The Churches and the Refugee Problem in Bavaria 1945-49

Abstract

One of the most striking features of Germany under the occupation of the western allies was the immense authority enjoyed by the churches. In May 1945, there was no German government and none of the major post-war political parties had been founded. On the other hand, the churches had emerged largely unscathed from the National Socialist era and were therefore one of the few bodies capable of filling the 'powervacuum' which existed in the early stages of the occupation. Moreover, the Catholic church, in particular, had the confidence of the western allies, and in the summer and autumn of 1945, British, American and French officials frequently made important political appointments on the recommendation of religious leaders. At local level, too, allied representatives invariably relied heavily on the advice of the village minister or priest. In the absence of political institutions, the ecclesiastical authorities also assumed responsibility for resolving a number of the problems facing the German people in the period directly following the collapse of the Third Reich. But how did the churches use their influence? This article