Abstract

This article reflects conditions of diaconic work in both german states between the fifties and the eighties. Despite the well-known differences between the political systems it points at the similarities in certain fields of diaconic work. In the first period of general shortage after World War II the Hilfswerk contributes to relieve the distress in both parts of Germany. Later in the sixties the change of the political and legal situation allows the development of diaconic organisations not only in Western Germany but also in the G.D.R., particularly in the care of the handicapped. To a certain extent the organisation of social work in the socialist part of the country thus followed the dual scheme of govemment and non-govemment organisation side by side which has a lorig tradition in Germany. This is remarkable because the G. D. R. officially claimed a state monopoly on all social action and care