Poles and Scots over the centuries

This book may be of interest to some PF-ers:

Review of Scotlandand Poland: Historical Encounters, 1500-2010. Edited by T. M. Devine andDavid Hesse. 2011. John Donald, Edinburgh

Reviewer: Mr. Jan Peczkis

ThePolish-Scottish Symbiosis. Insights into the Wrongly Awfulized Polish FeudalSystem

This work covers both the positive and negative aspectsof Polish-Scottish relations. Many Scots moved to Poland centuries ago. Poles came to Scotland during WWII, and again during the post-1989 period. Some of the negative features of their relationship stemmed from ignorance. Thus, thePole was as offended when asked by the Scot if he was a Russian as the Scot was offended when asked by the Pole if he was an Englishman.

The book is full of interesting information. Forinstance, the reader learns that Alexander Chalmers, from Dyce, Scotland, wasfour times the mayor of Warsaw in the 1600's. (Neal Ascherson, p. 9). Scottishpoet Robert Burns, in a poem, excoriated Catherine the Great for her role inthe Partitions of Poland. (p. 11). After WWII, some 8,000 Polish ex-servicemen,unable to return to the Communist Poland that precipitated from the Teheran-Yalta betrayal by Churchill and Roosevelt, settled in Scotland. (p.15).

Thanks Polonius.
What would be interesting is the chapters relating to the years after World War 2.

Another interesting author is David Worthington. He works for the University of the Highlands and has a particular interest in the Highlanders contribution to Poland.

Here is a link to one of his books looking at "Scots in the commonwealth 16th to 18th centuries"

Allan Carswell describes the common Polish-Scottishexperience during WWII. The Scotch came to see Poles as Bonnie Fechters—thosewho struggle in determined fashion for a cause. (p. 135, 145). The GermanOperation Sea Lion was real, and not a bluff. (p. 145). Poles were mobilized todefend Scotland in the event of its implementation. Poles were heralded fortheir valor in combat throughout WWII. As in England, support for Poland eventuallyslipped, in favor of the USSR, owing partly to left-wing influence.

New archival information sheds light on how the Britishsaw Poland between the wars. The ambassadorial personnel had a positiveattitude towards Poland's achievements, and discounted claims that Polandmistreated her minorities, notably the Jews. (Peter D. Stachura. p. 165, 171).During and after the war, genuine friendships between Poles and Scotsdeveloped, at different levels. (p. 157). There were also religion-basedconflicts between Protestant Scots and Catholic Poles, and this, in part,animated the postwar "Poles Go Home" calls. (pp. 160-161).

Now let us move to the present. Aleksander Dietkowdiscusses the modern Polonia of Scotland. Far from taking jobs from Scots,Poles have actually increased the productivity of Scottish businesses. (p.192). In addition, many Polish-owned businesses have sprung up in Scotland injust the last several years. (p. 194). Grazyna Fremi provides the URL's ofinternet portals that elaborate on Polish events and issues in Scotland. (p.200).

First I have heard of this - are you sure this was in Scotland or was it in "Britain" ?

From the book quoted......
Rachel Clements embarks on a comparative analysis of the press portrayal of Polish emigrants after the World War II and after the European Union accession. Another comparative angle of her study is present in the juxtaposition of the British and Scottish press, with the latter displaying generally more favourable attitudes towards the Poles