HC Deb 04 June 1946 vol 423 cc307-8W
93. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Poles, who at any time served in the German Army, were captured by British troops or were transferred to our keeping after capture by our Allies before May, 1945, and since that date, respectively; how many of such Polish soldiers have since been incorporated in the Polish Army coming under the control of his Department; and what has happened to the remainder.

Mr. Lawson

The numbers of Polish members of the Wehrmacht captured in North West Europe by British troops or transferred to our keeping after capture were as follow:

Before May, 1945 54,898
After May, 1945 13,795
Total 68,693

The great bulk of these had been serving under compulsion and were anxious to join the Allied Forces on capture. The number of the above enlisted into the Polish Army under British Command was 53,630.

I regret that figures of captures and enlistments in the Central Mediterranean Force are not available.

The disposition of Poles not enlisted into the Polish Army (including Central Mediterranean Force) is as follows:

Repatriated to Poland 12,419
Prisoners of war status awaiting repatriation 2,010
Held as displaced persons and unwilling to be repatriated 144
Held as prisoners of war and unwilling to be repatriated 944
15,517

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