UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
Saving the Displaced Persons: The Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau
Description:
CIUS Seminar Audio Part 1 and 2.
Stanley Frolick presented a second seminar on November 13 entitled, "Saving the Displaced Persons: The Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau," in which he described the activities of the Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau (CURB) from its inception after the end of World War II to 1946 — the period of his personal involvement. He stressed that this was a little-known, yet most fascinating chapter of Ukrainian-Canadian history, which reflects the role Ukrainian emigrations ought to play. A full, objective and scholarly account of this history has still to be written. CURB was formed through the voluntary initiative of the Ukrainian Canadian Servicemen's Association (UCSA) in London as a result of Allied soldiers' encounters with Ukrainian POWs, displaced persons, Ostarbeitev3 Soviet deserters, and concentration camp inmates. UCSA began to provide material support with help from Ukrainian women's organizations in Canada and the United States. CURB'S role changed when the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) and the Red Cross took over material support of the displaced persons. Its main role became the defense of Ukrainians against forcible repatriation, Ukrainian resettlement to Western countries, and combating Soviet propaganda through the Ukrainian Information Service. Although CURB was sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund and the United Ukrainian American Relief Fund (member organizations of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America respectively) problems arose because it did not represent these organizations. Thus there was a constant tug of war between CURB and UCC/UCCA. The speaker described in detail the structure and inner workings of CURB, the manner in which military zones functioned, and visits by CURB representatives to POW and DP camps.
The presentation was concluded by Dr. Bolubash's short account of the experiences of the Ukrainian DPs at Heidenau with the Soviet repatriation commission. He contrasted this experience with the arrival of CURB representatives at that camp.
Found in CIUS Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 1 (Winter 1978)
Stanley Frolick presented a second seminar on November 13 entitled, "Saving the Displaced Persons: The Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau," in which he described the activities of the Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau (CURB) from its inception after the end of World War II to 1946 — the period of his personal involvement. He stressed that this was a little-known, yet most fascinating chapter of Ukrainian-Canadian history, which reflects the role Ukrainian emigrations ought to play. A full, objective and scholarly account of this history has still to be written. CURB was formed through the voluntary initiative of the Ukrainian Canadian Servicemen's Association (UCSA) in London as a result of Allied soldiers' encounters with Ukrainian POWs, displaced persons, Ostarbeitev3 Soviet deserters, and concentration camp inmates. UCSA began to provide material support with help from Ukrainian women's organizations in Canada and the United States. CURB'S role changed when the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) and the Red Cross took over material support of the displaced persons. Its main role became the defense of Ukrainians against forcible repatriation, Ukrainian resettlement to Western countries, and combating Soviet propaganda through the Ukrainian Information Service. Although CURB was sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund and the United Ukrainian American Relief Fund (member organizations of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America respectively) problems arose because it did not represent these organizations. Thus there was a constant tug of war between CURB and UCC/UCCA. The speaker described in detail the structure and inner workings of CURB, the manner in which military zones functioned, and visits by CURB representatives to POW and DP camps.
The presentation was concluded by Dr. Bolubash's short account of the experiences of the Ukrainian DPs at Heidenau with the Soviet repatriation commission. He contrasted this experience with the arrival of CURB representatives at that camp.
Found in CIUS Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 1 (Winter 1978)
Author:
CIUS
Publisher:
CIUS
Date:
November 13, 1978
Contributor:
Stanley Frolick
Original Format:
Magnetic tape, audio cassette
Files
Collection
Citation
CIUS, “Saving the Displaced Persons: The Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau,” CIUS-Archives, accessed April 20, 2024, https://cius-archives.ca/items/show/1976.
