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Polish or not? Grandfather born in region which is now Belarussian.

NottsladThreads: 1 Posts: 1 Joined: Apr 12, 09	Edited by: Moderator Apr 12, 09, 16:39 / #
Im English, with a Polish grandfather. But Im unsure whether Polish people would see him as truly Polish. To explain, my Grandad was born in a region which has been in different countries at different times. When he was born it was in Poland, he spoke Polish. He subsequently emigrated to Brazil. However, when the call when out to Polish nationals around the world to help with the war effort, he did his duty and came to England to do his part. After the war he settled here. So far, so Polish. However the region he is from, a both a few years before he was born and a few years after, became part of what today is Belarussia. So Im confused about my Grandads identity...Pole? Belarussian?

frdThreads: 8 Posts: 1,956 Joined: Feb 3, 09	Apr 12, 09, 16:42 / #
I think it is his to decide..

Shawn_H	Apr 12, 09, 16:42 / #
What is (was?) in his heart? I say if he was born on Polish soil, spoke Polish, fought for Poland, he is Polish. The fact that Poland's borders were shifted doesn't take away from his Polishness.

NottsladThreads: 1 Posts: 1 Joined: Apr 12, 09	Apr 12, 09, 16:48 / #
He considers himself Polish...but its hard because if he were to visit the town he was born now, its in Belarussia. For me its Poland I think of with most affection.

NathanThreads: 33 Posts: 1,846 Joined: Feb 13, 09	Apr 12, 09, 16:54 / #
You are who you think you are and not what the others say about you or according to some accepted norms many of us are used to follow on defining ourselves.

TorqThreads: 65 Posts: 4,024 Joined: Apr 10, 09 MEMBER	Apr 12, 09, 16:55 / #
Nottslad: He considers himself Polish. So there. He speaks Polish, fought for Poland and considers himself Polish. It doesn't matter if he was born in Zimbabwe, Mexico or Australia. Being Polish is about your heart and soul, not about the place you were born in.

newgrangeThreads: - Posts: 6 Joined: Nov 26, 08	Apr 12, 09, 18:06 / #
He is Polish. For many years there was no Poland on any map and yet there were Poles. He is Polish.

Lir	Apr 12, 09, 22:11 / #
Torq: Being Polish is about your heart and soul, Always :)

BuzzThreads: - Posts: 5 Joined: Aug 15, 09	Edited by: Buzz Aug 15, 09, 14:11 / #
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish–Lithuanian_Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was formed by the union of the Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569) and Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1569. The new Commonwealth was one of the largest and most populous countries of 16th and 17th-century Europe upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Poland1937linguistic.jpg

caprice49Threads: 4 Posts: 288 Joined: Aug 5, 09	Aug 17, 09, 17:53 / #
Nottslad: But Im unsure whether Polish people would see him as truly Polish. Yes we would!!!

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