Beginnings

Displaced Persons who fled Lithuania sought refuge in DP Camps established by UNRRA after World War II ended.

Mainfranken, or "Franconia," is a Bavarian, administrative district in Germany. The Mainfranken Displaced Persons Control Center was the place at which UNRRA processed those Displaced Persons who would be relocated to Würzburg or Schweinfurt. The DP camps in Würzburg and Schweinfurt were part of the U.S. Zone of the Allied, post-war, occupation of Germany.

This means my Dad, his twin sister Jonė, and their mother, Tatjana, all shuffled through the Mainfranken Control Center before settling—for the next five years—in Schweinfurt.

It's also the place at which my friend Kris's Mom, Donna, her Uncle Al, and Donna's Parents received permission to secure housing in Würzburg. Mr. Irene's paternal Uncle, Ignas, also would have passed through Mainfranken on his way to Würzburg.

Mainfranken, Germany, 1945. Displaced Persons await processing at the UNRRA Control Center. A priest and two altar boys also greet the refugees. Notice that the DPs have few belongings.

Thanks to my friend Kris for making this photo available to us.