities and to articulate the concerns of the Canadian Polish community on public policy issues.

[edit] United States

For more details on this topic, see Polish American.

There are around 10 million Americans of Polish descent. Chicago bills itself as the largest Polish city outside of Poland with approximately 185,000 Polish speakers in Chicagoland^[7]. Chicago's Polish presence is felt in the large number of Polish-American organizations located here beginning with the Polish Museum of America, the Polish American Association, the Polish National Alliance and the Polish Highlander's Alliance of North America. Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Baltimore and New Britain, Connecticut also have very large Polish populations. Older Polish Americans are rapidly migrating to the Southeast (Florida), Southwest (Arizona) and the West Coast (California), but also destinations for Polish immigrants from Poland in the 1990's.

Many of the largest Dyngus Day celebrations take place in Buffalo. The major US Polonia organization is the Polish American Congress. Polish Businesses and Organizations in the United States provided by Polsort.

[edit] Latin America

There has been political and economic migration of Poles to Latin America since the mid-19th century. The highest numbers went to Brazil followed by Argentina, Mexico and Panama.

[edit] Argentina

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in Argentina.

In Argentina Poles are one of the most significant minorities, numbering around 450,000. The Parliament of Argentina has made June 8th Polish Settlers' Day.

[edit] Brazil

For more details on this topic, see Polish Brazilian.

The number of people of Polish descent in Brazil is estimated at between 1 million and 1.8 million. Most Polish Brazilians are Catholic, with a significant Jewish minority. The majority of them are concentrated in the South of Brazil, especially in the state of Paraná.

[edit] Asia, Africa and Oceania

In addition to the countries mentioned above, Poles have settled in smaller numbers in Asia, Africa and Oceania as economic migrants or as part of Catholic missions.

[edit] Australia

For more details on this topic, see Polish Australian.

The first Polish settlers arrived in South Australia in 1856. After World War II, large numbers of displaced persons migrated to Australia, including soldiers from the Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade (the "Rats of Tobruk").

There are now approximately 160,000 – 200,000 Polish Australians.

[edit] New Zealand

For more details on this topic, see Polish minority in New Zealand.

In 1944, several hundred Polish children and their caregivers were temporarily resettled at a refugee camp at Pahiatua, New Zealand. It was originally planned for the children to return to Poland after World War II ended, but they were eventually allowed to stay in New Zealand with the onset of the Cold War.^[8]

[edit] References

1. ^ Union of Poles in Belarus
2. ^ http://www.statice.is/?PageID=1174&src=/temp_en/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=MAN04100%26ti=Population+by+citizenship+1981%2D2006+%26path=../Database/mannfjoldi/Rikisfang/%26lang=1%26units=number
3. ^ http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/PDR%202006%20Tables%2019-30.pdf
4. ^ "The true number of Poles living in Britain", Daily Mail, 12th February 2007
5. ^ "The arrival of the east European media", The Independent on Sunday, 22 October 2007
6. ^ "Now Poles begin mass desertion of Britain as soaring prices send them home", Daily Mail, 16th February 2008
7. ^ The Polish Community in Metro Chicago:A Community Profile of Strengths and Needs, A Census 2000 Report, published by the Polish American Association June 2004, p. 18
8. ^ "Pahiatua Children"

[edit] See also

• Demographics of Poland
• Great Emigration
• Hotel Lambert
• Polish Charter

[edit] External links

The external links in this article may not follow Wikipedia's content policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links.

• Polish American Catholic Heritage Committee
• PolishWashington.com Polonia in the Washington metropolitan area
• Information Resource of Polonia Organizations
• Polonia.net (Polish community in the United States)
• Polsort | Search locally Polish Businesses and Organizations in the United States
• Forum Polonijnie (Forum Polonijne)
• Polonia Świata (Free Polonia - Poles Directory)
• http://www.polishforums.com/ English speaking forum related to all things Polish
• Polonia.org (Polish language)
• Polakmaly.com (Community for Polish families in the US; bilingual)
• PolishPlanet (polish community in the UK)
• http://www.nasza-gazetka.ch/Menu_Polonia/DIASPORA/DIASPORA.HTM (information about Poles in Western Europe and other countries; Polish language)
• Flickr group: Polska Irlandia / Polish Ireland
• Polish portal run by Polish publications in Ireland
• Polish magazine in the UK (Polish language)
• M. Fitzgerald and R. Debski, "Internet Use of Polish by Polish Melburnians: Implications for Maintenance and Teaching", (2006).
• Polonia in Spain
• Polonia in Sweden
• Polonia UK (Free Polish Directory in UK)
• Polonia in Canary Islands
• PoloniaBlog.com, Polonia in Canada
• Polonia in Ontario, Canada
• Read more on recent economic migration in Guardian.co.uk
• Polonia in South Africa
• Reassessing what we collect website – Polish London History of Polish London with objects and images
• The Polish Churches of Milwaukee, WI USA
• Polacy w Wielkiej Brytanii, Polish Community in the UK
• Polish community in South Yorkshire, UK
• Polish community in Northampton UK