Jewish Museum Munich

In 1937 a small residential estate of some 200 houses, called the “Reichskleinsiedlung Kaltherberge,” was built for working-class families in need. At the end of 1945 it was seized by the U.S. military government. All German residents had to move out of their homes—leaving all their furniture behind— to provide accommodation for about 2,000 Jewish DPs. In addition, a school, a synagogue, a sports club, and a kindergarten were built there. From 1949 onwards, the former residents were able to return to their homes. The last DPs moved out in May 1950.

After the end of World War II, Polish DPs were accommodated in the military quarters in Freimann originally built as barracks for the SS. From spring 1948 onward, the barracks site served as a DP transit and resettlement center — with a high percentage of Jewish DPs waiting to emigrate. After the closure of the transit camp, the U.S. Army took over the military housing in 1950 and re-named it Warner Barracks.

From October 1946, Dr. Phillip Auerbach was “State Comissioner for racial, religious and political victims of National Socialism” in Bavaria. He saw himself as an “advocate for Jewish DPs,” accelerated the rehabilitation of Nazi victims, the legal prosecution of Nazi perpetrators and supported thousands of DPs in their efforts to emigrate. In 1952, he committed suicide after a show trial-like conviction for embezzlement and fraud. In 1954, he was rehabilitated by an investigative committee of the Bavarian Parliament.

Immediately after the end of the war, the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München (IKG) moved back into premises at Herzog-Max-Strasse 7 and had its administrative headquarters there. It was in the immediate vicinity of the place where the main synagogue had stood, demolished in June 1938 on direct orders from Adolf Hitler. The IKG’s efforts in 1949 to establish a green space to commemorate this destruction were rejected by the City of Munich, with the argument that parking spaces were urgently needed in the city center.

In the Munich district of Feldmoching, a separate Jewish DP community with up to 300 members had been founded, probably toward the end of 1945. In addition to a Talmud Torah school, the community also had a kosher kitchen. The Makabi Feldmoching football club played in the Jewish regional league; later the club merged with Hakoach Freising to form the Jüdischer Sportklub Feldmoching-Freising, which continued operating until toward the end of 1948.

The Jewish Student Association was founded in December 1945. The first president was Joseph Silberman. Other local groups were formed in Erlangen, Frankfurt/Main, Heidelberg, and Marburg. Many students enrolled to study human medicine. The association existed until the mid-1950s and published its own newspaper: Der Jidiszer Student—Perjodisze Szrift fun di Jidisze Studentn Farejnigung in Minchn.

The Jewish Student Association was founded in December 1945. The first president was Joseph Silberman. Other local groups were formed in Erlangen, Frankfurt/Main, Heidelberg, and Marburg. Many students enrolled to study human medicine. The association existed until the mid-1950s and published its own newspaper: Der Jidiszer Student—Perjodisze Szrift fun di Jidisze Studentn Farejnigung in Minchn.

Military accommodation was used to accommodate displaced persons and as a transit center, probably from January 1946 onward. DPs were registered here when they first arrived and distributed among different camps. They were also given advice related to their forthcoming emigration. The transit camp was always overcrowded; although it had a maximum capacity of 600 persons, up to 1,800 were sometimes taken in. In 1948, the transit section was moved to the former SS barracks in Freimann. In spring 1950 the barracks in the Funkkaserne were closed completely.

In February 1946, the international relief organization UNRRA opened its own university in the Deutsches Museum. The university was open to all DPs. At its peak, up to 2,000 students from 30 nations were enrolled, most of them Ukrainians. Lectures were held mainly in English. About 150 professors taught subjects such as mechanical engineering, architecture, mathematics, economics and several natural science courses. The university only existed for one year until May 1947, as UNRRA then discontinued its work.

The initial reception center was open to all politically or racially persecuted persons and existed until February 1947. The international relief organisation UNRRA — the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration — saw ist central task in the registration, care, and repatriation of persons who had been displaced or deported. This included concentration camp prisoners, forced labourers, and those recognised as Displaced Persons (DPs). UNRRA published the weekly newspaper D.P. Express for this circle of people, with articles in Yiddish, Russian, Polish, French, and German.