Editing Bayreuth (section)

====Post-war era (1945–2000)====
After the war Bayreuth tried to part with its ill-fated past. It became part of the [[American Zone of Occupation|American Zone]]. The American military government set up a [[DP camp]] to accommodate [[displaced person]]s (DP), many of whom were [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]].<ref name="DP camps"/> The camp was supervised by the [[United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration|UNRRA]].

The housing situation was very difficult at first: there were about 53,300 inhabitants in the town, many more than before the war began. This increase was primarily due to the high number of refugees and expellees. Even in 1948 more than 11,000 refugees were counted. In addition, because many homes had been destroyed due to the war, thousands of people were living in temporary shelters, even the festival restaurant next to the Festival Hall housed some 500 people.<ref>Bernd Mayer, Wo jeder Zehnte einen Stuhl besaß. In: Heimat-Kurier das historische Magazin des Nordbayerischen Kuriers. No. 3/2004</ref>

In 1945, 1,400 men were conscripted by the town council for "essential work" (clean-up work on damaged buildings and the clearing of roads). A significant number of historic buildings were demolished post-war but cultural life was soon back on track: in 1947 [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] festival weeks were held in the Opera House, from which the Franconian Festival Weeks developed. In 1949 the Festival Hall was used for the first time again and there was a gala concert with the [[Vienna Philharmonic]] led by [[Hans Knappertsbusch]]. In 1951, the first post-war Richard Wagner Festival took place under the leadership of [[Wieland Wagner|Wieland]] and [[Wolfgang Wagner]]. Wieland Wagner's fresh and non-traditional stagings "restored credibility to a theater that had been totally ruined by Nazi ideology."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/how-wieland-wagner-once-hitlers-friend-lifted-the-nazi-shadow-from-bayreuth/a-39856191|title = How Wieland Wagner, once Hitler's friend, lifted the Nazi shadow from Bayreuth &#124; DW &#124; 27.07.2017|website = [[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref>

In 1949, Bayreuth became the seat of the government of Upper Franconia again.

In 1971, the [[Bavarian State Parliament]] decided to establish the [[University of Bayreuth]] and, on 3 November 1975, it opened for lectures and research. There are now about 10,000 students in the town.

In May 1972, a serious accident occurred at the folk festival in the town, when an overcrowded carriage derailed and several people were thrown out. Four died and five were injured, some seriously. At that time, it was the worst disaster on a roller coaster since the Second World War.

In 1979, US Army serviceman [[Roy Chung]] disappeared from the area and allegedly defected to [[North Korea]] via [[East Germany]].

In 1999, the world gliding championship took place at Bayreuth municipal airport.