Fugitive and Wreckage Remains: The Ley-Shack Sought as Sanctuary - Fleeing After Bombing: Hiding Out in the "Ley-Bude"
In the concluding years of World War II, countless families in Hamburg found temporary shelter in modest structures erected in rural areas. these makeshift homes, colloquially known as "Ley-Shacks," were cobbled together from wooden parts and lacked basic sanitary facilities.
Stefan Zimmermann, director of the Freilichtmuseum am Kiekeberg, offers insight into the cramped living conditions contained in the 20-square-meter "Ley-Shack" on display at the museum: "That's twelve years of National Socialism squeezed into this space."
The derogatory nickname came about in reference to Reich Housing Commissioner Robert Ley, a National Socialist official responsible for housing management. The provenance and utilization of many of these buildings remain elusive, with few documents detailing their origins or uses.
Only discovered in 2022, hidden away in Lindhorster Heath (municipality of Seevetal), the hut was previously utilized as a weekend home. The museum's setup involved rigorous scientific research and conversations with contemporary witnesses, providing an idea of the living conditions during that time.
With limited documentation in the war's final phase, there is no definitive count of temporary homes across Greater Hamburg. "There's often little recollection or anecdotes about this difficult phase of life within families," explains Zimmermann, suggesting that many "Ley-Shacks" likely existed.
The tiny dwelling offers a glimpse into both the social transformation following the National Socialists' rise to power and the war's consequences, as well as the daily lives of refugees. Some migrants built the structures themselves, incorporating self-sustaining plots for vegetables. A hole in the foundation served as a refrigerator of sorts.
Initially, these small houses served as a refuge for those displaced from air raids in urban areas. Later, they were employed throughout the country as gardens sheds or chicken coops. Propaganda portrayed this living situation as temporary, in anticipation of a victorious Nazi outcome.
Leading into the opening weekend, the museum team invites guests on guided tours through the permanent exhibition, "Harburg under the Swastika. A District from 1933 to 1945." Over the course of several days, roughly 60 actors and actresses will depict the arrival of refugees, locals, and the British occupation authorities' endeavors to establish order in the wake of war.
The post-war period and World War II were marked by significant housing challenges and scarcity in Hamburg. Simple structures and temporary accommodations served as emergency shelters for families during both times. If "Ley-Shacks" refer to a specific type of structure, they might have been part of the makeshift housing solutions adopted during those periods. However, without definitive details, precise insights into their specific use or characteristics remain limited.
The community policy during the post-war period and the era of World War II included the provision of temporary housing solutions, such as the Ley-Shacks, which could also serve as home-and-garden structures. These Ley-Shacks, along with other makeshift homes, provided refuge not just for those displaced from air raids in urban areas but also served as vocational training centers, teaching refugees how to live off the land and sustain themselves.
