Through Continents Without a Ticket

<p>...Many labels were used to describe us – deportees slave laborers exiles refugees displaced persons immigrants.  We happily answer to one – SURVIVORS.</p><p>Christine was born in southeastern Poland in the city of Halicz.  When Poland was brutally attacked in 1939 by Germany from the west and Russia from the east the Soviet government began ethnic cleansing of southeastern Poland deporting the residents to Siberia.  Christine’s family was deported to Kazakhstan along with 250000 Poles.  The Polish government in exile operating in Britain formed the Polish Army.  Therefore soldiers and their families were evacuated from Siberia to British held colonies.  This began a journey through Persia (now Iran) India East Africa and England.  Many labels were used to describe them - deportees slave laborers exiles refugees displaced persons immigrants.  They happily answered to one - survivors.  Christine wrote to tell her children and grandchildren about their heritage and the terrible events that brought them to the United States.</p>