Unused / unissued material - dates and locations unclear or unknown.

Title reads: "South Africa Provides Sanctuary".

Library shots of Poland in 1939 showing Polish refugees on roads. C/U Polish flag. Various shots of refugee camp for Polish children in South Africa. The South African Minister of the Interior visits the camp with his wife. More library shots: various C/Us of Polish servicemen marching.

South African newsreel story.

Amendment July 2016: A visitor to the site has informed us about the following history of Polish refugees in South Africa: Thousands of Poles were deported to the USSR in 1940-1, after the Red Army invaded Poland. Following the outbreak of the Soviet-German war in June 1941, talks began between Stalin and the Polish government in exile. These concluded with the signing of the Sikorski-Mayski agreement (30 July 1941). In August 1941, Soviet authorities issued an “amnesty” decree for Polish citizens.

The Polish-Soviet agreement enabled the Polish Embassy to resume operations, and gave Polish people an opportunity to leave their places of exile. Moreover, it created a legal basis for the formation of the Polish Army in the USSR, under the command of Gen. Wladyslaw Anders (hence the name Anders’ Army). The army was a component of the Polish Armed Forces, subordinate to the government in London. The Polish Army (app. 76,000 people) was evacuated to Iran in 1942, along with around 40,000 Polish civilians. It was then that settlements were created for the civilians in Africa, Iran, India, Palestine, Mexico and New Zealand.