History of the ITS

As a result of the Second World War the fate of millions of people needed,  and still needs, to be investigated. In 1943, a department was set up within the British Red Cross, on the initiative of Allied Forces HQ, to begin the work of tracing people.

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ITS Supervisory Organisation

Logo IKRKICRC

The International Tracing Service has been operating under the administrative umbrella of the International Committee of the Red Cross since 1955.

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» www.icrc.org

Location

Ansicht des ITS-Hauptgebäudes

Arolsen was chosen because of its central location between the four occupied zones and because it had large, undamaged buildings and good telegraph and telephone connections. The first location used was the former SS barracks.

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Previous Institutes

You will find information about the organisations preceding ITS here.

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