International Refugee Organization
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| - | '''Wildflecken''' is a [[Municipalities of Germany|municipality]] in the [[Bad Kissingen]] district, at the border of northwestern [[Bavaria]] and southern [[Hesse]]. In 2005, its population was 3,285; the postal code is 97772 (US Forces used APO NY 09026). Wildflecken is in the [[picturesque]] [[Rhön Mountains|Rhön mountains]]. | + | The '''International Refugee Organization''' ('''IRO''') was an [[intergovernmental organization]] founded on 20 April 1946 to deal with the massive refugee problem created by [[World War II]]. A Preparatory Commission began operations fourteen months previously. In 1948, the treaty establishing the IRO formally entered into force and the IRO became a [[United Nations]] [[specialized agency]]. The IRO assumed most of the functions of the earlier [[United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration]]. In 1952, operations of the IRO ceased, and it was replaced by the Office of the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR). |
| - | In 1937, the [[German Army (1935–1945)|German Army]] established a large training area northeast of the village, large enough to house some 9,000 troops and 1,500 mounts. The camp (Camp Wildflecken) provings were primarily used by the land forces of the [[Wehrmacht]] and the [[Waffen-SS]]. During the war, several Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS divisions each were activated and trained for combat in Wildflecken. Also located in the area were an ammunition factory and two camps holding Russian, Belgian and French [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]]. | + | The '''Constitution of the International Refugee Organization''', adopted by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 15 December 1946, is the founding document of the IRO. The constitution specified the organization's field of operations. Controversially, the constitution defined "persons of German ethnic origin" who had been expelled, or were to be expelled from their countries of birth into the postwar Germany, as individuals who would "not be the concern of the Organization." This excluded from its purview a group that exceeded in number all the other European displaced persons put together. Also, because of disagreements between the Western allies and the Soviet Union, the IRO only worked in areas controlled by Western armies of occupation. |
| - | In April 1945, elements of the [[U.S. 14th Armored Division]] took control of the camp and the training area. | + | Twenty-six states became members of the IRO and it formally came into existence in 1948: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Republic of China, Chile, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Italy, Liberia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela. The U.S. provided about 40% of the IRO's $155 million annual budget. The total contribution by the members for the five years of operation was around $400 million. It had rehabilitated around 10 million people during this time, out of 15 million people who were stranded in Europe. The IRO's first Director-General was William Hallam Tuck, succeeded by J. Donald Kingsley on 31 July 1949. |
| - | From April 1945 to 1951, the base was a [[displaced persons camp]] housing approximately 20,000 displaced persons (DPs) primarily of Polish origin, operated first by [[UNRRA]], then by [[International Refugee Organisation|IRO]]. A Polish cemetery holds the camp's residents who died during those five years. | + | IRO closed its operations on 31 January 1952 and after a liquidation period, went out of existence on 30 September 1953. By that time many of its responsibilities had been assumed by other agencies. Of particular importance was the [[Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees]], established in January 1951 as a part of the United Nations, and the [[Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration]] (originally PICMME), set up in December 1951. |
| - | After 1951, its range served as a [[US Army]] training base operated by the 7th Army Training Command in [[Grafenwöhr]], and it was home station for several Army units including [[tank|armored]], [[mechanized infantry]], [[military intelligence]] and [[military logistics|logistics]] units (most noteably the 373d Armored Infantry [[Brigade]] of the 19th (later 4th) Armored Group). It also served as a base for [[West Germany|West German]] [[Bundesgrenzschutz]] (border police) units and later for the new [[German Army]]. | + | ==Filmography== |
| + | * ''[[The Search]]'' by [[Fred Zinnemann]] (1948): The IRO helped the producers to make this story about children refugees, in 1945 Germany. | ||
| - | Dubbed "The Top of the Rock" by American troops, the small post was among the most feared and disliked of all training areas due to high altitude and [[extreme weather]] conditions. It in featured ranges for tanks, artillery and basic training facilities. Additionally, it was one of only a few training sites allowed by the German government to utilize [[CS gas]] in training. | ||
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| - | American units stationed at Wildflecken include: | ||
| - | * 2/15th Infantry [[Battalion]] | ||
| - | * 1/68th Armor Battalion | ||
| - | * HHB 1/1 Air Defence Artillery ([[MIM-23 Hawk]]) from [[Butzbach]] to Wildflecken in May 1976. The Fire Distribution Section moved from Fulda at the same time. Established primitive Tac Site on hill top outside training center. | ||
| - | * 3/52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion. Only Headquarters & Headquarters Battery (HHB), Service Battery and B Battery were stationed at Wildflecken. A Battery was located in Bad Kissingen, C Battery in Fulda, and D Battery in Schweinfurt. The unit's mission was to provide air defense against a potential East Block attack of Germany during the Cold War using Improved-Hawk missiles. | ||
| - | * 108th Military Intelligence Battalion | ||
| - | * 48 Maintenance [[Company (military unit)|Company]] | ||
| - | * 536th Military Police Company | ||
| - | * 54th Combat Engineer Battalion | ||
| - | * 144th Ordnance Company | ||
| - | * 23rd Medical Detachment – outpatient care, first aid; dispensary of the 33rd Field Hospital, US Army Hospital Würzburg, Wuerzburg MEDDAC/DENTAC, Würzburg American Hospital; headquarters for the Wuerzburg Medical Service Area | ||
| - | * 2/[[11th Armored Cavalry Regiment]]. In early 1992, the squadron moved from Daley Barracks in [[Bad Kissingen]] to Wildflecken, where it remained until stood down in 1994. | ||
| - | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Displaced persons camps in post–World War II Europe]] | ||
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The International Refugee Organization (IRO) was an intergovernmental organization founded on 20 April 1946 to deal with the massive refugee problem created by World War II. A Preparatory Commission began operations fourteen months previously. In 1948, the treaty establishing the IRO formally entered into force and the IRO became a United Nations specialized agency. The IRO assumed most of the functions of the earlier United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. In 1952, operations of the IRO ceased, and it was replaced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Constitution of the International Refugee Organization, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 December 1946, is the founding document of the IRO. The constitution specified the organization's field of operations. Controversially, the constitution defined "persons of German ethnic origin" who had been expelled, or were to be expelled from their countries of birth into the postwar Germany, as individuals who would "not be the concern of the Organization." This excluded from its purview a group that exceeded in number all the other European displaced persons put together. Also, because of disagreements between the Western allies and the Soviet Union, the IRO only worked in areas controlled by Western armies of occupation.
Twenty-six states became members of the IRO and it formally came into existence in 1948: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Republic of China, Chile, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Italy, Liberia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela. The U.S. provided about 40% of the IRO's $155 million annual budget. The total contribution by the members for the five years of operation was around $400 million. It had rehabilitated around 10 million people during this time, out of 15 million people who were stranded in Europe. The IRO's first Director-General was William Hallam Tuck, succeeded by J. Donald Kingsley on 31 July 1949.
IRO closed its operations on 31 January 1952 and after a liquidation period, went out of existence on 30 September 1953. By that time many of its responsibilities had been assumed by other agencies. Of particular importance was the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, established in January 1951 as a part of the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (originally PICMME), set up in December 1951.
Filmography
- The Search by Fred Zinnemann (1948): The IRO helped the producers to make this story about children refugees, in 1945 Germany.
