The illegal emigration of Jews from Poland has resumed within recent weeks and about 1,500 Jews have left the country within the last month.
In this mass movement, in contrast to earlier migrations from Poland since the liberation, the people involved are almost all members of various Zionist parties organized in Hechalutz training centers. An additional 4,000 Zionist men and women are expected to make their way toward Palestine before the newest wave recedes.
The Polish border guards, as well as the Czechoslovak authorities, have in most instances looked the other way when these groups, usually organized on the basis of the training center in which the members formerly lived, crossed the fronten. Several groups were detained for a short while at Polish guard posts, but were eventually released. The Czechs are lenient because they know that the Jews will continue through their country en route to France or Italy where they hope to board a vessel for Palestine.
A number of former Jewish officers and non-commissioned officers in the Polish Army have been among those who made their way out of the country recently. More are preparing to leave. Originally the military authorities refused to accept applications for demobilization from the officers and non-coms because they said that the men were needed as cadres to train recruits.
Some of the Jews carried their appeal to the highest military echelons, asserting that they desired their release so that they could proceed to Palestine to serve in the Jewish army which they expect will be formed in the projected Jewish state. After a period of study, military headquarters issued an order instructing local headquarters to give favorable consideration to Jewish officers and non-coms who apply for discharge to go to Palestine.
The migration of whole memberships of Hechalutz training centers has forced some of them to licuidate completely. Others are attempting to recruit new trainees to replace the ones they lost.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
