European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 15, 1953, Darmstadt, Hesse Refugees flood Berlin As reds tighten grip was a. Skinny Swarthy youth just 20 years old hut already he had serve Lime a ars in the Volo East zone ads time was up and he wanted to go Jack to the Uny Bast zone Village and off ill Bis crippled father farm. He was mar Liesl Hafl wanted a permanent Job and future for his 3year-Oidwife and thei Haywas soon to come. He Lead been in a chemical warfare Baltic Island of Rue Gen where Are building a naval base. Was t any Gas yet he said it was supposed to come soon. Our Job was to test Gas masks. They were sup to �11 tanks and a fuckers with Gas and we were to climb in and tout if the masks worked " e do there was a Fuu East zone Divi on tue Gen. He thought it was the furlough at my father s farm new i did t want to go Back hitch ii said. They Wen Mother in Law s to toss me in jail. Telephoned to my father s farm anime what happened. I jumped on the train to Berlin. It just happened tothe same train that brought the Security police to arrest wore a of striped Crown suit open collared work s h i r t Green sweater and shabby House is. He was one of 4,000 refugee sin the Farmer Lorenzax radio fac 1 which had been Bombe but during War and repaired for refugee use. He it give his name fe1p refugees Heinz Zwirner 39, who in Over in 1951 As a refugee is director. Lorenz factory refugee Camp. This thousands wait for flights to West Germany from Camps jammed by unprecedented exodus by Nathan j. Margolin St fit writer biggest of 75 Camps in West Berwin it has housed 4,500 refugees at its Peak and the total Load for All the Camps runs about 35,000 at any Given time. Wimer has been a businessman a sol Dier a British pm and he now Heads the largest of 45 Camps run by the German red , -. .-,--,.--,"hiere Are two Basic types of Camps in Berlin. ,1the transient Camp where refugee stay until recognized and then go to West Germany. This process takes a minimum of four weeks and in most cases no less than six weeks. 2camps where refugees stay who fail to get recognition or who choose to remain in West Berlin.-. V Zwirner s is a transient Camp. He Callist a family installation although men and women live in separate dormitories Chil Dren under 14 live with the women. Wimer said his Camp has about one third men one third women and one third Chil Dren be added that there were Only 30 children less than 1 year old and More than 1,000 Over 14.ullh now it has been easy to get lowest Berlin from the East. Berlin is one of the world s two largest cities geography i Calland the East West Herder is 26miles Long with hundreds of streets Cross ing at a refugee conies Over he reports to the Kurio a Sclier str. Reception Center is Given a physical sex Arn nation and assigned to a Camp the. Hallways at the Kuno Fischer str. Reception Center Are always crowded with refugees. Pictures of 30 children Are captioned looking for their an other placard warns Don t use the a Bahn elevated train 1" which is communist controlled. The refugee goes through a 15-step checklist he is examined and questioned. If he is one of the Lucky two thirds he 3s recognized As a refugee and is permitted free transport to West Germany. If he snot recognized he is permitted to stay in a Camp or find private City pays unrecognized refugees about 58 Marks per month for food about .25 Marks per month for clothing and 12 Marks per month for pocket Money. The average recognized refugee draws about 100 Marks per month and must pay his rent from that. If he chooses to live and eat in a permanent Camp he is Given 12marks-per month. R i.-. Recognition is based on whether a com Mittee considers that it was essential tothe welfare of the refugee to leave the soviet Zoner thus a former communist official who incurred the Wrath of the party is obviously entitled too refugee Sta Tus while someone who just does t want
