CRALOG
Council of Relief Agencies Licensed to Operate in Germany
Council of Relief Agencies Licensed for Operation in Germany (CRALOG) was established under Truman Directive and was endorsed by President Truman as the official agency to ship American relief contributions to Germany.
CRALOG was a united body of 15 voluntary agencies (VAs) who were licensed by the War Relief Control Board and were former members of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service (ACVAFS). It provided liaison with governmental and military authorities and the German welfare agencies. At the same time, it provided facilities for other agencies and individuals that were not members of the council.
LWF and the International Red Cross were members of CRALOG.
Operations on the ground:
CRALOG initially got the permission to ship supplies up to 2000 tons (later more) per month like evaporated milk, sugar, soaps, clothing, shoes and medications. The authorization was granted from the military to distribute to the civilian population.
In the later phases, CRALOG expanded its activities into fields of education, culture, recreation and youth supplies in cooperation with the VAs by providing transportation facilities.
Significance:
In line with the Industrial Plan for Germany which restricted the living standards of Germans, the VAs were not allowed to operate on their own with the German civilian relief. The establishment of CRALOG, thus, systemized the relief work under Truman Directive and made it possible for agencies to provide aid in Germany.
Balance of Operations: CRALOG, Military Governments, and Voluntary Agencies
CRALOG signed an agreement with the German CRALOG Committee for Berlin and the office of Military Government of the American, British, and French Sector of Berlin. The agreement defined the responsibilities of each organization, including the welfare activities and shipping and distribution of relief supplies.
This agreement set forth the responsibilities of operations. The relief supplies from the U.S. were being shipped to Germany by CRALOG who was also paying the freight, while the CRALOG German Committee, composed of the representatives from each of the voluntary agencies and German local welfare organizations, would assist in the distribution of goods.
The inland transportation of designated supplies would be the responsibilities of designated voluntary agencies. Otherwise, the German Committee would cover the costs. The actual inland transportation from the German port to the warehouses would be provided by the Military Government.
There also would be a Berlin representative of CRALOG who assisted the programs and distribution of supplies and prepared reports to the military governments.
Applications of CRALOG
Here’s an example of the voluntary agencies cooperating with CRALOG:
In this letter to Michelfelder on Feb. 3, 1947, it indicated that CRALOG helped the voluntary agencies with the communications on a logistic level regarding policies.
Endnotes
1. Osborn Hauge, Lutherans Working Together: A History of the National Lutheran Council, 1918-1943 (New York: National Lutheran council, 1945), 80-81.
2. Osborn Hauge, Lutherans Working Together: A History of the National Lutheran Council, 1918-1943 (New York: National Lutheran council, 1945), 89.
***The majority of the information of this page is drawn from the book America’s Fair Share.
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1. (Heading) An agreement between CRALOG and CRALOG Berlin and Military Governments, file name “214.1.8.6.11.30 cralog”, pg 2 (LWF Archive Geneva). Used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation (Geneva) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
2. A letter to Michelfelder on Feb. 3, 1947, it indicated that CRALOG helped the voluntary agencies with the communications on a logistic level regarding policies, file name “214.1.8.6.11.30 cralog”, pg 10 (LWF Archive Geneva) , used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation (Geneva) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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