Map Room

 Movement was a key element of LWF-SR operations. Pastors traveled to various areas within the Allied Zones. LWF-SR representatives, workers, and directors continuously travelled throughout different camps to supply materials, check in on camp congregations, and aid in the resettlement process. This section is dedicated to an understanding of the setting of post WWII Germany, the primary locations of LWF-SR work, how people moved. There is no one place to land or one place to remain in this dynamic work.

UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) Map of D.P. Operations (December 1945)

Located in the United Nations Library and Archive in Geneva, Switzerland, this map displays the various zones of allied-occupied Germany: the French Zone, the British Zone, the U.S. Zone, and the Soviet Zone. For context, in 1945, this map was created for use of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration), which organized different displaced person camps throughout the zones. One can even see the different teams within the zones and the zone HQs for UNRRA. Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees (LWF-SR) often had to work with international organizations such as UNRRA as well as IRO (International Refugee Organization), its successor, to move through these zones, receive additional support, and even work in Germany. 

UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) Map of D.P. Operations (December 1945)

Locations of Service

In offices, displaced persons camps, warehouses, and departure/landing areas, LWF-SR workers and volunteers completed their work. Below is a map of many of the documented areas of LWF-SR work and DP life, but it is important to say this is not comprehensive. Offices moved. Warehouses came and went. Not every refugee who resettled left from Bremen. Nonetheless, the navigatable map below at least attempts to mark down the extensive work and the accompanying places of LWF-SR. 

Original Caption: "In the Imbshausen area depot, Pastor Bruno Ederma, an efficient Estonian serving as Congregational Care director of the British zone staff of the Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees, is helped by his wife in sorting clothing from Lutheran World Relief for distribution to needy Displaced Persons."
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."

Quick Note about Navigation:

 To move the map to the designed location, click, hold the key, and drag the map and to zoom in/out, click on the + and – buttons in the upper left corner.  For more information, click on the different points and a text box with information on the place will come up. To return to the original view, click on the house button in the upper left corner. 

All maps shown on this page are based on current geographical and political boundaries, as of 2023, and not of the boundaries existing during the time period. Be sure to reference the UNRRA map above to get a better view of what post-war Europe looked like. 

Distribution

Congregational Care Program

The main distribution system for LWF-SR supplies was the congregational care program. Providing food, clothing, medicine, sanitary supplies, and so much more, the congregational care program reached many different camp congregations throughout the Allied Zones. Down below, you can find the American Zone congregational care director’s (Pastor Eduard Lind) path during a one month span in 1948.

What allowed him to travel so far likely was the use of a car or truck. LWF-SR with the aid of IRO or other funding was able to attain trucks, gas, and cars for LWF-SR worker use.1 Also, congregational care directors sometimes were accompanied by drivers, such as Bruno Ederma (British Zone director) and his driver, Georg Gustavson (shown right).

Original Caption: "First driver on the LWF staff was Estonian Georg Gustavson, shown during a field distribution trip with congregational care director Bruno Ederma."

Quick Note about Navigation: 

Each point is where Lind would stop to distribute packages. To see his path depending on the day or set of days, click on the arrows on the left and check/uncheck the days you want to see. Notice the sheer distance he traveled and places he visited during these times.

Among the items Lind distributed at this time were 178 packages for pastors and their children, 2252 pounds of traditional congregational care packages, Christmas packages for Sunday schools, youth groups, and staff members, 902 pairs of socks, 5 packages of used clothing, 3 New Testaments, and finally 8 candles.2

Food

For many, the diet provided by DP camps was insufficient for healthy nutrition. To support a more filling diet, especially for elderly persons and children, LWF-SR bought bulk food, including powdered eggs, flour, meat, cheese, coffee, margarine, raisins, and so on. This food, bought from various countries and companies for the sake of pricing, was a way to combat the rampant malnutrition and accompanying diseases found in post World War II Germany.3 

Christmas Greetings

Christmas greetings were a key part of raising spirits during the winter months. By sending messages of thankfulness and tokens of appreciation, LWF-SR staff showed its value to both its own staff and the many pastors and congregations under their care.4 A front of a Christmas greeting card can be found to the right.

Bibles

A Bible in one’s own native language was of high value to the many displaced Lutherans throughout the Allied Zones. Working with groups like United Bible Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society (which printed the Bible in Latvian shown below), LWF-SR managed to bring Bibles to the hands of those who needed them. But Bibles were not the only religious material LWF-SR distributed. They also distributed altar candles, communion sets, hymnals, robes/suits for religious leaders, and religious film to camp congregations.5

Donated by John Plume, this Bible is completely in Latvian dating back to 1948. It was printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society and possibly distributed through the LWF-SR congregational care program.
During the Christmas season in 1949, drawings like this were used as the front of Christmas greetings sent to LWF-SR staff and those they aided.

Endnotes

  1. Kenneth C. Senft,  “The Lutheran World Federation and the Displaced Person” (PhD diss., Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1952), found in Kierkegaard Library Rare Books Room, 90.
  2. Eduard Lind to Dr. Howard Hong “Report of the Activity November 25-Dec. 25, ‘48,” in Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees in Germany 1947-1949. Materials for Report, vol. 1, ed. Howard Hong (1949), 208.
  3. Howard Hong, Howard Hong to Sylvester Michelfelder, March 20th, 1949, 1949, Box 9, Folder 1,  Lutheran World Federation Archive, Geneva, Switzerland. 
  4. “Christmas ’49-’50,” 1949-1950, Box 4, Folder 0, Lutheran World Federation Archive, Geneva, Switzerland. 
  5. Reuben C. Baetz, Service to Refugees, 1947-1952, (Geneva: Lutheran World Federation, 1952) 13-15; Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees 1947-1949 Photographic Section, vol. 1, ed. Howard Hong (1949).

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

Bibliography

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

  1. UNRRA Map (1945), used with permission of United Nations Archive in Geneva, Switzerland. 
  2. Man pointing at map, Lutheran World Federation Service to Refugees 1947-1949 Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  3. Two persons (Pastor Bruno Ederma and his wife) sorting clothes, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
  4. Map of LWF-SR locations in Germany, created by Anneke Shiller with ArcGIS mapping tools.
  5. Man stepping into a truck (Ederma and Gustavson), Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
  6. Map of congregational care path, created by Anneke Shiller with ArcGIS mapping tools.
  7. Drawing of people around a Christmas tree, Lutheran World Federation Service Photographic Section, used with permission of the Lutheran World Federation and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
  8. Black engraved Bible titled Bihbele, donated by and used with permission of John Plume, photographed by Anneke Shiller. 

*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.