Stuttgart West

Stuttgart West was an urban all-Jewish DP camp in the city of Stuttgart in the American-occupied zone. The camp was formed in a group of requisitioned apartment buildings. On March 29, 1946, the Stuttgart DPs rioted after U.S. Military Government officials authorized 200 members of the German police to raid the refugee center early in the morning in search of black market offenders. The violence resulted in the death of one Jewish DP and three others were injured. The clash had occurred after the DPs, terrified at the sight of German police banging on doors and rousing Jews from bed, reacted by throwing household objects at the police. An ensuing directive forbade German police from entering Jewish DP camps except under rare circumstances. Stuttgart West maintained a Talmud Torah (religious elementary school) and a kosher kitchen. It published newspapers named Oyf der Fray (Of Freedom) and the Shtutgarter Byuletin. During October 1946, the Jewish population in the camp reached over 1,400. On June 13, 1949, the camp closed and the remaining DPs of Stuttgart were transferred to Heidenheim.

 

DP camp director, Wittlin (originally from Sambor), in his office in Stuttgart on July 30, 1948.
Henry Brauner with his wife, Esther (second from the right), and three friends at the entrance to the Stuttgart displaced persons camp in 1945.