A Tribute to America's Support for Russian Displaced Persons

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and commemorate the 60th anniversary of St. John of Shanghai’s repose, we honor and remember the assistance given by the U.S. government and our local saint to Russian immigrants in the post World War II era. 

We are grateful to the many Russian-American organizations, individuals and members of the U.S. government that helped legalize the status of displaced persons and allowed them entry to the United States of America. Without the political and financial support of these brave men and women, many of our families would not be enjoying the freedoms and promise of the United States of America.

Combatting Forced Repatriation in Europe

A huge number of refugees had accumulated in Europe after the end of World War II. Under the terms of the Yalta Repatriation Agreement, the Soviet leadership obliged its allies to assist with the forcible repatriation to the Soviet Union of post-war Russian emigrants. Several Russian-American organizations - The Russian-American Union for the Defense and Relief of Russians Outside of Russia, the Tolstoy Foundation, the Federation of Russian Charitable Organizations of the US and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) - joined forces to petition the U.S. government and organize aid for Russian displaced persons (DPs) stranded in post-war Europe.

Passing the Displaced Persons Act

The Yalta Repatriation Agreement made it essential to convince American society and the country's leadership to allow thousands of defenseless people languishing in DP camps into America. The Citizens Committee on Displaced Persons, supported by the above noted Russian American organizations, lobbied Congress using personal testimonies of refugees, a sponsorship framework for promised housing and jobs, and letter writing campaigns.

The Stratton Bill was introduced in 1947. It defined refugees as individuals who had to flee their home countries and committed the United States to providing them with a homeland. The Bill laid the groundwork for the Displaced Persons Act, signed on June 25, 1948, that admitted 202,000 refugees over and above the annual quota.  

St. John on Tubabao

The Act to help refugees in Europe, however, did not apply to Russian refugees from China. Saint John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, personally solicited Congress in the summer of 1949 on behalf of the Russians in the Philippines. 

Sen William F. Knowland

Because of Archbishop John’s relentless advocacy, Senator William F. Knowland from California not only proposed a two-staged plan, but also visited the refugees' temporary haven on Tubabao Island in the Philippines.  Following intense continued lobbying, the Displaced Persons Act was amended in 1950 to remove the discriminatory cut-off dates and increase the total number of admitted refugees to over 400,000.

Aid to Displaced Persons

The "displaced persons", as they were called by Americans, behaved themselves in a worthy manner and created churches, schools, and theaters in their temporary camps across Europe. Their financial condition, however, was critical. San Francisco had become a primary hub for pre-war "White Russian" émigrés, many of whom arrived via Harbin and Shanghai. This community possessed the financial capital, institutional knowledge, and strong anti-communist motivation required to mobilize quickly. 

Care package

Rather than competing for resources, The Committee of Russian Charitable Organizations in San Francisco united sixteen organizations and sent 3,417 parcels and money transfers totaling $11,648 to Europe (equivalent to roughly $150,000 today) between 1947 to 1949.  In ruined post-war Germany and Austria, standard currency was often worthless compared to American goods. The parcels sent by the San Francisco committee—containing coffee, cigarettes, canned meats, and textiles—acted as hard currency.  In addition, navigating the Displaced Persons Act required refugees to pay for medical exams, travel to consular offices, and secure legal documentation. The cash transfers sent by the Committee directly funded these administrative hurdles, ensuring Russian DPs could successfully claim their share of the 202,000 available visas.

Our Gratitude to Those Who Opened the Doors

Ultimately, the post-war fight against forced repatriation and the subsequent mobilization for the Displaced Persons Act represented a watershed moment. Through the relentless fundraising of coalitions like the San Francisco committee, the institutional leverage of the Tolstoy Foundation, and the direct political lobbying of figures like St. John of Shanghai, the Russian-American community successfully transformed thousands of twice-displaced and stateless refugees from geopolitical targets into permanent US citizens. Without the political and financial support of these brave men and women, many of our families would not be enjoying the freedoms and promise of this great country.

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Tubabao Oddysey: Refuge in the Philippines

You might enjoy watching this short film featuring video interviews and archival photographs about refugee life on the island of Tubabao.