Camps in Germany for refugies from Baltic

DP camps in Germany

Lithuanians, alongside with other refugees, who ended up in Germany during the WWII, were taken under the care of the army when the war was over. On 1945 May-June with the help of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) refugees were placed in encampments known as Displaced Persons camps.

In postwar Germany 269 DP camps were established, lithuanians were scattered among 113 of them.

Three main DP camp types:

Former military barracks;
Cabins built for foreign laborers (or after 1945 for refugees);
Formerly occupied apartments (entire streets or blocks with Germans gone were given away for DP, especially in Baden-Württemberg and French zone).

Living conditions in the camps were invidious – every person got 4 square meters of living space. Since every barrack room had from 30 to 40 square meters, sometimes two or even three families lived in one room. Part of the buildings were damaged in the war and poorly heated. In private apartments living was a bit more comfortable, because of sanitary equipment.

Composition of lithuanian DP's:	Men – 42 % Women – 34 % Children – 24 %
By age:	0 – 6 years – 12 % 7-16 years - 14 % 17-25 years – 20 % 26-35 years – 24 % 36-50 years – 20 % 51-60 years – 7 % 60 and above – 3 %
By religion:	Catholics – 85,5 % Protestants – 11, 0 % Orthodox Christians – 1,5 % Old Catholic – 0,7 % Various sects – 0,06 % Without religion – 0,18 %
By profession :	Priests – 277 ( 25 % of all Lithuania's clergy) Academies professors – 400 Writers – 90 (70 % of Lithuania's Writers Association members) Engineers - 400 Lawyers - 350 Teachers - 1100 Kindergarteners - 100