European Voluntary Workers

The scheme

While the two schemes ran from 1946 to 1951, most came during 1947 to 1948.^[4][5] The first aspect of the programme began in October 1946 with the recruitment of women from the Baltic nations to fill domestic work jobs (of what would become the 'Balt Cygnet').^[6]

By the end of 1947, around 34,688 people (25,115 men, 9,573 women) had been brought in under Westward Ho, in addition to 1,800 women brought under Balt Cygnet.^[7] By middle of 1948 in June, 60,856 had been brought into the country^[8] in total and by the end of 1948 approximately 75,000 EVWs had been placed in employment.^[9]

The scheme also took in Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).^[10] Many of these were put into makeshift camps,^[11][12] a total of 9 holding camps existed for EVWs with around 9,500 people accommodated in July 1947.^[13]

The relatively high level of economic growth in the UK during the post-war period led an acute labour shortage within key sectors. EVWs were first and foremost invited in order to cover the need for low-paid and unskilled work to work in industry sections like mining, iron, textiles and steel, but also in the health system and agriculture.^[14] The majority of EVWs originated in Ukraine, Poland and Latvia.^[15] During the selection process, interviews were conducted, and medical reports were prepared.^[16] Since many of these people were displaced because of World War II, also a humanitarian element has been attributed to some of the EVW schemes. In total some 91,000 people came to the UK between 1946 and 1949 under the various EVW schemes. EVWs were initially referred to as ‘Displaced Persons’, since many of the arrivals had been displaced by World War II. This term was however replaced by ‘EVW’ due to its derogatory connotations.

Some of the schemes in place, such as Balt Cygnet, did not make any provisions for dependents. These schemes did however experience problems with recruitment, and the most successful scheme ‘Westward Ho!' did accommodate for both children and spouses.^[17] EVWs who came to the UK were generally paid the same wage and had the same rights as British workers. Some did however experience discrimination, especially within trades with strong trade unions. They were for instance often refused positions with more responsibility and were in some places fired before British workers in the case of redundancies.^[18] Another criticism was that some of the residents of the shelters had to live in large camps without contact with their families and the local population.^[19] A total of around 80,000 European Volunteer Workers and former displaced persons have been recruited through the Balt Cygnet and Westward Ho! programmes.^[20]

EVWs were entitled to after residing for the correct amount of time to apply for British citizenship.^[21] About 262 Yugoslavs had naturalised by 1952.^[22]

Geographical concentration

A large proportion of EVWs were concentrated in the North of England, particularly around Lancashire and West Yorkshire.^[23][24][25] In March 1948 there was around 3,500 textile workers in Lancashire.^[26]

Marital status

While most EVWs were single (and this being a requirement of the scheme),^[27] a degree of those who came were married and they often brought dependents with them. In 1947 around 7,500 married male and female EVWs arrived into Britain, with around 1,500 dependents and 600 among these being children under 16.^[28][29]

Nearly half of those that arrived in the first quarter of 1948 were working in agriculture.^[30][31]