Abstract
In spite of huge war losses (approximately 2.6 million killed and missing) the population of Western Germany between 1939 and 1950 increased by 8.3 millions or 21 per cent. Only a relatively small proportion of this increase consisted of natural growth. If one compares the population gains among the regular population alone with the population losses among the same group during this time one sees that the number of war dead and missing exceeds the natural birth surplus by 800,000. The increase in population then results exclusively from the influx of migration, the net number of which comes to 9.1 millions 2) (8.3 + 0.8 millions).
“It is not our purpose to assign responsibility for this unprecedented migration. We confine ourselves to dealing with the established fact, that some 9.5 million refugees find themselves in Western Germany and will remain there unless they emigrate to new homes or return to the places from which they came.” — Sonne Report 1).
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Reference
The Integration of Refugees into German Life.“ A Report of the ECA Technical Assistance Commission on the Integration of the Refugees in the German Republic, Washington, 1951, p. 2.
This figure includes the surplus by birth of approximately more than 200,000 among the refugees since 1945.
Official estimates, and calculations by the author.
A similar problem, although on a much smaller scale is presented, by the case of Israel. There, fortunately, the rapid growth in population was accompanied by a correspondingly large investment program based on imported capital.
The term “refugee” here and in the following discussion is used as a collective term comprising all groups of refuge-seekers and expellees. The term “expellee” in this study means only that sub-group consisting of persons driven away from their homes, or refused the opportunity of return, under the Potsdam Agreement. See p. 6 and following.
Hilde Wander, “The Importance of Emigration for the Solution of Population Problems in Western Europe”, Publications of the Research Group for European Migration Problems No. 1, The Hague, 1951, p. 17.
Official statistics, and estimates of the author.
Including approximately 900,000 native born prisoners of war, released from Allied captivity.
Wirtschaft und Statistik“ published by Statistisches Bundesamt, Wiesbaden, Vol. 3 (1951) p. 150.
Area before 1933.
The Poles are now trying to restore the former level through a campaign to draw former German residents back to the evacuated areas.
Monthly Bulletin of Statistics“, New York, Vol. V, (1951), No. 6, p. 6 and following.
Wirtschaft und Statistik“, published by Statistisches Bundesamt, Wiesbaden, Vol. 3, (1951), p. 436; and „Statistische Berichte”, published by Statistisches Bundesamt, June, 1951, No. VIII/20/1.
A. M. Carr-Saunders, “World Population”, Past Growth and Present Trends, Oxford, 1936, p. 176.
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Edding, F. (1951). The Refugee Influx Seen Against the Background of General Population Trends. In: The Refugees as a Burden a Stimulus, and a Challenge to the West German Economy. Publications of the Research Group for European Migration Problems, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9538-6_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9538-6_1
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