Conrad Hoffmann Jr.

Conrad Hoffmann, Jr. ca. 1915

An internationally known humanitarian, Conrad Hoffmann, Jr. aided war prisoners, European university students, and war refugees. He received his Ph.D. (1911) at the University of Wisconsin. In 1915, John R. Mott, Head of the International Committee of the YMCA, selected Dr. Hoffmann to serve as the Senior Secretary of the War Prisoners’ Aid in Germany. He also served as a member of the German National Committee and coordinated the relief efforts of the International Red Cross, under the direction of H.R.H. Margaret, the Crown Princess of Sweden. Hoffmann remained in Berlin after the United States broke diplomatic relations in February 1917, ensuring the continuation of reciprocal prisoner-of-war work.

Initially restricted to office duties, the German authorities eventually convinced the War Ministry to re-instate Hoffmann's camp visitation privileges, allowing him to again interact directly with prisoners. Twice he was permitted to travel outside of Germany and to return on work related trips. His office was located near the Kaiser's Palace and the Parade Grounds, giving Dr. Hoffmann a front row seat as events unfolded when the Soldiers and Sailors revolted in November 1918. Determined to continue his relief work uninterrupted, Dr. Hoffmann succeeded in obtaining permission from the Revolutionaries, allowing him to pass freely through the street barricades. Despite the political upheavals in the transfer of power from the Imperial regime to the Revolutionaries to the Ebert-Scheidemann Government, Hoffmann continued his work until his departure from Germany in June 1919.

After World War One, Dr. Hoffmann accompanied the homeward transportation of Russian prisoners, working with The Nansen Relief and the League of Nations. Towards the end of 1920, he became the Executive Secretary of the European Student Relief under the auspices of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) in Geneva, Switzerland. This endeavor provided funds and necessities for needy university students in Soviet Russia and eighteen other countries. Dr. Hoffmann traveled extensively and was in Russia during the time of the Great Famine. In 1927, Hoffmann took charge of the Friendly Service for Foreign Students in Europe, operated by the WSCF. During World War II, he worked with German POWs and the YMCA's War Prisoners’ Aid of Canada. Following the Second World War, Dr. Hoffmann helped relocate hundreds of refugees to the United States. He died in Blauvelt, N.Y. on August 12, 1958.

References

Hoffman, Conrad. In the Prison Camps of Germany . New York: Association Press, 1920.

Hopkins, C. Howard. History of the Y.M.C.A. in North America . New York: Association Press, 1951.

Hopkins, Charles Howard. John R. Mott, 1865-1955 . Eerdmans, 1979. ISBN 0-8028-3525-2

Maxillian, Prince of Baden. The Memoirs of Prince Max of Baden . Vol. 1. Trans. W. M. Calder and C. W. H. Sutton. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1928.

Service With Fighting Men . New York: Association Press, 1922.

Shedd, Clarence Prouty. " History Of The World's Alliance Of Young Men's Christian Associations ". London: S.P.C.K., 1955.

White, J. Gustav. "Caged Men, Observations in 28 German War Prison Camps." ts. J. Gustav White File, ID: CSUZZZ 189-A, Holdings on World War, 1914-1918, Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

“Conrad Hoffmann, Mission Official, 73.”

The New York Times 12 Aug. 1958, obit