Figure 1.-- These German boys are studying toether in a boarding institution. While the facility is unidentified, we believe it is an orphanage and not a school. The boys are studying around a table. They probably went to the local state school. We do know the photograph was taken in 1929, but not the location. The boys do not wear uniforms. This was not common in German schools or orphanages. The oldest boy (about 12 or 13 years old) wears a sailor suit. All the boys wear short trousers with long stockings. They are obviously a dark color, but we are unsure about the color. We know that this was a boarding facility, probably an orphanage, because we have another photo showing the boys in their dormitory getting dressed. The boys' clothes seem quite typical for Germany in 1929. Click the image for more information about the orphanage.

We have little historical information about German orphnages. We know there were orphanges run by both public and religious charities. The two world war created a need for institutions caring for children. In connection with World War I, one often thinks of Belgian and French orphanages. The last years of the War and the years immediately following World War I were terribly difficult in Germany. Large numbers of German civilains experienced hunger and malnutrition. Some even died of died of starvation, but we are not sure hiow many. (This was one factor in undermining civilian morale in World War I and a reason that the NAZIs attempted to avoid rationing in the early years of World War II, efforts which led to the plundering of occupied countries.) Unlike World War I efforts to feed Belgium, because of the War there was little interest in humanitarian assistance to Germany, even after the War. Many fathers were killed in the War and mothers had trouble feeding their children. Unemployment was rife and fathers that did return could not find jobs. Thus large numbers of children were put in orphanages at least temprarilty because their parents could not feed them. One boy who spent 1916-18 in an orphanage with his brother recalls the meager food. His family was not allowed to supplement the food or even give a few coins. Such donations had to be turned over to the orphange. He did not mention the clothing at the orphanage. Germany by 1917 was expereincing severe food shortages. We note a German orphanage, probably during the NAZI era. After the War, the difficult economic condituins probably caused more parents, especially single-parent families to put children in orphanages. The orphanages were boarding facilitites, but they did not have schools. The children went to the local state school. We do not have much information about conditions in the orphanages.

Chronology

We have little historical information about German orphnages. We note references to orphanages from the the 18th century. Religious groups played a major role in Charity organizations, includung orphanages. Both Catholic and Protestant churches played a major role. Jewish groups served the small Jewish community. Orphanages and other One report indicates that the "Society for the Care of Orphans" ("Verein zur Versorgung der Waisen") in Hanburg was the second oldest Jewish orphanage in Germany (1766). Religioug groups continued to play a central role in charity grouos even after unification abd the creation of the strong German state (1871). The two world war created a need for institutions caring for children. In connection with World War I, one often thinks of Belgian and French orphanages. The last years of the War and the years immediately following World War I were terribly difficult in Germany. Large numbers of German civilains experienced hunger and malnutrition. Some even died of died of starvation, but we are not sure hiow many. (This was one factor in undermining civilian morale in World War I and a reason that the NAZIs attempted to avoid rationing in the early years of World War II, efforts which led to the plundering of occupied countries.) Unlike World War I efforts to feed Belgium, because of the War there was little interest in humanitarian assistance to Germany, even after the War. Many fathers were killed in the War and mothers had trouble feeding their children. Unemployment was rife and fathers that did return could not find jobs. Thus large numbers of children were put in orphanages at least temprarilty because their parents could not feed them. One boy who spent 1916-18 in an orphanage with his brother recalls the meager food. His family was not allowed to supplement the food or even give a few coins. Such donations had to be turned over to the orphange. He did not mention the clothing at the orphanage. After World War I, the difficult economic conditions probably caused more parents, especially single-parent families to put children in orphanages. After seizing power, the NZIs began to take over cgarity institutions, primarily by restricting find raising by rekigious groups. The NAZI welfare organization was the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt/People's Welfare Organization (NSV). We do not have any details yet on orphanages administered by the NSV. After the War, the NSV along with all NAZI organizations were disolved. Religious groups were able to resume their charity roles. And some prphanages were opened for the many children needing care. The NAZI asault on the churches, however, permnently damaged both the churches and their ability to suport charity institutions. The state began to play a larger role. This was especially true in th Soviet zone (Eastern Germny) where the regime bgn an athoest campaign. Soviets autorities in former East Prussia put German orphans (often called Wolf children) in orphanages overseen by Soviet military officers but staffed mostly with Germans still remaining in East Prussia. The Soviets reported 4,700 German orphans in Kaliningrad (1947). They deported several train loads of German orphans to the DRR. Some of the trains took 4-7 days to get to the DDR. The children in many cases were not provided with food or toilet facilities. Some died. The number is unknown. The DDR opened the Kinderdorf Kyritz,children's village of Pinnow (1948). [Leiserowitz]

Sponsoring Organizations

We know there were orphanges run by both public and religious charities in Germany. We are not sure to what extent the German imperail government was involved. Many prphanages were alreay established when Germany was unified and the imperial structure created. We know that charitable groups, sponsored by the churches, played a major role. Germany by 1917 was expereincing severe food shortages. It was the central reason that German civilian morale collapsed. Children were especially vulnerable, especially children who had lost their fathers in the War. America relief efforts prevented many Germans from starving as it did throughout Europw with relief supplies. We believe that food was supplied to ibstituions like orphanges, but hve few details.

Individual Orphanages

We have some limited information on individual German orphanages. We note an unidentified German orphnage after World War I. We note another unidentified German orphanage, probably during the NAZI era. 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.

Schools

The orphanages were boarding facilitites, but they did not have schools. The children went to the local state school.

Conditions

We do not have much information about conditions in the orphanages.

Clothing

We notice German orphanages that had uniforms and others where uniforms were not worn. One Jewish boy desctibes his uniform at a Hamburg orphanage in the early 20th century "It was made of ugly, grey cloth and consisted of short trousers and a jacket that was closed at the neck. In addition we wore the ugliest grey peaked cap imaginable." Hans Klötzel hated this uniform as much as the stipulated short, military haircut."

Sources

Leiserowitz, Ruth. Von Ostpreußen nach Kyritz. Wolfskinder auf dem Weg nach Brandenburg (From East Prussia to Kyritz. Wolf children on their way to Brandenburg) (Brandenburgische Zentrale für politische Bildung: Potsdam, 2003),

Created: 10:19 PM 5/31/2008
Last updated: 5:26 PM 1/2/2015