Comite Reception des Prisonniers de Guerre et Deportes Politiques Seraing Centre

At the end of WWII millions of displaced persons, and many former POW's from the Soviet Union, were held in temporary camps. Most of them subsequently returned home but thousands decided to stay. In 1947 these people were re-homed with those countries willing to take them and Belgium was one of the first. Between 1947 to 1952 15,000 Russian-speakers settled in Belgium. One such reception centre was the miners' camp at Seraing, but living conditions were poor and lacked even basic necessities and life for the inmates must have been very harsh.

Our plaque is made from chrome plated brass and is inscribed in French and translated reads 'Reception Committee for Prisoners of War & Political Deportees Seraing Centre. 'Above is an image of a soldier wearing a forage cap set against a background of barbed wire. We have no idea when or to whom this was presented but an emotive and probably scarce object relating to a little know aspect of post war history. Measures 3" x 3" (7.5 cm x 7.5 cm)