Following the German aggression against Poland on 1 September 1939 and the attack by the USSR on 17 September 1939, thousands of Poles, both civilians and soldiers, crossed the Hungarian border. Despite the difficult international situation and Hungary's affiliation with the Axis powers, the Hungarians were very sympathetic and provided assistance to the Polish refugees. The Poles were cared for - both by the Hungarian state and by Polish organisations operating in Hungary. The internees were placed in numerous military and civilian camps. The camp for Polish refugees in Oroshi was located in the local community centre.
The number of Polish internees in the initial period of the exile is estimated at about 140,000, including about 33,000 privates and officers. Over time, the number of refugees, mainly military, decreased as a result of an organised evacuation campaign by Poles to France and the Middle East to Polish military units being formed there.
In the Oroshi cemetery there is the grave of a Polish war refugee, doctor Jozef Smolinski. A wooden cross has been placed on the grave, dug into the ground, with a partially obliterated inscription in Hungarian: "ITT NYUGSZIK / AZ / URBAN / SZMOLIŃSKI JÓZSEF / ORVOS ÉLT 54 ÉVET / MÉGHALT / 1943" (HERE RESTS SMOLINSKI JÓZEF - DOCTOR / LIVED 54 YEARS / DIED IN 1943)

Compiled by. A.Wojda, MKiDN, VII 2025.