World "ORT" Union - Central Office

The "ORT" ( Organization - Reconstruction - Training ) was founded in Russia in 1880. It was led by five Russian-Jewish philanthropists, including Samuel Polyakov, Naphtali Herz Günzburg and Nikolai Bakst. The "Society for Craft and Agricultural Work" in Russia had set itself the task of promoting the vocational training of Jews in Russia. With the relocation of the " ORT " to Berlin in 1921 , not only did the name change to " World ORT Union ", but its radius of action also increased - World Ort Union operated internationally. As early as the 1920s, former "ORT students" settled in Palestine. Even during the Second World War, "World ORT Union" continued its work in Europe with a focus on supporting Jewish refugees in countries not conquered by Germany and the inhabitants of Eastern European ghettos. After the end of the Second World War, the "World ORT Union" and the UNRRA took care of the welfare of the uprooted, homeless and dispersed Jewish people ( Displaced Persons), their accommodation in DP camps, and vocational training to facilitate their emigration and resettlement plans and opportunities overseas. For example, the Deggendorf DP camp had a  World-ORT-Union school with courses in locksmithing, car mechanics, dental technology, fashion, leatherworking. dressmaking and nursing. On September 30, 1947, there were fourteen teachers for 105 students.