DR. ADENAUER LAYING FOUNDATION STONE.




Initials AA/V--S/CT/JG



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Background: MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER WEST GERMANY ATTENDED A CEREMONY NEAR THE BIG REFUGEE CAMP AT FRIEDLAND, CLOSE TO THE EAST-WEST GERMAN BORDER, YESTERDAY (SUNDAY). THE CEREMONY WAS THE LAYING OF A FOUNDATION STONE FOR A MEMORIAL TO THE 30 MILLION PEOPLE WHO FOUND THEIR HOMES AND LIVES DISRUPTED BY THE SECOND WORLD WAR. FORMER CHANCELLOR DR. ADENAUER PERFORMED THE CEREMONY.

IT IS NOT OFTEN REALISED THAT ONE QUARTER OF WEST GERMANY'S INHABITANTS COME FROM LOST TERRITORIES IN THE EAST OR FROM WHAT IS NOW EAST GERMANY.

THE PROBLEM OF REHABILITATING DISPLACED PERSONS IS IMMENSE. THE FRIEDLAND CAMP ALONE HAS HAD MORE THAN 2 MILLION REFUGEES PASS THROUGH, AND EXPECTS ANOTHER ONE AND A HALF MILLION BEFORE THE PEOPLE IS FINALLY SOLVED.

IN 1964 THE "FEDERATION FOR RETURNEES, FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR, AND RELATIVES OF MISSING PERSONS," BEGAN COLLECTING MONEY FOR A SUITABLE MEMORIAL. INITIALLY GBP40,000 WAS COLLECTED AND A COMPETITION HELD FOR A DESIGN FOR THE MEMORIAL. THE DESIGN, WHICH WAS EXHIBITED AS A MODEL AT THE CEREMONY, WAS PICKED FROM 43 DESIGNS ENTERED.

THE MEMORIAL, WHICH IS NEAR TO THE FRIEDLAND DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP, IS DUE TO BE OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED IN OCTOBER NEXT YEAR.