Polish refugees detained in Spain during the Second World War

The dissertation explores the experiences of Polish refugees who, during the Second World War, escaped from France into Spain by clandestinely crossing the Pyrenees and were detained by Spanish authorities due to their irregular entry into the country. The research traces their journey from the moment they decided to flee through to their perilous crossing of the Pyrenees and subsequent captivity in Spain and finally their eventual liberation and departure to further destinations. It also analyses the activity of key actors they encountered: the Spanish authorities, the representation of the Polish government-in-exile, and private American relief organizations operating in Spain. Thanks to the inclusion in the study of both ethnic/Christian Poles and Polish Jews, the dissertation examines whether religious or ethnic background influenced their experience, situation, treatment by various institutions, and opportunities in exile. Moreover, it investigates other factors shaping the stance of Polish refugees in Spain, such as age, gender, or profession, and explores how various groups of Polish refugees perceived and recalled their wartime stay in Spain.