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5 The integration of the refugees into (West) Germany after 1950

Abstract

This chapter discusses the progress made in the newcomers' economic integration during the 1950s and 1960s. It examines the political dimension of the refugee problem, and analyses the fall of the Bloc of Expellees and Dispossessed Persons (Block der Heimatvertriebenen und Entrechteten, BHE). Waldemar Kraft, the BHE party's leader between 1951 and 1954, was willing to form a coalition with any of the major parties, arguing that the BHE could only improve the refugees' economic and social position if it was in government. The chapter explores the changing relationship between the expellees and the major political parties from 1950 to 1972. It assesses the role of the expellee associations during the post-war period. The chapter also discusses the relations between the refugee and native populations from the early 1950s until the present day, exploring the newcomers' search for a new identity in post-war Germany.

Abstract

This chapter discusses the progress made in the newcomers' economic integration during the 1950s and 1960s. It examines the political dimension of the refugee problem, and analyses the fall of the Bloc of Expellees and Dispossessed Persons (Block der Heimatvertriebenen und Entrechteten, BHE). Waldemar Kraft, the BHE party's leader between 1951 and 1954, was willing to form a coalition with any of the major parties, arguing that the BHE could only improve the refugees' economic and social position if it was in government. The chapter explores the changing relationship between the expellees and the major political parties from 1950 to 1972. It assesses the role of the expellee associations during the post-war period. The chapter also discusses the relations between the refugee and native populations from the early 1950s until the present day, exploring the newcomers' search for a new identity in post-war Germany.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of tables vii
  4. List of plates ix
  5. Acknowledgements xi
  6. List of abbreviations xiii
  7. Introduction 1
  8. 1 The origins of the refugee problem 8
  9. 2 The influx of refugees into Germany and its problems, 1945–50 18
  10. 3 Relations between the refugee and native populations, 1945–50 58
  11. Plates 94
  12. 4 Refugees and political parties, 1945–50 99
  13. 5 The integration of the refugees into (West) Germany after 1950 139
  14. 6 The issue of political radicalisation 177
  15. 7 Refugees in the Soviet Occupation Zone/German Democratic Republic 197
  16. Conclusion 234
  17. References 239
  18. Index 261
Refugees and expellees in post-war Germany
This chapter is in the book Refugees and expellees in post-war Germany
https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526129802.00013

Chapters in this book

  1. Front matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of tables vii
  4. List of plates ix
  5. Acknowledgements xi
  6. List of abbreviations xiii
  7. Introduction 1
  8. 1 The origins of the refugee problem 8
  9. 2 The influx of refugees into Germany and its problems, 1945–50 18
  10. 3 Relations between the refugee and native populations, 1945–50 58
  11. Plates 94
  12. 4 Refugees and political parties, 1945–50 99
  13. 5 The integration of the refugees into (West) Germany after 1950 139
  14. 6 The issue of political radicalisation 177
  15. 7 Refugees in the Soviet Occupation Zone/German Democratic Republic 197
  16. Conclusion 234
  17. References 239
  18. Index 261
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