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in WWII

50+ Haunting Photos Of Refugees Of World War II

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When World War II erupted, millions of people from Europe and worldwide were displaced from their homes. The refugee crisis was born even before the war started when Nazi aggression pushed citizens of different countries. This migration continued through the war. The refugee camps worldwide were overflowing; over 60 million Europeans alone became refugees during the entire war period. Some refugees were permanently settled in different countries, particularly the Jews. In 1945 the UNRRA counted over 15 million refugees and displaced persons in Europe alone. Here below is a collection of photographs that show the horrible life of refugees of World War II. Commissioned photographs captured these photographs by Time and Life; some of them were independent.

#1 Swiss Jew Eva Bass, formerly a nightclub singer in Paris, entering refugee camp at Fort Ontario, with her children Yolanda and Joachim, whom she carried on a 60-km trek through the fighting lines to reach the American transport ship Henry Gibbins. 1944.

Swiss Jew Eva Bass, formerly a nightclub singer in Paris, entering refugee camp at Fort Ontario, with her children Yolanda and Joachim, whom she carried on a 60-km trek through the fighting lines to reach the American transport ship Henry Gibbins. 1944.

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#2 Displaced persons cross a bridge on the River Elbe at Tangermunde, which was blown up by the Germans, to escape the chaos behind German lines caused by the approach of the advancing Russians on May 1, 1945.

Displaced persons cross a bridge on the River Elbe at Tangermunde, which was blown up by the Germans, to escape the chaos behind German lines caused by the approach of the advancing Russians on May 1, 1945.

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#3 Refugees stand in a group on a street in La Gleize, Belgium on Jan. 2, 1945. They are waiting to be transported from the war-torn town after its recapture by American forces during the German thrust into the Belgium-Luxembourg salient.

Refugees stand in a group on a street in La Gleize, Belgium on Jan. 2, 1945. They are waiting to be transported from the war-torn town after its recapture by American forces during the German thrust into the Belgium-Luxembourg salient.

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#4 Germans who were uprooted during the war are pictured at the Lehrter Strasse Transient Refugee Camp in Berlin on Sept. 26, 1945.

Germans who were uprooted during the war are pictured at the Lehrter Strasse Transient Refugee Camp in Berlin on Sept. 26, 1945.

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#5 A displaced persons camp in Germany, March, 1945.

A displaced persons camp in Germany, March, 1945.

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#6 The only survivors of 150 Polish people who walked from Lodz, Poland to Berlin Huddle in blankets, on December 14, 1945. They are waiting by a railway track hoping to be picked up by a British army train and given help.

The only survivors of 150 Polish people who walked from Lodz, Poland to Berlin Huddle in blankets, on December 14, 1945. They are waiting by a railway track hoping to be picked up by a British army train and given help.

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#7 French refugees, returning to their homes in St. Pois, France after the Germans were driven out by the American forces, stop to rest at the side of the road on August 10, 1944.

French refugees, returning to their homes in St. Pois, France after the Germans were driven out by the American forces, stop to rest at the side of the road on August 10, 1944.

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#8 A large group of refugees fleeing Paris in anticipation of the German invasion, 1940.

A large group of refugees fleeing Paris in anticipation of the German invasion, 1940.

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#9 Refugees from the East of the German Reich (German Empire) around 1944-1945. Place and date unknown.

Refugees from the East of the German Reich (German Empire) around 1944-1945. Place and date unknown.

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#10 Belgian refugees carry their belongings with them as they flee from the advancing German army in January 1945.

Belgian refugees carry their belongings with them as they flee from the advancing German army in January 1945.

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#11 A family of Belgian refugees hold and support each other as they pass a military vehicle while walking the road to France, circa 1940. Behind them are other groups of refugees fleeing occupied Belgium.

A family of Belgian refugees hold and support each other as they pass a military vehicle while walking the road to France, circa 1940. Behind them are other groups of refugees fleeing occupied Belgium.

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#12 A crowd of refugees stood behind barbed wire on May 18, 1945, while waiting to cross the border into the neutral state of Lichstenstein. A thorough check by the customs office had to be performed for each of these displaced persons.

A crowd of refugees stood behind barbed wire on May 18, 1945, while waiting to cross the border into the neutral state of Lichstenstein. A thorough check by the customs office had to be performed for each of these displaced persons.

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#13 A man pulls a refugee’s pram, attached by a cord to his bike, up a hill in Roncey, France on August 7, 1944.

A man pulls a refugee's pram, attached by a cord to his bike, up a hill in Roncey, France on August 7, 1944.

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#14 Group of passengers from the Portuguese ship Serpa Pinto, which was stopped by a German submarine and ordered abandoned off Bermuda, are shown after their arrival in Philadelphia, May 31, 1944. The U-boat officers abandoned plans to sink the vessel and permitted the passengers to re-board her after

Group of passengers from the Portuguese ship Serpa Pinto, which was stopped by a German submarine and ordered abandoned off Bermuda, are shown after their arrival in Philadelphia, May 31, 1944. The U-boat officers abandoned plans to sink the vessel and permitted the passengers to re-board her after

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#15 Betti Malek—pictured on May 17, 1945—was one of numerous child refugees brought from Belgium to England after the Germans seized Antwerp in 1940.

Betti Malek—pictured on May 17, 1945—was one of numerous child refugees brought from Belgium to England after the Germans seized Antwerp in 1940.

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#16 German refugees and displaced persons crowding every square inch of a train leaving Berlin after the war’s end. 1945.

German refugees and displaced persons crowding every square inch of a train leaving Berlin after the war's end. 1945.

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#17 On Aug. 10, 1944, a girl and her grandmother wait in a schoolyard in Saint-Pois, Normandy, France. Refugees fled to Saint-Pois to escape the fighting in Mortaine during the final battle for Normandy.

On Aug. 10, 1944, a girl and her grandmother wait in a schoolyard in Saint-Pois, Normandy, France. Refugees fled to Saint-Pois to escape the fighting in Mortaine during the final battle for Normandy.

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#18 In 1945, a handful of survivors remain of the 150 refugees who left Lodz in Poland two months earlier, headed for Berlin. They follow railway lines in the hope of being picked up by a British train.

In 1945, a handful of survivors remain of the 150 refugees who left Lodz in Poland two months earlier, headed for Berlin. They follow railway lines in the hope of being picked up by a British train.

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#19 Refugees in La Gleize, Belgium, on Jan. 2, 1945, wait to be transported from the war-torn town after its recapture by American forces during the German thrust into the Belgium-Luxembourg salient.

Refugees in La Gleize, Belgium, on Jan. 2, 1945, wait to be transported from the war-torn town after its recapture by American forces during the German thrust into the Belgium-Luxembourg salient.

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#20 Refugees from across Central Europe queue for food at an Allied Forces refugee camp in Germany, on Mar. 20, 1945.

Refugees from across Central Europe queue for food at an Allied Forces refugee camp in Germany, on Mar. 20, 1945.

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#21 A stream of refugees and people who have been bombed out of their homes moving through destroyed streets in Germany in 1945, after end of war. On the left, two Soviet soldiers can be seen patrolling.

A stream of refugees and people who have been bombed out of their homes moving through destroyed streets in Germany in 1945, after end of war. On the left, two Soviet soldiers can be seen patrolling.

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#22 A group of Dutch refugee children arriving at Coventry Station in the U.K., in 1945.

A group of Dutch refugee children arriving at Coventry Station in the U.K., in 1945.

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#23 German refugees fleeing from the Russian zone in the first few weeks after the end of World War II in Europe, seen on Oct. 25, 1945. They are sleeping on straw in a makeshift transit camp at Uelzen in the British zone of Germany.

German refugees fleeing from the Russian zone in the first few weeks after the end of World War II in Europe, seen on Oct. 25, 1945. They are sleeping on straw in a makeshift transit camp at Uelzen in the British zone of Germany.

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#24 German refugees crowding the market square on Mar. 3, 1945, at Juchen, Germany, a town captured by the U.S. Army at the end of the Second World War.

German refugees crowding the market square on Mar. 3, 1945, at Juchen, Germany, a town captured by the U.S. Army at the end of the Second World War.

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#25 Exhausted, homeless German refugees huddled in a city municipal building seeking shelter. 1945.

Exhausted, homeless German refugees huddled in a city municipal building seeking shelter. 1945.

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#26 Dutch child refugees arrival In Britain at Tilbury, Essex, on Mar. 11, 1945. The small paper parcel under the boy’s arm contains all his luggage.

Dutch child refugees arrival In Britain at Tilbury, Essex, on Mar. 11, 1945. The small paper parcel under the boy's arm contains all his luggage.

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#27 Refugees from eastern Germany around 1944-1945.

Refugees from eastern Germany around 1944-1945.

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#28 German civilian refugees prepare to flee war-torn Aachen, Germany as the battle for the doomed city draws to a close, Oct. 24, 1944.

German civilian refugees prepare to flee war-torn Aachen, Germany as the battle for the doomed city draws to a close, Oct. 24, 1944.

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#29 Women and children standing at the roadside in 1945.

Women and children standing at the roadside in 1945.

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#30 German civilian refugees walking through the streets of Aachen, Germany, on their way to a safer area away from the combat zone, on Oct. 15, 1944.

German civilian refugees walking through the streets of Aachen, Germany, on their way to a safer area away from the combat zone, on Oct. 15, 1944.

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#31 A Civil Affairs Refugee Camp in France, 1944.

A Civil Affairs Refugee Camp in France, 1944.

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#32 War refugees walking through Berlin with their belongings on Dec. 15, 1945.

War refugees walking through Berlin with their belongings on Dec. 15, 1945.

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#33 A Frenchwoman with two children and belongings loaded on a baby carriage seen in Haguenau, France on Feb. 20, 1945, before they started on their long trek to a safe rear area. They are some of the refugees leaving the town because of the planned withdrawal of the 7th U.S. Army.

A Frenchwoman with two children and belongings loaded on a baby carriage seen in Haguenau, France on Feb. 20, 1945, before they started on their long trek to a safe rear area. They are some of the refugees leaving the town because of the planned withdrawal of the 7th U.S. Army.

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#34 An attendant with white brassard (front, r) accompanies newly arrived refugees, in January 1946, through the refugee camp in Bebra, Germany.

An attendant with white brassard (front, r) accompanies newly arrived refugees, in January 1946, through the refugee camp in Bebra, Germany.

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#35 With her baby in her arms and her young son tagging behind, Mrs. Eva Bass comes through gate to her new home at Fort Ontario.

With her baby in her arms and her young son tagging behind, Mrs. Eva Bass comes through gate to her new home at Fort Ontario.

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#36 The refugess line up after dinner in front of the mess halls to get two towels and one cake of soap each. Many of them were hesitant to let LIFE photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt take their pictures until they had a chance to clean up. Others were worries by the raggedness of their clothing. They said

The refugess line up after dinner in front of the mess halls to get two towels and one cake of soap each. Many of them were hesitant to let LIFE photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt take their pictures until they had a chance to clean up. Others were worries by the raggedness of their clothing. They said

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#37 Near-sighted V. Zobotin fills out customs declaration. One elderly Jew got out his prayer shawl, knelt in the midst of all the luggage to give thanks.

Near-sighted V. Zobotin fills out customs declaration. One elderly Jew got out his prayer shawl, knelt in the midst of all the luggage to give thanks.

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#38 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, 1944.

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#39 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, 1944.

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#40 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY, 1944.

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#41 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944. From the Aug. 21, 1944 issue of LIFE magazine.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944. From the Aug. 21, 1944 issue of LIFE magazine.

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#42 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

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#43 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

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#44 Refugees carried their own luggage to the customs depot. Boys from Oswego were hired to help but many refugees clung to possessions.

Refugees carried their own luggage to the customs depot. Boys from Oswego were hired to help but many refugees clung to possessions.

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#45 At camp gate Victor Franco from Tripoli waits with his daughter for his wife who is pregnant and rode in hospital car. He was afraid he might lose track of her, even though attendants told him he could see her in the hospital. He said he would wait right where he was.

At camp gate Victor Franco from Tripoli waits with his daughter for his wife who is pregnant and rode in hospital car. He was afraid he might lose track of her, even though attendants told him he could see her in the hospital. He said he would wait right where he was.

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#46 Up camp street, arm in arm, stroll Mr. and Mrs. Michele Mikhailoff, artists from Russia. They walked to the shore of Lake Ontario.

Up camp street, arm in arm, stroll Mr. and Mrs. Michele Mikhailoff, artists from Russia. They walked to the shore of Lake Ontario.

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#47 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

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#48 Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

Refugees from Europe at Fort Ontario in Oswego, N.Y., 1944.

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#49 Americans from Oswego line high wire fences of Fort Ontario to stare curiously at the refugees. Here one of the foreigners walks over to talk with them. He scratches his bare leg while explaining that he has a son in the U.S. Army.

Americans from Oswego line high wire fences of Fort Ontario to stare curiously at the refugees. Here one of the foreigners walks over to talk with them. He scratches his bare leg while explaining that he has a son in the U.S. Army.

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#50 The Dresdner family, mother, father and nine children, were confined in two concentration camps in France. In September 1943 they made their escape to Italy. Here a hungry daughter, not knowing quite how to eat gravy, simply pitches in.

The Dresdner family, mother, father and nine children, were confined in two concentration camps in France. In September 1943 they made their escape to Italy. Here a hungry daughter, not knowing quite how to eat gravy, simply pitches in.

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#51 The Albrecht family in their new barracks home. He is Jewish, she is Catholic. Their children are Peter, 10, and Renata, 5. Before war, he operated a theater in Vienna. In 1939 he went to Italy, was followed later by his wife and children.

The Albrecht family in their new barracks home. He is Jewish, she is Catholic. Their children are Peter, 10, and Renata, 5. Before war, he operated a theater in Vienna. In 1939 he went to Italy, was followed later by his wife and children.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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