Lot #61: Rare 1946 Latvian DP Camp Pocket Dictionary & Grammar – Esslingen Germany Allied Military

Fascinating piece of post-WWII history: a copy of the "Latviski-Angliska kabatas vārdnīca un angļu valodas gramatika" (Latvian-English Pocket Dictionary and English Grammar). Composed by mag. iur. K. Grāvelis and revised by B. Kingstone, M.A., this pocket reference book was published in 1946 in Esslingen (Neckar), Germany. This specific copy features highly significant provenance marks from the aftermath of World War II, making it an excellent addition to any collection of militaria, refugee crisis history, or Baltic ephemera. • Format: Softcover / Pocket Book • Pages: 111 pages • Publisher: K. Grāvela apgāds (K. Gravelis, Publisher) • Printer: Karl Weinbrenner & Söhne, Stuttgart • The Displaced Persons (DP) Camp Context: Following the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, roughly 120,000 to 170,000 Latvians fled west into Germany. The city of Esslingen am Neckar became the site of the largest Latvian DP camp, housing over 6,000 refugees. • Refugee Education & Language: Books like this dictionary were vital lifelines printed in the camp system. They allowed displaced Latvians to learn English in preparation for emigration to the US, Canada, the UK, or Australia. • Military Government Approval: The interior features the official stamp: "Approved by Allied Expeditionary Force Military Government Detachment G-23". This confirms its vetting under the post-war Allied occupation administration. • School Ownership Provenance: The book features a rare property stamp from the camp's educational system: "LATVIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL / LATVIEŠU ĢIMNĀZIJA No. 199", confirming it was actively used by a refugee student in the camp. Pickup category timeslot {A}