Stiftungen als Teil städtischer Fürsorgesysteme in Deutschland, 1871–1945

Abstract

In contrast to the expansion of the social welfare system in Germany from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century the history of charitable foundations was discontinuous. A boom in the establishment of foundations in the German Empire was followed by both a reduction in the number of foundations, as well as a decline in their importance for local welfare systems a er World War I. Hitherto this process has been described only in terms of the decline and collapse of foundations. e article will bring this narrative into question by means of a comparison between di erent cities and an interlinked perspective of foundations and municipal welfare systems. In a chronology from the German Empire to the third Reich, different processes within foundations and their relationship to the local administrations in special fields of welfare will be presented. The freedom of action of foundations, as well as their cooperation with and their integration into the public welfare system, will be highlighted.