For the instruction and protection of German children! The establishment of KLV camps in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Abstract
The process of establishing the first Erweiterte Kinderlandverchickung camps (KLV) in the years 1940-1941, which primarily consisted of selecting locations and individual facilities as well as ensuring basic living conditions, was one of the pivotal moments in the creation of a KLV network in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Particularly in view of the suitable local conditions (a common border, an occupation regime, relatively good supplies in comparison with the Reich and a feeling of security), the Protectorate structure created a very strong, supporting mechanism during the evacuation of children from towns and cities threatened with aerial bombardment.
Subsequently, in the middle of 1941, two important camp centres were formed in Poděbrady and Teplice nad Bečvou, which can be considered as the culmination of this process. The author pays special attention to two basic conditions for ensuring that children could reside in this environment in the long term.
The construction of a health-care system was in response to constant problems with the children''s health. Illness and epidemics in the camps also promoted efforts to improve the children''s diet with food supplements and a more varied choice of foods.
Int he final part of the text, the author deals with the establishment of a camp complex in the spa town of Poděbrady which allows one to observe the implementation of the project at local level. A regional survey not only reflects on the procedure used while acquiring facilities suitable for KLV and the circumstances that accompanied this process, but also looks at the interest of Czech tradesman in cooperating on the renovation of buildings while one of the central KLV sites throughout the Reich was being established.