The Study On The Problem Of Jewish Displaced Persons In Europe

The Jewish Displaced Persons in Europe were specific Jewish population in terms of the definition of Displaced Persons(DPs) specially designated by Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces(SHAEF) at the end of the Second World War. In the beginning, there existed approximately 200,000-300,000 Jewish survivors of the Nazi Concentration and slave labour camps, who , together with non-Jews , were housed in the DP camps or refugee centres and taken care of by the army and the International organizations. As a result of large-scale repatriation in the first three month, there still remained 100,000 Jewish DPs and there was no change in their tragic circumstances. National character and the sole destination made the issues of Jewish DPs emerge from Europe, which at that time was flooded with DPs and refugees, and centered the whole Europe's attention on that problem.This article mainly explores the issue of European Jewish DPs(1945-1952), and deeply analyzes the policies on Jewish DPs adopted by U.S. and Britain, the diagreement over Jewish DPs between the two nations, the changes of the Jewish DPs, the final solution to the DPs, and the impact on the situation of Middle East and Palestine. On the basis, the main contents of the article could be listeded as follows. The appearance of the DPs drew comprehensive attention to this issue .U.S and Britain in Great powers adopted different attitudes and policies. America's reaction was active and practical. Harrison's report provided a solid foundation for the American policy on European Jewish DPs. The improvement in the living conditions of Jewish DPs attracted more Jews from east Europe where they still suffered anti-Semitism. The upsurge of the new comers made the number of Jewish DPs in west Europe increase to 300,000 in the middle of 1947.On the contrary , the Great Britain evaded the problem as best as they can in order to maintain its mandate in Palestine. Accordingly, the Great Britain refused to recognize Jews as a group, opposed their Palestine destination, and placed all sorts of obstacles to prevent new comers stepping into British zone of occupation in Germany and Austria . The clash between the two great powers resulted in the effort of the Anglo-American committee failing. But the problem of European Jewish DPs involved into the problem of Palestine, and also became one indispensable part of it when the international society resolved the problem of Palestine afterward. The fate of Jewish DPs depended completely on the political future of Palestine.The foundation of Israel in 1948 acted as the essential and effective means to resolve the problem of European Jewish DPs and about 250,000 returned to Israel . More and more counties accepted Jewish DPs led to the gradual decline of DP camps. Most were closed in 1952(the last closed in 1957). The history of European Jewish Displaced Persons came to the end.Although the problem of European Jewish DPs just lasted for several years and the number of Jewish DPs was not big, it, however, exerted a strong and far-reaching influence on situations in Palestine and Middle East . Firstly, it was used as a pretext for overall intervention in the affairs of Middle East by U.S.. Secondly, it brought on a serious deterioration in situation of Palestine and urged Britain to end its mandate . Last but not least, it spurred the establishment of Israel . The problem of European Jewish DPs has major significance for carrying out studies of the Jewish history and the issues of Palestine after the Second World War.