Question

Why were 18,000 Jewish refugees stuck at the German border with Poland in 1938?

Answer 1

They were stuck at the border due to a policy made by Germany's Nazi government at the time, it was known as "Polenaktion" or "Polish action". As apart of a lot of efforts, this was meant to expel Jews from Germany and consolidate its power over Europe.

Step-by-step explanation:

The policy was enacted in October 1938 and involved the forcible deportation of Polish Jews living in Germany. The German government claimed that these individuals were living in Germany illegally and used this as a pretext to deport them. Many of the Polish Jews had been living in Germany for years and had built their lives there, but were suddenly faced with the prospect of being forcibly removed from their homes and sent to a country where they had no connection or support.

The Polish government, which was also anti-Semitic, refused to allow the Jewish refugees to enter Poland, leaving them stranded at the border with no food, shelter, or medical care. The situation was dire, and many of the refugees were forced to live in squalid conditions, exposed to the elements and disease.

The plight of the Jewish refugees caught the attention of the international community, and many countries, including the United States, Britain, and France, were urged to take in the refugees. However, most countries were unwilling to accept large numbers of Jewish refugees, and the situation remained unresolved for several months.

Ultimately, a deal was brokered between the German and Polish governments, and the Jewish refugees were allowed to enter Poland and were then sent to other countries, including Britain, France, and the United States. However, the incident was a stark reminder of the desperate situation faced by Jewish refugees in Nazi Germany and the reluctance of many countries to offer them refuge.

Answer 2

After Austria was annexed to Germany in March 1938, the Polish government was afraid that the approximately 20,000 Austrian Jews with Polish citizenship would flee back to Poland. It thus suspended the validity of all Polish passports whose holders had been abroad for more than five years. This law took effect on 31 March 1938. The arrested Jews were forced, through threats and violence, to illegally cross the border with Poland. In all, approximately 17,000 people were expelled in this way. However, the Polish authorities refused to accept them, and so most of them had to live for many long weeks in no man's land, or the Polish border area.

Step-by-step explanation:

After 31 October 1938 the holders of Polish passports issued abroad were only allowed on to Polish territory if their passports contained a special note made by Polish consulates. In this way, most of the 50,000 Polish Jews settled in Germany would lose their state citizenship overnight.In this way, most of the 50,000 Polish Jews settled in Germany would lose their state citizenship overnight.27 October 1938 started forcibly deporting Polish Jews over the Polish border.