Before and during World War II History of the Jews in England

kindertransport – arrival sculpture in central london marks kindertransport when uk took in 10,000 jewish children prior wwii. dubbed british schindler , nicholas winton notable member of operation

though there growing anti-semitism during 1930s, counterbalanced strong support british jews in local communities leading events such battle of cable street anti-semitism resisted jews , neighbours, fought out on street fascist elements.

consistent complex history, britain not particularly receptive jewish refugees fleeing nazi regime in germany, , other fascist states of europe. approximately 40,000 jews austria , germany allowed settle in britain before war, in addition 50,000 jews italy, poland, , elsewhere in eastern europe. despite increasingly dire warnings coming germany, @ evian conference of 1938, britain refused allow further jewish refugees country. notable exception allowed parliament kindertransport, effort on eve of war transport jewish children (their parents not given visas) germany britain. around 10,000 children saved kindertransport, out of plan rescue 5 times number. see jews escaping nazi europe britain.

allied forces celebrate rosh hashanah in london, 1943

with declaration of war, 74,000 german, austrian , italian citizens in uk interned enemy aliens. after individual consideration tribunal, majority, largely made of jewish , other refugees, released within 6 months.

even more important many jews permission settle in british-controlled mandatory palestine. in order try maintain peace between jewish , arab populations, after 1936–39 arab revolt in palestine, britain strictly limited immigration. limitation became absolute after white paper of 1939 stopped legal immigration. during war, zionists organised illegal immigration effort, conducted hamossad le aliyah bet (the precursor of mossad) rescued tens of thousands of european jews nazis shipping them palestine in rickety boats. many of these boats intercepted , sank great loss of life. efforts began in 1939, , last immigrant boat try enter palestine before end of war mv struma, torpedoed in black sea soviet submarine in february 1942. boat sank loss of 800 lives.

many jews joined british armed forces, including 30,000 jewish volunteers palestine alone, of whom fought in jewish brigade. many formed core of haganah after war.

by july 1945, 228,000 troops of polish armed forces in west, including polish jews, serving under high command of british army. many of these men , women kresy region of eastern poland , deported soviet leader joseph stalin siberia 1939–1941. released soviet gulags form anders army , marched persia form ii corps (poland). polish ii corps advanced british mandate of palestine, many polish jews, including menachem begin, deserted work on forming state of israel, in process known anders aliyah . other polish jews remained in polish army fight alongside british in north africa , italy campaigns. around 10,000 polish jews fought under polish flag — , british high command — @ battle of monte cassino. of them eligible settle in uk after polish resettlement act 1947, britain s first mass immigration law.