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 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 the evacuation campaign organised by the Poles to France and the Middle East to Polish military units being formed there.
In the Catholic cemetery in Devescer, in the northern part of the cemetery, in sector E , in the fourth row from the alley, at the side entrance, close to the fence, is the grave of a Polish soldier, Private Józef Zając. On the grave there is an iron cross with a metal plaque with the inscription "Ś.P. / Tu spoczywa internowany żołnierz / polski zmarły tragiczną w / dniu 14 X 1940 lat 27 / Itt nyukszikaz urban / ZAJĄC JÓZEF / Lengyel katona at 27 èvet / megh. X-no 14-èn 1940".

Elaborated. A.Wojda, MKiDN, VII 2025.