History:

The history of the American Aid Society is a history of a transitional period.  It is a history of a people in the search of a new future and new fulfillment. 

The situation for the southeastern Germans towards the end of World War II became very uncertain as the allied forces pushed towards the homelands of the German people.  The German authorities summoned the German people and asked them to flee to Germany for security reasons.  Many heeded the suggestion and took up the flight.

After the war the political powers were controlled by the Communists and therefore it became dangerous for the German population.  Many were deported to Russian labor camps, others were thrown into concentration camps.  Only a few could stay at home, but their civil rights were severely limited.Through the encouraging news of the arrived expellees in Austria and Germany, the mass fleeing towards those countries began.  Many ventured the flight and made it, others risked these ventures with beatings, hunger, and even some paid with their lives.  Through the expulsions, they had to leave their homes and all belongings behind them.  The expellees had nothing but their clothes on their back and hunger in their stomachs. Arriving at their destinations, they found nothing more than an uncertain future.  During and after the war, the people of Austria and Germany were themselves lacking in food, clothing, and shelter.  One could not expect to receive food or clothing.  Housing was nonexistent, only the mass expellees were housed in huge refugee camps in neglected barracks.  Refugees were a burden.
Thoughts wandered to relatives and fellow country men living in America and hoped that help would come from them.

During this time, the German community in Chicago formed an organization to support their sons who fought as American soliders in the war in Europe.  This uniting of the German community became the foundation for the founding of the American Aid Society.

Through the German-American soldiers, who served in Europe in the American army, they eventually became aware of the fate of the refugees and expellees.  The German-American community not only learned of the great distress of their brothers and sisters through the mail, but also through their own sons. One wanted to help, but to unite for this purpose was not easy.  One needed a lot of courage because the impressions of the war was still fresh in the minds of the American population.  Despite the risks, a few German-American folks began the work to help the expellees.

The founders were: Nick Pesch, Sam Baumann, Math Gartner, John Fink, Josef Mueller, John Deppong, John Kaiser, Konrad Hack, and Christian Marschall.  The first elected officers were: Nick Pesch, President; Josef Mueller, Vice-President; Konrad Hack, Secretary; and John Deppong, Treasurer.  Much background work was done by John C. Meiszner, who was able to achieve much because of his political influence in Chicago and his connections in Washington, D.C.
         
Now began the huge task of the laborious work of the American Aid Society.  Their first task was to relieve the hunger of the expelled countrymen.  Food was collected and sent to the refugee camps.  For example, one care package consisted of 8 lbs. of flour, 2 lbs. of sugar, 1 lbs. of macaroni, 2 lbs. of butter, 1 lbs. of coffee, and 2 lbs. of rice.  Day after day people came together to pack, fasten, and bind packages.  Men, women, and children helped.  In the years of 1945 - 1947, food, clothing, and medicine valued at over $130,000.00 was sent.  This seemed unbelievable.  Where did the money come from?  Most items had to be paid for.  The German-American community sponsered picnics, held ethnic festivals, and had banquets and in time when meat was still rationed.  Donated items of value were raffled off.  One automobile raffle alone took in over $3,000.00  Even boxing matches, in which German-Americans participated, were organized.  All these undertakings demanded a lot of time and effort.