Anti-Jewish post-war pogroms
Anti-Jewish post-war pogroms: There are many explanations for hostile attitude of Poles towards Jews who have survived the Holocaust. Different factors can be named: pre-war and occupational propaganda, demoralization and banditry of war, fear of punishment for war crimes committed against the Jews, belief that Jews dominated the imposed communist authorities, ownership question of Jewish properties that remained in Poland after its owners were killed (the properties were taken over by Poles and the owners or heirs who were coming back to Poland wanted to take it back). These factors caused expulsions of Jews who were coming back to their homes, assaults and even local pogroms. In tens of towns took place protests against the Jews. The biggest were pogroms in Kraków in August 1945 and in Kielce in July 1946. In some cases the violence against Jews was an element of actions carried on by anti-communist groups of Polish armed underground resistance movement. 200 people died because of “the train action” during which Jews who were coming back from USSR were taken out of the trains and shot. Accused of taking this actions were troops of NSZ (National Armed Forces) – extreme rightist organization of the Polish resistance movement. Aversion toward repatriates was caused by the belief that the Jews who were coming back from USSR were brought to Poland to strengthen communist authorities. It is estimated that in Poland after the World War II more than 1000 Jews were killed.