Facing Sweden: The Experience of Sweden after the Forced Migration from Poland During the Antisemitic Campaign, 1967–1972

Abstract

This article presents how the historical experience of Sweden is depicted in six biographies about the lives of Polish-Jewish refugees who migrated to Sweden from Poland in 1967–1972 due to the antisemitic campaign. It is an early output of the dissertation project Vi, de fördrivna [We, the Expelled], for which the historical experiences of this migrant group are being collected and analyzed. The depiction of Sweden in the biographies is viewed from the perspective of historical orientation. Generally, the biographies give a positive picture of Sweden. The Sweden illustrated is contrasted with a repressive depiction of Poland during the antisemitic campaign. Sweden at the time of arrival is also contrasted with Sweden in later years, which might be described as Sweden in decline.