Council of Relief Agencies Licensed to Operate in Germany facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | CRALOG |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1946 |
| Founder | American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service |
| Type | Non governmental organization |
The Council of Relief Agencies Licensed to Operate in Germany, known as CRALOG, was a special organization. It was formed in 1946 to help people in Germany after World War II. CRALOG was a nongovernmental organization, meaning it wasn't run by a government. Instead, it was created by a group called the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service. This group included 11 big relief agencies, like the International Red Cross.
Contents
What Was CRALOG?
CRALOG was set up to bring much-needed food and supplies to Germany. After World War II, many parts of Germany were struggling. The U.S. government had stopped food shipments to Germany for a while. This was to make sure Germany's living standards were similar to other European countries.
Why Was CRALOG Needed?
The American Council sent a team to Germany in 1946. They wanted to see how bad things were. The team reported back that people were in a very difficult situation. Because of this report, CRALOG was officially started on February 19, 1946.
Pressure to Help Germany
Before CRALOG was formed, the U.S. President, Harry S. Truman, faced a lot of pressure. Both the American Congress and the public wanted to help Germany. In January 1946, 34 U.S. senators asked for private groups to help Germany and Austria. They said the food situation was terrible and needed urgent attention.
How CRALOG Delivered Aid
CRALOG became the only way to send aid to the U.S. part of occupied Germany. The leaders of the Western Allied Occupation Zones in Germany signed agreements with CRALOG. General Lucius D. Clay, who was the military governor of the U.S. zone, signed an agreement on January 29, 1946. The British governor signed on July 12, 1946, and the French governor on July 30, 1946. The Allied Kommandatura, which governed Berlin, signed in April 1947.
Life in Germany During the Crisis
A relief worker described the tough conditions in Germany in 1946. They explained that people who were starving often became very weak and quiet. They would react quickly to cold and just lie still. Sadly, the elderly and children were often the first to die. This was because they were weaker and couldn't find extra food to survive. It was hard for Americans to understand this level of hunger.
First Shipments and Impact
The very first shipment from CRALOG arrived in Bremen harbor in April 1946. CRALOG continued its work for many years. By the time the program ended in 1962, CRALOG had sent 300,000 tons of aid to Germany. This aid helped countless people in need.
See also
- American food policy in occupied Germany
- Elsa Brändström
- CARE Package (CARE was created by the same organization as CRALOG)
- GARIOA
- Licensed Agencies for Relief in Asia
- UNRRA
- Other Losses
- The President's Economic Mission to Germany and Austria
