LWF-SR Staffing (~1947-1952)

 

With its beginnings in 1947, Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees became a program with diverse leadership and many different staffing needs. This page aims to understand the program through its people. In other words, this page unpacks LWF executive staff, LWF-SR staff in Germany and Austria, and finally the important smaller roles that allowed LWF-SR to provide aid to thousands. 

Original Caption: "The Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees zone field officers are shown during the May staff meeting at Bad Salzuflen headquarters. Around the table from the left: Russell Schilling, Herbert Brokering, area directors; Chris Christiansen, resettlement; James Anderson, public information; Dr. Howard Hong, Senior Field Representative in Germany; Pastor Arnold Nelson, zone director; Prof. Edmund Smits, Lutheran Study Center program director; Elise Anderson, LSC hostess and welfare officer; Pastor Gustavs Kness-Knezinskis, religious education; Pastor Bruno Ederma, congregational care; A. Braunsteins, administrative assistant; Aleksanders Kacens, emigration center counselling; and Pastor Edgars Kiploks, chaplaincy services and publications."

LWF Executive Staff

President: Dr. Anders Nygren (Sweden)

Vice presidents: Dr. Abdel Ross Wentz (United States) and Bishop Lajos Ordass (Hungary)

Members of the executive committee: Dr. Franklin Clark Fry (U.S.), Dr. J. A. Aasgaard  (U.S.), Dr. P. O. Bersell (U.S.), Bishop Dr. N. Beste (Germany) , Mr. Charles Delbruck (France), Bishop Dr. Teodor Grünbergs (Latvia), Dr. Alfred Jörgensen (Denmark), Rev. Joel Lakra (India), Bishop Dr. Hanns Lilje (Germany), Bishop Dr. Hans Meiser (Germany), Bishop Johannes Smemo (Norway), Prof. Dr. Ernst Sommerlath (Germany), and Prof. Dr. Osmo Tiilila (Finnland)

Executive Secretary: Dr. Sylvester C. Michelfelder 

 

Original Caption: "Dr. Howard Hong talks with Dean K. Kulltis in the procession from the Berchtesgaden camp church led by Archbishop Grünbergs."

LWF-SR Field Staff 1947-1952 (Germany and Austria)

First on the Ground

 

Note some of the bigger names under "Lutheran Representatives Overseas": Dr. S.C. Michelfelder, Dr. Clifford Nelson, Dr. Julius Bodensieck (and his wife Justine Bodensieck), and Rev. Carl F. Schaffnit.

Before the official staff began to form, LWF had multiple workers on the ground in Germany to scout out needs or provide resources. For instance, under Dr. Sylvester C. Michelfelder, chief European representative of LWF American Section, Dr. Clifford Ansgar Nelson worked on documenting the needs of refugees in Germany. Dr. Julius Bodensieck worked as “Protestant liason” between the American military government and the German Church.  Rev. Carl Schaffnit also did chaplaincy work in the various Allied Zones, and many others worked with CRALOG (Council of Relief Agencies Licensed for Operation in Germany).1  Thus, before even the official programming began, there were plenty of workers on the ground connected to the roots of LWF-SR and ready to assist those in need.

More on the Lutheran overseas representatives

LWF-SR Staff (beginning after June 1947)

Dr. Stewart Herman: head of resettlement staff and then director of LWF-SR in Geneva

Dr. Howard Hong: head of spiritual ministry and welfare staff and then senior field representative in Germany*

Paul M. Lindberg: senior field representative in Germany after Howard Hong

Dr. John Schmidt: senior field representative in Germany after Howard Hong

Henriette Lund: director for Austria 

Dr. Alvin E. Fritz: director for Austria after Henriette Lund

Rev. Arnold W. Nelson: director of British Zone*

Rev. Carl Mau: director of British Zone after Arnold Nelson

Kenneth C. Senft: (deputy) director of the American Zone

Rev. Vernon Strempke: director of the American Zone after Kenneth Senft

Rev. G. Dietrich: director of Ethnic Germans in the American Zone

Theodore Hong: business manager

Note about Titles

Around June 1949, due to policy complications, LWF-SR found itself with two separate staffs for Germany: spiritual ministry and welfare (under Howard Hong) and resettlement (under Stewart Herman). To solve the problem and unite the staffs again, LWF-SR assigned new roles for the leaders of these staffs: field representative in Germany (Howard Hong) and director of Service to Refugees in Geneva (Stewart Herman).2

 

Displaced Pastors

Original Caption: "Over 100 pastors of the Latvian Lutheran Church-in-Exile from the western zones of Germany met in the Lutheran Study Center at Berchtesgaden in October 1948. It was the largest meeting ever possible for them in exile, including nearly all of their pastors. Several representatives of the LWF-SR also were present."

Serving their own, displaced pastors and persons took up an overwhelming amount of the program staff for LWF-SR as well as smaller roles along the way. Here are just a select few based on their nationalities and which Allied Zone they were in:

Latvian (in American and French Zones)

 Rev. Dr. Karlis Bilzens: director of youth work

Rev. Fridrichs Kramins: house father at Berchtesgaden

Rev. Janis Rozentals: director of chaplaincy service

Rev. Prof. Feliks Treijs: program director at Berchtesgaden

Georg Odins: resettlement secretary 

Latvian (in British Zone):

Prof. Edmunds Šmits: program director at Imbshausen

Pastor Edgars Kiploks: director of chaplaincy service and publications

Pastor Gustavs Kness-Knezinskis: director of Sunday School and Youth Work

Estonian (British, American, and French Zones):

Pastor Bruno Ederma: director of congregational care

Pastor Karl Kiisk: replaced Ederma in congregational care

Pastor August Kivissik: director of religious education

Harry Nurmet: LWF representative in French Zone

Original Caption: "In the area depot at the Lutheran Study Center in Imbshausen Congregational Care director Bruno Ederma prepares soap, razor blades, and other amenity items for distribution to the unemployed or invalid displaced persons in British zone camps."

“We sailed to Germany, where people were starving, taking along faith, education, and love of our country.”

Erita Erdmanis Dzila, Latvian DP at Insula3

LWF-SR Program Staff

Post World War II Germany was split into zones and as a result, LWF-SR had staff to accompany the French, American, and British Zones. The main staff was located in the American and British Zones. However, there still was a small staff located in the French Zone as well. As you can see, many LWF-SR workers had to wear many hats. For instance, in the British Zone, the director of youth work, Pastor Gustavs Knez-Knezinskis, also led the religious education program, and area directors/representatives often oversaw multiple IRO zones at once.

Quick Note on Navigation: This is an interactive diagram. To see the different names of directors of different programs, hover your mouse or tap on the yellow hexagons.

American Zone

Pastor Karl Raudsepp: director of congregational care program

Pastor Eduard Lind: director of congregational care after Pastor Raudsepp

Rev. Janis Rozentals: director of chaplaincy service

Rev. Prof. Feliks Treijs: program director at Berchtesgaden

Rev. Fridrichs Kramins: house father at Berchtesgaden

Pastor August Kivissik: director of religious education

Dr. Karlis Bilzens: director of youth work

Area directors/representatives: Joseph Anderson (then became executive administrative assistant in 1949), Hilding Olsson

French Zone:

Harry Nurmet: LWF representative/director

Georg Odins: resettlement secretary

Louise Günthener: resettlement officer

British Zone

Pastor Bruno Ederma: director of congregational care

Pastor Karl Kiisk: director of congregational care after Pastor Ederma

Pastor Edgar Kiploks: director of the chaplaincy service as well as publications

James Anderson: director at Imbshausen study center as well as area director*

Elise Anderson: hostess at Imbshausen and welfare officer*

Professor Edmunds Šmits: program director at Imbshausen study center

Pastor Gustavs Knez-Knezinskis: director of youth work and religious education

Area directors: Herbert Brokering, Russell Schilling, Reuben Baetz, James Anderson*

Original Caption: "Arnold Nelson, formerly pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn., indicates areas in which groups of Lutheran displaced persons live in the British Zone, where he is director of the Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees."

Arnold Nelson

Original Caption: "Arnold Nelson, formerly pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn., indicates areas in which groups of Lutheran displaced persons live in the British Zone, where he is director of the Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees."
Original Caption: "Schloss Imbshausen-Lutheran Study Center Resident Staff and families, some guests." "Christmas 1948"

Imbshausen Staff Christmas 1948 (1)

Original Caption: "Schloss Imbshausen-Lutheran Study Center Resident Staff and families, some guests." "Christmas 1948"
Original Caption: "This was the British zone staff of field workers when Arnold Nelson became Lutheran World Federation zone director in October, 1948. L. to r., Gustavs Kness-Knezinskis, Latvian, director of religious education; Edgars Kiploks, Latvian, chaplaincy services and publications; Herbert Brokering, American, area director; Prof. Edmunds Smits, Latvian, Study Center program director; Arnold Nelson; Bruno Ederma, Estonian, congregational care; and James Anderson, area director. Not on the picture is Elise Anderson, welfare officer."

British Zone Staff

Original Caption: "This was the British zone staff of field workers when Arnold Nelson became Lutheran World Federation zone director in October, 1948. L. to r., Gustavs Kness-Knezinskis, Latvian, director of religious education; Edgars Kiploks, Latvian, chaplaincy services and publications; Herbert Brokering, American, area director; Prof. Edmunds Smits, Latvian, Study Center program director; Arnold Nelson; Bruno Ederma, Estonian, congregational care; and James Anderson, area director. Not on the picture is Elise Anderson, welfare officer."
Original Caption: "A. Kivisikk, Estonian pastor, religious education director, George Spindt, resettlement officer, Latvian Pastor F. Kramins, Prof. Felix Treus [Treijs], Berchtesgaden Lutheran Study Center program director, and Lutheran World Federation American zone director Kenneth Senft discuss the next day's program at the Center."

American Zone Staff at Berchtesgaden

Original Caption: "A. Kivisikk, Estonian pastor, religious education director, George Spindt, resettlement officer, Latvian Pastor F. Kramins, Prof. Felix Treus [Treijs], Berchtesgaden Lutheran Study Center program director, and Lutheran World Federation American zone director Kenneth Senft discuss the next day's program at the Center."
Original Caption: "In the Frankfurt resettlement headquarters of the Lutheran World Federation, Ilse Skipana, Latvian, lists persons receiving assurances and being process for resettlement."

Resettlement Lists-Frankfurt

Original Caption: "In the Frankfurt resettlement headquarters of the Lutheran World Federation, Ilse Skipana, Latvian, lists persons receiving assurances and being process for resettlement."
Original Caption: "Workers among displaced person relax on a Bavarian Alp during a Lutheran World Federation Staff Conference. L. to re.: James Anderson, Elise Anderson, Knut Okkenhaug (IRO), Hilding Olsson, Herbert Brokering, Arnold Nelson, Kenneth Senft, Peter Elstadt, Hugo Becker (World Council of Churches), Ted Hong, and Howard Hong."

LWF-SR Workers during Staff Conference

Original Caption: "Workers among displaced person relax on a Bavarian Alp during a Lutheran World Federation Staff Conference. L. to re.: James Anderson, Elise Anderson, Knut Okkenhaug (IRO), Hilding Olsson, Herbert Brokering, Arnold Nelson, Kenneth Senft, Peter Elstadt, Hugo Becker (World Council of Churches), Ted Hong, and Howard Hong."
Original Caption: "Herbert Brokering, LWF Service to Refugees area director in Schleswig-Holstein, finds his keep an object of great interest during a visit at the DP Study Center at Pinneberg. Brokering, from Pickrell, Nebraska, served among the displaced persons from June 1948 to August 1949."

Herbert Brokering

Original Caption: "Herbert Brokering, LWF Service to Refugees area director in Schleswig-Holstein, finds his keep an object of great interest during a visit at the DP Study Center at Pinneberg. Brokering, from Pickrell, Nebraska, served among the displaced persons from June 1948 to August 1949."
Original Caption: "Pastor Edgars Kiploks, Lutheran World Federation chaplaincy services and publications director with his family and sister-in-law (right) in the Augustdorf camp where the family lives. It is not possible for Pastor Kiploks to be with his family regularly, since he must be at the LWF Hq. and on the road most of the time."

Kiploks with Family (LWF-PS)

Original Caption: "Pastor Edgars Kiploks, Lutheran World Federation chaplaincy services and publications director with his family and sister-in-law (right) in the Augustdorf camp where the family lives. It is not possible for Pastor Kiploks to be with his family regularly, since he must be at the LWF Hq. and on the road most of the time."

But multiple programs and accompanying staff worked across zones as well. Including:

 

Individual Migration Office

  • Pastor Elstad: Chief Individual Migration Officer
    • Followed by Rev. Vincent L. Hawkinson
  • Resettlement officer: Dr. Otonas Stanaitis*

US Immigration Office (Frankfurt):

  • Resettlement officers: Ruth Elstad (Frankfurt)/ Mr. Pullerits + Mrs. Jurma (area 7),  Mr. Kalnins + Mr. Langins (area 2), Mr. Gutman (area 5)

Rev. George A. Spindt: chief resettlement officer (new title after policy changes of June 1949)

Probst Valters: director of student work

Pastor Edgar Kiploks: director of publications (as well as the chaplaincy service in the British Zone)

Original Caption: "During the winter, the American zone LWF Service to Refugees staff gathered for a weekend at the Lutheran Study Center at Berchtesgaden for fellowship and inspiration."

Other Important Roles

While looking to the program directors and LWF leaders is valuable in understanding the organization, it truly was the smaller roles that allowed for the program to effectively bring aid. These roles included: 

  • Pastors, deaconesses, Sunday-school teachers, etc.
  • Supply managers at various warehouses (A. Braunsteins)
  • Resettlement counselors (Aleksander Kacens) and resettlement officers
  • Secretaries/typists
  • Drivers
  • Domestics (for study centers)
  • Welfare officers (Elise Anderson) 
  • Administrative assistant

At the Imbshausen study center alone, they needed a secretary, typist, driver, instructors, lecturers, a radio technician, domestics, cooks, etc.4 Without these smaller roles that fed people or cleaned rooms for the upcoming conferences or classes, Imbshausen would not have been what it was to the many people it served. And the same goes for all the other smaller roles that the staff of LWF-SR occupied. Also, on top of these more official roles, there also were the hundreds of displaced pastors servicing their congregations with the support of LWF-SR.

Original Caption: "In the main Lutheran World Federation Resettlement office at Frankfurt, Germany, Miss Alice Erlander selects family registration cards for provisional matching with assurances received from the National Lutheran Council. This field registration was done by a designated committee of the Churches-in-Exile."

*St. Olaf Connections

Endnotes

  1. Lutheran World Action, “Lutheran Representatives Overseas,” Pastor’s Bulletin (New York City, New York), January 1947, housed in Luther Seminary Library. 
  2. Kenneth C. Senft,  “The Lutheran World Federation and the Displaced Person” (PhD diss., Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1952), found in Kierkegaard Library Rare Books Room, 87.
  3. Erita Erdmanis Dzilna, “A Childhood like no Other,” in Insula, Island of Hope: A Latvian Memoir. [Revised and Enlarged edition], (Morgan Hill, CA: Bookstand Publishing, 2013), 133.
  4. Elise Anderson, “Imbshausen Schloss,” 1990, S 09 rep Nr. 394, Landeskirchliches Archiv, Hannover, Germany.  

References

Baetz, Reuben C. Service to Refugees, 1947-1952. Geneva: Lutheran World Federation, 1952.

Luther Seminary. “Smits, Edmunds Biographical File.” St. Paul, Minnesota: Luther Seminary, n.d. ELCA Region 3 Archives Luther Seminary Archives and Arts. 

Luther Seminary. “Rozentals, Janis Biographical File.” St. Paul, Minnesota: Luther Seminary, n.d. ELCA Region 3 Archives Luther Seminary Archives and Arts.

Lutheran World Action. “Lutheran Representatives Overseas.” Pastor’s Bulletin, January 1947. Luther Seminary.

Lutheran World Federation. Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees in Germany 1947-1949. Materials for Report. Edited by Howard V. Hong. Vol. 1, 1949.

Lutheran World Federation. Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees 1947-1949 Photographic Section. Edited by Howard V Hong, 1949.

“Organisations-Schema der LWF.” Likely published by Lutheran World Federation, n.d. D 15 VIII Nr. 12. Landeskirchliches Archiv, Hannover. 

Representatives and Field Offices Germany Frankfurt/m Miscellaneous International, Local, and Indigenous 1949-1952, 1949-1952. Box 6. Lutheran World Federation Archive, Geneva.

Representatives and Field Offices Germany Frankfurt/m R.P. Latvian Lutheran Church, 1949-1952. Box 7, folder 1. Lutheran World Federation Archive, Geneva. 

Senft, Kenneth C. “The Lutheran World Federation and the Displaced Person.” Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1952. Kierkegaard Library Rare Books Room.

Click the button below to view the complete bibliography for this digital exhibition.

    Bibliography

    Photo Credits (from top to bottom, left to right)*

    1. Group of ten men in suits sitting at a table, Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees 1947-1949 Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
    2. Diagram of the organization of the LWF with churches on top, found in Landeskirchliches Archiv, used with permission of Lutheran World Federation.
    3. Group of religious leaders in a procession, Lutheran World Federation Service, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    4. “Pastor’s Bulletin,” found in Luther Seminary Library, used with permission of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Region 3 Archives Luther Seminary.
    5. “Lutheran Representatives,” found in and used with permission of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Region 3 Archives Luther Seminary.
    6. Over 100 pastors sitting for a portrait, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    7. Man with papers next to packages, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
    8. “LWF-SR Program Staff” diagram, created by Anneke Shiller through the Genially™ program.

    Within Photo Gallery:

    1. Man pointing at map, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    2. Photo of people by Christmas tree, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    3. Group of men at table (British zone staff), Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    4. Group of men around small table with papers (American zone staff), Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
    5. Woman in front of typewriter, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    6. Man opening jeep car door with children nearby, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    7. Group of people sitting with trees in the background, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    8. Family posing for portrait, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

    After Photo Gallery:

    1. Group of people of many ages standing in front of mountain background, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
    2. Two woman in front of many folders, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 

    *Description ordering is based on computer view. If viewing this page on a smartphone or tablet, please check the descriptions provided as the ordering may be distorted.