After the Holocaust, many survivors found refuge in displaced persons (DP) camps administered by the Allies. Between the years of 1948 and 1951, approximately 700,000 Jews emigrated to Israel, including 136,000 Jewish displaced persons from Europe. Other displaced Jews emigrated to the United States and other nations. In 1957 the last displaced person camp closed. The Holocaust completely devastated European Jewish communities and eliminated hundreds of Jewish communities in eastern Europe (USHMM, 2017).
Jewish survivors of the Holocaust were afraid to return to their former homes due to antisemitism that still existed in parts of Europe, in addition to dealing with the trauma that the Jews suffered. Some Jews who decided to return home feared for their lives. In postwar Poland there were a number of pogroms (violent anti-Jewish riots). The largest pogrom occurred in 1946 in the town of Kielce, where Polish rioters killed 42 Jews and beat many others (USHMM, 2017.
As immigration to Palestine was becoming unsuccessful, the State of Israel was created. With the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948, Jewish displaced persons and refugees began flowing into the new sovereign state. It is estimated that by 1953, as many as 170,000 Jewish displaced persons and refugees had immigrated to Israel. To help aid the Jewish displaced people, in December 1945, President Harry Truman issued a directive that supported the large immigration of Jews and other displaced people to the US. As a result, more than 41,000 displaced persons immigrated to the United States. Of that number, approximately 28,000 were Jews (USHMM, 2017).
In 1948, US Congress passed the Displaced Persons Act. This allowed 400,000 US immigration visas to be issued for displaced persons between January 1, 1949, and December 31, 1952. Of the 400,000 displaced persons who entered the US under the Displaced Persons Act, approximately 68,000 were Jews. In addition to emigrating to the US, Jewish refugees emigrated as displaced persons or refugees to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe, Mexico, South America, and South Africa (USHMM, 2017).
As immigration to Palestine was becoming unsuccessful, the State of Israel was created. With the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948, Jewish displaced persons and refugees began flowing into the new sovereign state. It is estimated that by 1953, as many as 170,000 Jewish displaced persons and refugees had immigrated to Israel. To help aid the Jewish displaced people, in December 1945, President Harry Truman issued a directive that supported the large immigration of Jews and other displaced people to the US. As a result, more than 41,000 displaced persons immigrated to the United States. Of that number, approximately 28,000 were Jews (USHMM, 2017).
In 1948, US Congress passed the Displaced Persons Act. This allowed 400,000 US immigration visas to be issued for displaced persons between January 1, 1949, and December 31, 1952. Of the 400,000 displaced persons who entered the US under the Displaced Persons Act, approximately 68,000 were Jews. In addition to emigrating to the US, Jewish refugees emigrated as displaced persons or refugees to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, western Europe, Mexico, South America, and South Africa (USHMM, 2017).
USHMM. (2017). United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Aftermath of the Holocaust. Retrieved from: https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005129