President. in debating the. pending bill. which is designed to amend the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. it would appear that we might well bear in mind the tragic circumstances which made necessary the enactment of this legislation. It is my desire. at this time. to review these circumstances for the RECORD in order that we may focus our attention upon some of the basic issues which confront us. The termination of hostilities found the Allied occupation authorities in western Europe faced with the problem of caring for. repatriating. and resettling approximately 8.000.000 displaced persons and refugees who had been living under subhuman conditions in a virtual state of slavery for many years. They were made up of foreign workers. those who were impressed as laborers into the Nazi war machine. prisoners of war. and civilian deportees. Efforts to repatriate these persons were begun immediately. and between the summer of 1945 and the summer of 1947. the Allied occupation authorities in the western zones of Germany succeeded in returning approximately 7.000.000 persons to their homes. This task was a tremendous one. involving. among other things. the problem of transporting those who were fortunate enough to feel free to return to their native lands. without fear of persecution because of race. religiqn. or political belief.
Keywords matched
deportees refugees