After World War II ended, the Allied victors established Displaced Persons camps in their respective zones to house the millions of refugees. The Allies used whatever sites seemed appropriate, and often, the Displaced Persons camps cropped up in bombed out German military barracks, hospitals, summer camps, schools, and airports.
It must have been strange to live for four to six years amidst shelled buildings and general disrepair.
It must have been strange to live for four to six years amidst shelled buildings and general disrepair.
Seligenstadt, Germany, Autumn 1945 or 1946. This image—no larger than a postage stamp—of the entrance to the Seligenstadt DP camp sits in my Mom's "way back when" album. A Lithuanian flag flies from the roof, designating the area as a place for DPs from that country. Notice the condition of the roof and windows.
UPDATE: I posted photos of the conditions at the Schweinfurt camp, where my Dad and paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, lived here and here.
Some of my Mom's memories of conditions at the camp appear in this entry.
UPDATE 2: Commenter "Di"—who presently lives in Seligenstadt—noted that the image here appears to be a different location. This probably is the entrance to the Augsburg camp. Thanks to Di for making the correction.
5 comments:
Hallo, this is fascinating! I live quite near Seligenstadt and have never seen any photos of the DP Camp until now. Are you 100% sure that this really is Seligenstadt? It Looks so large!
Hello Di,
This may be Schweinfurt. That's where my Dad lived. I will check with my Mom. Thanks for the correction; I'd rather get it right than "be right."
Hallo Irene,
I'm excited to hear that your Mom is alive and with you; that means I'm (almost) in contact with an ex-inmate of the camp!
I've taken some photos of present-day Seligenstadt. The camp buildings are now used by a Breeding Station for crops. There is a Plaque (unveiled in 1993)commemorating the DP camp, which I've also photographed. I'd like to send you these pictures for your Mom and your blog, how can I do that?
Diana
Thanks again, Di!
My Mom, Grandparents, Great Uncle (Zygas), & more family lived in Seligenstadt 1945?-1949. I have several items that they brought to the US from the camp you might be interested in seeing. One is a jousta that they wove from the silk (?) of a german parachute. Another is their "luggage" - two military crates that once held ordinance that were spliced together to better suit them as a trunk. My grandmother saved the "luggage" not for any histirical reasons, but only because it was a good crate - and we all know a good lithuanian never throws aways a useful item!!! Another favorite is a hand carved plaque my Great Uncle made - they had plenty of time to occupy.
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