The Polish Government’s Migration Policy towards Jews in the Interwar Period

This article examines the migration policy of the Polish government toward the Jewish minority during the interwar period (1918–1939). Drawing on historical sources and scholarly literature, the study explores how emigration was promoted as a central strategy for addressing what was perceived as the “Jewish question.” The analysis reveals three dominant tendencies: efforts to encourage or force Jewish emigration from Poland; attempts to identify and negotiate with foreign governments for potential resettlement destinations, including Palestine and Madagascar; and measures aimed at preventing the return of Polish Jewish citizens from abroad. Despite early attempts at cooperation and integration, the government’s approach increasingly reflected the influence of nationalist and antisemitic ideologies, particularly in the 1930s. These policies, often unrealistic and legally questionable, ultimately failed and contributed to the worsening plight of Polish Jews on the eve of World War II. The article argues that the state’s reliance on emigration as a solution, combined with administrative inefficiency and growing antisemitism, exemplifies the broader failure of minority policy in interwar Poland.