Žirgynas

After World War II, most Lithuanians fleeing the Soviet occupation landed in Displaced Persons camps. Many camps were located in what became Western Germany. The "DPs" waited in the camps for permission to emigrate to one of the countries accepting refugees.

The DP camps featured separate, barracks-style living quarters for men and women. The Lithuanian DPs called the building housing single men the "Žirgynas."

Žirgynas is the Lithuanian word for "stud farm."

Seligenstadt, Germany, about 1946. Residents of the "Žirgynas" gather for dinner. They appear to be sitting down for the Kūčios meal because there are evergreen sprigs at the place settings, and a lit Christmas tree stands in the background. My maternal Grandfather Jake and my Father-in-law both lived in this Žirgynas while they were DPs.