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Displaced Persons Camps

As World War II drew to a close, JDC marshalled its forces to meet a crisis of staggering proportions, racing to ensure that tens of thousands of newly liberated Jews would survive to enjoy the fruits of freedom. By late 1945, some 75,000 Jewish survivors of the Nazi horrors had crowded into the displaced-persons (DP) camps that were hastily set up in Germany, Austria, and Italy. Conditions were abominable, with many subjected to anti-Semitism and hostile treatment.

A Rhapsody for the Generations

A Rhapsody for the Generations

My Story

The impact of Leonard Bernstein’s performance at the Landsberg DP camp At any moment, in any location, on any radio or concert hall, when I hear the familiar clarinet trill introducing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, my heart stops for those 17 notes; thereafter, my...

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The Art of Documenting JDC Assistance

The Art of Documenting JDC Assistance

From the Collections

Artist István Zador illustrates JDC’s work in postwar Budapest Alongside JDC’s commitment to combatting poverty and crisis globally, is its desire to record this humanitarian aid. Nowhere is this more evident than in an album of 32 lithographs by Hungarian artist...

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Researching His Roots in the Ukraine

Researching His Roots in the Ukraine

My Story

Former JDC Country Director learns more of his family’s fate The following is a story written by Zvi Feine, former JDC Country Director for Romania and Poland, who had a unique and meaningful roots experience in the Former Soviet Union as part of a JDC staff trip....

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Young people being shown how to transplant seedlings in a JDC sponsored training class at the Bergen-Belsen DP camp.
The care of orphaned children became a top priority for JDC. These Polish orphans came via Czechoslovakia to a transient camp in Vienna. After their immediate need for rest, food, clothing, and medical attention was addressed, orphans were sent to JDC children’s homes in France, Switzerland, England, and other countries when possible. Others were placed in separate children’s sections of the DP camps. Austria, c. 1946.
At a JDC-sponsored medical dispensary in Munich, children were inoculated against contagious diseases--a vital part of the health program. Germany, c. 1949.
These young boys received religious instruction at the yeshiva in Wels camp. Rabbis and teachers instructing the Jewish youngsters received special compensation from JDC. Austria, c. 1948.
During the war, Babenhausen was a crude barracks used to hold prisoners. The first Jews arriving there, in late September 1946, still faced deplorable conditions. JDC representatives met them with supplementary food and clothing and immediately began efforts to obtain better lodgings for the winter, especially for families with small children. By the time this Polish mother and her children arrived, a substantial community with several schools had been established. Germany, c. 1947.
In Vienna, too, a seemingly endless flood of Jewish survivors from Poland, then Romania, streamed in from Eastern Europe, overloading the established camps. JDC helped transform the dilapidated Rothschild Hospital into a makeshift camp and lobbied UNRRA to absorb it into the DP camp network. Normally housing 600, every inch of space was used to make room for the thousands of refugees heading towards the more permanent camps in Austria or Germany. Austria, c. 1947.
Students in Riedenburg camp's Hebrew School studied the "Shema" prayer, Austria, c. 1947, Jan Breit.
By September 1945, JDC had been given official sanction to aid in the DP camps, and its teams had begun to arrive. In Bamberg, JDC’s headquarters were noted on the U.S. Army camp sign. Germany, c. 1946, Al Taylor.
Foehrenwald had been one of the best-run. It became the last to close, functioning until 1957 as a home for those with no place to go. JDC maintained a presence there until 1954, helping residents financially until the end, but camp oversight was transferred to the German government by the end of 1951. Germany, c. 1951, Al Taylor.
Two refugees born in flight from Poland were held by their proud fathers in Vienna. At all stages of their journey, they received JDC assistance. Their well-being would be looked after in the more stable environment of a "permanent" camp, with supplementary food, medical and child care services provided by JDC. Austria, c. 1946.

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Seeking Aunt Liz

Seeking Aunt Liz

A JDC kid gets a surprise from the JDC Archives By Ayala Levin-Kruss, Senior Processing Archivist Michael Rice was born in Paris in 1947. His father Jim worked for JDC from 1945 to 1955, effectively permeating his childhood with JDC culture and stories. By chance, at...

Introducing Newly Digitized Fieldwork Records

Introducing Newly Digitized Fieldwork Records

Finding aid for overseas headquarters 1965-1978 now available By Ayala Levin-Kruss, Senior Processing Archivist JDC Archives is pleased to announce the online availability of the digitized portion of the Records of the Geneva Office of the American Jewish Joint...