Figure 1.-- This is one of the orphanages established by religious groups after World war II. The boys here were mostly evacuees from Berlin meaning not all were orphans. As this was 4 years after the war, some may have fleed Communist East Germany or perhaps West Merlin children moved by the west Germans out of fear of a Communist take over. We are not sure about this. Perhps some of our German readees will know more. The press caption read, "German Children's Village: At Play: A group of boys, all evacuees from Berlin, spar around while waiting for school to begin in the Christin Youth Village of Adelheide, near Bremen, Germany. The village for girls and boys ws established by the German Protestant and Catholic churches. The children include those who have lost their homes in Eastern Germany, evacuees from Berlin and orphans." The photograph was dated June 30, 1949.

We note the Christian Youth Village at Adelheide near Bremen established after World War II. With the defeat of the NAZIS, religious groups once more could resume their role in supporting charity institutions. This was a religious supported orphanage. World War II was an even greater disaster for Germany than World War I. Unlike World War I, the last few months of the War were fought in the Reich, including cataclismic Bttle for Berlin. Large areas of the German capital had been destroyed by the allies bombing, a masive additional destruction resulted from the fighting for the city. As a result of the bombing, fighting, and combat casualties, large numbers of German children were either orphaned or had mothers who could not support them. And the expulsions of Germans from Eastern Europen countries with ethnic German communities meant that more orphans needed assistance. This is one of the orphanages established by religious groups after World War II. The NAZIs has taken over many charitable institutions from religious groups. After the war, the Churches attempted to resume their pre-NAZI role. The boys here were mostly evacuees from Berlin meaning not all were orphans. As this was 4 years after the war, some may have fled Communist East Germany or perhaps West Merlin children moved by the West Germans out of fear of a Communist take over. We are not sure about this. Perhps some of our German readees will know more. The press caption read, "German Children's Village: At Play: A group of boys, all evacuees from Berlin, spar around while waiting for school to begin in the Christin Youth Village of Adelheide, near Bremen, Germany. The village for girls and boys ws established by the German Protestant and Catholic churches. The children include those who have lost their homes in Eastern Germany, evacuees from Berlin and orphans." The photograph was dated June 30, 1949.

Created: 7:30 PM 1/2/2015
Last updated: 7:30 PM 1/2/2015