The Return to Life in the Displaced Persons Camps, 1945-1956
A Visual Retrospective
Culture and Press
Photo Gallery
Woman painting on glass in the Stettin DP camp, Germany (today Szczecin, Poland)
Simultaneous chess match organized by the Jewish Culture Club (Jüdischer Kulturverein) at the Wetzlar DP camp
Bookbinding at the Stettin DP camp, Germany (today Szczecin, Poland)
Selling newspapers at the Feldafing DP camp's cultural office, Germany, postwar
Bleck Anschel delivers newspapers at the Leipheim DP camp, Germany
A scene from the play “Hesya the Orphan”, Landsberg, Germany, postwar
A sculptor at work in a DP camp, Germany, postwar
A montage of the play "Kol Tuv" by the amateur theater, Feldafing, Germany, postwar
A scene from the play "Yizkor", performed by actors from the regional drama group "Hazamir", Landsberg, Germany, postwar
Selling newspapers in a DP camp, postwar
A scene from the play "Yizkor", performed by actors from the regional drama group "Hazamir", Landsberg, Germany, postwar
Members of the Kazet [German pronunciation of acronym KZ (concentration camp)] Theater, founded in 1945 in the Bergen-Belsen DP camp.
Jewish newspapers, exhibited at Bergen-Belsen. The "Jüdische Gemeindeblatt" was published in Düsseldorf. "Unzer Sztyme", printed in Hebrew characters (top row), was printed at Bergen-Belsen
Concert in Frankfurt in the presence of Dr. Philip Bernstein
It did not take long for a dynamic cultural life to develop in the DP camps. For many inmates, cultural activities constituted a kind of spiritual rehabilitation, which found its expression in the establishment of orchestras and theater groups. The fact that the revival of Jewish culture occurred in Germany of all places was seen by many as an expression of retribution.
On stage, classical Jewish plays were performed, the experiences of the ghettos and concentration camps were processedand the dream of Eretz Israel was given expression. Of particular importance to the survivors in the DP camps was the publication of Jewish newspapers, especially in Yiddish. After most inmates had been cut off almost entirely from any information during the war, and had been unable express their opinions, intensive writing activity commenced shortly after liberation. This was all the more impressive in light of the fact that paper was severely rationed and typewriters were almost impossible to find. Almost every DP camp had its own newspaper, featuring articles about sporting events, wedding and birth announcements, political reports from the DP camps and news from around the world and Eretz Israel, as well as the survivors’ personal stories and search notices.