Problematyka polskich emigrantów sezonowych na Łotwie na łamach tygodnika „Nasze Życie” w latach 1936–1939

Abstract

In the 1930s, Latvia was one of the main target countries for economic emigration from Poland. Emigration to Latvia was seasonal. Between 1936 and 1939, each year about 40,000 Polish agricultural workers were employed in Latvian agriculture. Polish seasonal migration was the object of attention of the contemporary press, both Polish and foreign. A very valuable source of knowledge about Polish seasonal migration is the newspaper Nasze Życie (Our Life). This applies especially to various aspects of Polish migrants’ everyday life. It was the only Polish newspaper in Latvia (it was published in Riga). From 1936, the newspaper had a special section devoted to seasonal workers. It contained information and messages addressed to the migrants. The editorial team’s task was to provide the workers with comprehensive and reliable help. In this regard, advice and guidance was given on the organisation of workers’ lives and work. These advices were difficult to overestimate. The newspaper also covered religious and moral topics. At the same time, the newspaper was the main link between the workers and the Polish consular service. It published messages of the Polish Consulate in Riga. Unfortunately, the weekly reached few seasonal migrants. Most workers did not read or subscribe to the newspaper for various reasons. The article analyses the content of the newspaper Nasze Życie. The author confronted the content of the newspaper with other available sources regarding the issues of Polish seasonal migration in Latvia.