The chapter deals with the basic approaches of the Western Allies and West German politicians towards the integration of German expellees from Central and Eastern Europe in West Germany. It also examines what influenced the relations between expellees and long-time residents, as well as the main causes of the difficulties and successes of the integration process.
The role of leading political parties and the expellee party "All-German Bloc/League of Expellees and Deprived of Rights" (Gesamtdeutscher Block / Block der Heimatvertriebenen und Entrechteten) among West German actors is analyzed, as well as the activities of expellee interest organizations.