The War Ends (May–September 1945)

Abstract

Germany’s surrender brought about two reactions among Ukrainians displaced as a result of the Second World War. For some a long ordeal was finally over and they looked forward to the prospect of returning home to their families and rebuilding their disrupted lives.¹ For others, who did not want to return home, it signalled the beginning of a period of uncertainty, during which they would struggle to establish their rights as refugees and obtain asylum.² In May 1945 approximately three million of the displaced people in Europe were Ukrainian, but by autumn 1945, the combined efforts of Western and Soviet repatriation officials had reduced that number to around 200 000.³