Polish schools that opened in the allied-controlled zones in Germany after WW2 were truly exceptional when it comes to what they offered in terms of education.
The very first primary school, in Dössel, starts teaching Polish pupils just three days after the liberation of the local POW camp in April 1945. In May, a few weeks later, in Lippstadt in North Rhine-Westphalia, the first secondary school for Poles opens its gates. In these weeks, the Polish schools organized in after-war Germany lacked everything – room for classes, notebooks, not to mention the school manuals. Teachers had to come up with the materials relying solely on their memory.
Opening new schools fell under the process of organizing the schools’ system - all in the hands of the teachers who had undertaken the task. In July 1945 there was a meeting of teachers when the Central Organization of the Polish Education in Germany was brought to life and it aimed at introducing unification of teaching methods, support for teachers, supplying schools in school materials (manuals, school certificates and other forms) as well as visiting the school establishments. The Central Organization’s office was initially in Püsselbüren-Esch and from autumn 1945 in Lemförde. It represented the Polish schooling system in Germany in contact with the local and international authorities, UNRRA and the Red Cross.
The western zones controlled by the allies after WW2 were divided into eight school departments which were further divided into school districts (in 1946 there were 57 in total). They were the body to organize the whole schooling system from the kindergardens to the secondary schools. The education in the secondary school gave a chance to continue studies at a chosen university after successful A-level exams. Students were eager to learn foreign languages – especially English that was needed in case of staying in exile. Those who were older were offered technical courses for drivers, mechanics, turners, electricians or sewing professional classes. A particular care was destined for the minors. When WW2 drew to the end there were 100,000 Polish children aged 3-17 at the territory of post-war Germany. These kids were victims of the forced displacements (deportations after the Warsaw Rising), germanization and concentration camps. In most cases they were orphans or kids who were separated from their parents. The schools that popped up were an attempt to heal, at least partially, if it was possible, the war trauma and make up for lost childhood.
At its peak (till mid 1946) there were 230 kindergardens, 540 primary schools and 61 secondary schools. After 1946 many students decided to leave (go back to Poland or move out to the West), thus the number of pupils went down. It is difficult to say when the last school was closed. It is said that there were still Polish schools in Germany in the 1950s.
The photographs presented below are a part of the album that is a collection of photos depicting the Polish school system in the British zone in post war Germany (here kindergardens and schools in Lippstadt and Mühlhausen). We may recognize there students and teachers. These pictures are a beautiful testament to the bond between the young – students, and the old - teachers; we can see the enthusiasm they shared when creating, far from home, a schooling system that was to prepare the young to live in Poland, or in the exile after WW2.
