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Population Migration The Second World War - Other Europeans The Second World War brought a new wave of migration to Britain, particularly following the surrender of France in 1940 when Britain remained the only country free of German domination. Soldiers, sailors and air force personnel from all over the world came to Britain to continue the fight to push German forces back and free Europe. Wolverhampton saw its
share of these troops with Dutch, Polish, South African and, in
1944, Americans stationed in the area. As with troops all over the
world there was a certain amount of "friendship" between
the troops and the civilian population of the town. This "friendship"
was one reason why a number of them did not return to their homelands
following the end of hostilities in 1945. The Dutch troops first
arrived in the spring of 1941 following their escape from France
the previous summer. The troops were stationed at Wrottesley Park,
located a few miles to the west of the town. While at the camp the
troops were formed into the Princess Irene Brigade and were later
to fight with distinction as part of the 8th Army in mainland Europe.
Dutch Troops at Wrottesley Camp, 1941-1945 (G3/WRO/3 & 4) The camp was extended and took up part of RAF Perton, a small RAF training establishment. Although the camp was built to house six thousand troops it was never more than a third full. The troops had their own newspaper, De Bromtol, which was printed by Whiteheads printers of Snow Hill, Wolverhampton.
De Bromtol, 5 May, 1944 (S355p) The camp was the main training establishment for Dutch troops during the war and as such received visits from both Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Bernhard.
Visit of Queen Wilhelmina to Wrottesley Camp, 1944 (G3/WRO/6)) The Town Hall in Wolverhampton even held the Dutch Crown Jewels for safekeeping until hostilities ended! Following the end of the war a number of Dutch troops remained and settled in Wolverhampton. The Dutch troops integrated
into society so well that the only visual sign of their existence
in Wolverhampton today is the number of Dutch surnames listed in
the telephone book. Poland, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, etc After the war there were approximately twelve thousand displaced persons living in Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas. They were mostly from Central and Eastern Europe. Many troops returned to their home countries when the war ended. For those whose countries were behind the Iron Curtain and under Soviet influence this was a particularly hard decision to make. Whilst some did return home, others emigrated to places such as Canada and Australia. Some decided to remain in the United Kingdom. The Poles, together with
others from the Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania,
and the Ukraine, had this difficult decision to make. All migrant groups have a tendency to associate together, socially or for religious worship. In many cases religion is the glue that holds these communities together. When migrant groups meet together for worship it may be the only time that they are able to talk to someone in their own language. The Poles and Ukrainian communities in Wolverhampton both have their own churches which were built in the 1980s, the Polish in Stafford Road and the Ukrainians in Merridale Street.
Polish Catholic Church, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, 1984 (E2/POL/E/1) Hungary Following the ending of the Second World War there were also a number of Hungarian refugees who set up home in Wolverhampton, mainly ex-servicemen and women who did not wish to return to Hungary due to the political climate. This community of Hungarian exiles in Wolverhampton increased dramatically in 1956 following the unsuccessful Hungarian Uprising. At the end of the Second World War there was an influx of migrants from Italy. They came to work in the factories of Wolverhampton. One factory in particular to benefit from this migrant labour force was Courtaulds. Large numbers of Italians, particularly young single women, worked for the company. Again these migrants formed clubs and worshipped together. There is an Italian Pentecostal Church in Gorsebrook Road, Wolverhampton.
© Copyright. Wolverhampton City Council, 2002
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