The Western Allied occupation powers lodged those of the former forced laborers who remained in Germany – among them a substantial number of Jews – in camps for “displaced persons” (DPs). This was also the case in Thuringia, which was initially occupied by the Americans. Many waited in these camps for a chance to emigrate. Others hoped to find a way of making new lives for themselves in Germany.
The number and situation of former forced laborers in the Soviet-occupied zone has hardly been investigated. Particularly those from the Soviet Union were lodged in so-called repatriation camps.