Neue Einblicke in die Praxis der frühen Wiedergutmachung in Bayern: Die Auerbach-Korrespondenz im Bayerischen Hauptstaatsarchiv und die Akten des Strafprozesses gegen die Führung des Landesentschädigungsamtes von 1952

Wie kaum ein anderer hat Philipp Auerbach die Anfänge der Wiedergutmachung in Westdeutschland nach 1945 geprägt. Durch seine zahlreichen Funktionen im Staatsdienst und in Organisationen ehemaliger Verfolgter gelang es ihm, 'Wiedergutmachung' an den Opfern des Nationalsozialismus in einem sehr weiten Sinn zu betreiben. Seine eigenwillige Vorstellung davon, wie Rückerstattung, Entschädigung, Entnazifizierung und öffentliches Gedenken miteinander verbunden werden sollten, trug ihm jedoch heftige Gegnerschaft ein. 1952 wurde er in einem hochpolitischen Prozess verurteilt und nahm sich unmittelbar danach das Leben. Auerbachs Korrespondenz und weitere persönliche Unterlagen aus den Jahren 1946-1951 sind jetzt im Bayerischen Hauptstaatsarchiv zugänglich. Ergänzend können seit kurzem im Staatsarchiv München die Verfahrensakten zum Strafprozess von 1952 eingesehen werden. Beide Archivalienkomplexe zusammen bieten ausgezeichnete Einblicke in die frühe Wiedergutmachungspraxis in Bayern. Sichtbar werden vor allem die vielfältigen Interessenkonflikte, die bei der Entschädigung, der Rückerstattung und der Sühne von NS-Verbrechen auftraten.

René Sand (1877-1953) and His Contribution to International Social Work, IASSW-President 1946 – 1953

The extraordinary significance of the life and work of René Sand lies in his central position as a mediator, promoter and coordinator of social work on an increasingly international level during the interwar-period and it can hardly be overestimated. To approach the achievements of Sand’s life and work you have to work archaeologically as he does not seem to have left any traces in the literature on social history. In Germany, even within the field of social work his name is hardly known. His biographical sketch and his importance for the development of the profession of social work have fallen into oblivion. The situation is a little different in the French-speaking countries where a biography has been published (compare Anciaux 1988a, b, c) which contains a detailed record of Sand’s writings. Altogether this lack of interest is regrettable because it doesn’t consider that René Sand is exemplary and in some parts fundamental to the emergence of professional social work in the 1920s in Belgium and Europe. Professional social work was established by a consequent international orientation and an emancipation from neighbouring fields such as social medicine and hygiene. Therefore it is a rewarding task to draw attention to this pioneer of social work and make the public appreciate his work. I want to emphasize explicitly that in this portrait Sand’s achievements concerning social work will be the main focus, even if this is an inevitable reduction of his accomplishments in the field of medicine and social medicine.

Alice Salomon (Germany), President 1928/29-1946

Salomon belongs to the known and nevertheless unknown ‘pioneers’ of social work in the world. She founded one of the first Schools of Social Work (Berlin 1908) and was the first president of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (1929-1937). Her theoretical work however is almost forgotten or not really part of the debate about social work history.

René Sand (Belgium), President 1946 – 1953

The extraordinary significance of the life and work of René Sand lies in his central position as a mediator, promoter and coordinator of social work on an increasingly international level during the interwar-period and it can hardly be overestimated.