| Brünn: Memorial to Genocide |
There are many German/Austrian towns throughout history books that have faded away into dust.
We try to find them on a map, but cannot. Brünn is such a place. The home of Gregor Mendel,
father of modern genetics, it was originally the site of a Celtic settlement. The origins of Brünn go
back to a castle that was founded around 1021, and the earliest document mentioning the settlement
dates from 1091. The town itself was founded in 1243 by Wenceslaus I of Bohemia.
We try to find them on a map, but cannot. Brünn is such a place. The home of Gregor Mendel,
father of modern genetics, it was originally the site of a Celtic settlement. The origins of Brünn go
back to a castle that was founded around 1021, and the earliest document mentioning the settlement
dates from 1091. The town itself was founded in 1243 by Wenceslaus I of Bohemia.
Brünn, once part of the Habsburg Empire, represented the center
of the province of Moravia. Situated at the crossroads of old
trade routes which joined Northern and Southern European
civilizations for centuries, German settlers arrived here in
Moravia and Bohemia in the 12th and 13th Century, and until
the end of the World War II, the inhabitants were for centuries
a German majority living with a minority Czech population.
of the province of Moravia. Situated at the crossroads of old
trade routes which joined Northern and Southern European
civilizations for centuries, German settlers arrived here in
Moravia and Bohemia in the 12th and 13th Century, and until
the end of the World War II, the inhabitants were for centuries
a German majority living with a minority Czech population.
They developed into a well-organized community. Brünn was destroyed in the Thirty Years War and
devastated by the Plague which killed 2,000 of its inhabitants. The city recovered and flourished
again under the progressive reforms of Austrian Emperor Josef II from 1760 to 1790, and religious
tolerance was imposed. Since for more than five centuries Germans were the majority, the mayors
were German. In 1850, Brünn's population was 37, 500 with a German majority and German
administration, who developed it efficiently with new and improved roads, lighted and paved streets,
gas and water lines and drainage, new textile industries with weaving and cloth mills and also a
machinery industry, causing it to prosper and grow. By 1910, Brünn had a population of 108,944,
of whom 70% were Germans and 30% Czechs.
devastated by the Plague which killed 2,000 of its inhabitants. The city recovered and flourished
again under the progressive reforms of Austrian Emperor Josef II from 1760 to 1790, and religious
tolerance was imposed. Since for more than five centuries Germans were the majority, the mayors
were German. In 1850, Brünn's population was 37, 500 with a German majority and German
administration, who developed it efficiently with new and improved roads, lighted and paved streets,
gas and water lines and drainage, new textile industries with weaving and cloth mills and also a
machinery industry, causing it to prosper and grow. By 1910, Brünn had a population of 108,944,
of whom 70% were Germans and 30% Czechs.
From the beginning, the Czechs decided to create a Nationalistic Czech state and planned early on to
resettle all or some of the Germans. The Slovaks also became a minority. The rights of these
minorities were soon trampled. In the early years of the young Czech Republic, even some Germans
had been enthused by the new spirit that filled the Czech citizens, but unfortunately, the two factions
were overshadowed by national differences and nationalism on both sides, and soon, the Germans
had to fight to protect their own ethnic installations and organizations. Hard feelings were growing in
intensity, and once the shoe was on the other foot, the Germans were treated harshly and
vindictively, resulting in consistent acts of violence against them, and in 1938, the area was annexed
to Germany. After the Sudetenland's annexation many, of the new Czech immigrants moved back
into their Czech homeland, the future Protectorate, but none of them were forcibly expelled.
resettle all or some of the Germans. The Slovaks also became a minority. The rights of these
minorities were soon trampled. In the early years of the young Czech Republic, even some Germans
had been enthused by the new spirit that filled the Czech citizens, but unfortunately, the two factions
were overshadowed by national differences and nationalism on both sides, and soon, the Germans
had to fight to protect their own ethnic installations and organizations. Hard feelings were growing in
intensity, and once the shoe was on the other foot, the Germans were treated harshly and
vindictively, resulting in consistent acts of violence against them, and in 1938, the area was annexed
to Germany. After the Sudetenland's annexation many, of the new Czech immigrants moved back
into their Czech homeland, the future Protectorate, but none of them were forcibly expelled.
Meanwhile, Czech President Edward Benesch (Benes), left, who had fled
to London, violently urged the Czech population through radio broadcasts
to arm themselves and to murder Germans. The Czechs also listened to
similar demands to "collectively liquidate all Germans" and by the time
the Soviet Army occupied the city on April 26, 1945, the situation
became lethal for German civilians. Revenge and hatred ignited, and
gruesome and horrifying attacks against German civilians commenced.
to London, violently urged the Czech population through radio broadcasts
to arm themselves and to murder Germans. The Czechs also listened to
similar demands to "collectively liquidate all Germans" and by the time
the Soviet Army occupied the city on April 26, 1945, the situation
became lethal for German civilians. Revenge and hatred ignited, and
gruesome and horrifying attacks against German civilians commenced.
By the thousands they were driven towards the Austrian
border, without food, water or medical assistance. The majority
of the deaths occurred at the first stop in the small, unprepared
town of Pohrlitz, half way between Brünn and the border to
Lower Austria, where many people succumbed to dysentery,
brought on by hunger, exposure, stress and fatigue. Some, too
weak to continue, were shot on the spot. There are several
mass graves for hundreds of the victims of the death march in
Pohrlitz. The sorry procession of women, children and old
people needed two days to reach the Austrian border, only to
find more grief and misery.
border, without food, water or medical assistance. The majority
of the deaths occurred at the first stop in the small, unprepared
town of Pohrlitz, half way between Brünn and the border to
Lower Austria, where many people succumbed to dysentery,
brought on by hunger, exposure, stress and fatigue. Some, too
weak to continue, were shot on the spot. There are several
mass graves for hundreds of the victims of the death march in
Pohrlitz. The sorry procession of women, children and old
people needed two days to reach the Austrian border, only to
find more grief and misery.
| The Brunn Death March: The Brünner Todesmarsch |
When the Austrian Monarchy was crushed after World War I and Czechoslovakia was established, a
number of neighboring communities were incorporated into the municipality of Brünn so that Czech
speakers could become the majority for the first time in history, and therefore the administration
became Czech. The Czechs now had their own state and, with the inclusion of the Slovaks, became
known as Czechoslovakia with Prague as the capital. The numbers of Germans/Austrians in the
border regions was about 3.5 million. In late 1918, 160,000 Czechs lived in these regions. By May
1939, however, official statistics number twice as many or approximately 320,000, and they had
come to these purely German regions to intentionally "Czechify" them.
number of neighboring communities were incorporated into the municipality of Brünn so that Czech
speakers could become the majority for the first time in history, and therefore the administration
became Czech. The Czechs now had their own state and, with the inclusion of the Slovaks, became
known as Czechoslovakia with Prague as the capital. The numbers of Germans/Austrians in the
border regions was about 3.5 million. In late 1918, 160,000 Czechs lived in these regions. By May
1939, however, official statistics number twice as many or approximately 320,000, and they had
come to these purely German regions to intentionally "Czechify" them.
After World War II, grave inhumanity arose. The Americans heavily bombed Brünn in March and
April of 1945 to pave the way for the Communist Red Army, and as the Allies pushed forward and
entered German territory, the Soviets closed in on Brünn. Among the German population, only
women, children, the disabled and the elderly were left in the city, the men and older boys all absent
or dead. Horror awaited German civilians.
April of 1945 to pave the way for the Communist Red Army, and as the Allies pushed forward and
entered German territory, the Soviets closed in on Brünn. Among the German population, only
women, children, the disabled and the elderly were left in the city, the men and older boys all absent
or dead. Horror awaited German civilians.
Eduard Benes: "Take everything from the Germans, leave them only a
handkerchief to weep into!" In Prague Germans were hung head-down from the
lamp posts and set on fire as living torches in Benes's honor. Ever since, the number
of victims of the genocide which followed has been cited as 250,000, but more
reliable sources claim no less than 460,000. Sudeten Germans were forced to
wear an identifying mark ("N" for "Nemec" or "German") in public. Brünn was
renamed Brno and its history cleansed of the once prominent German presence
handkerchief to weep into!" In Prague Germans were hung head-down from the
lamp posts and set on fire as living torches in Benes's honor. Ever since, the number
of victims of the genocide which followed has been cited as 250,000, but more
reliable sources claim no less than 460,000. Sudeten Germans were forced to
wear an identifying mark ("N" for "Nemec" or "German") in public. Brünn was
renamed Brno and its history cleansed of the once prominent German presence
Its culture progressed as well, and its theater was the first theater
in Europe with electric lights, set into operation by none other
than honored visitor Thomas Edison. The historical city center
was predominantly occupied by Germans but the labor force of
the factories and workshops consisted mainly of the Czech
population who arrived daily from the suburbs of the city. Both
the Czech and German languages were spoken in Brünn and there
were many families of mixed nationalities.
in Europe with electric lights, set into operation by none other
than honored visitor Thomas Edison. The historical city center
was predominantly occupied by Germans but the labor force of
the factories and workshops consisted mainly of the Czech
population who arrived daily from the suburbs of the city. Both
the Czech and German languages were spoken in Brünn and there
were many families of mixed nationalities.
According to a report published in the New York Times, the Sudeten Germans were allowed to take
with them no more than 500 marks (roughly $50) and a maximum of 300 kilograms of luggage. But
few could keep even a handbag from thieves. Robbed every step of the journey, most ended their
trek with nothing left at all. All along the way they were taunted, tortured, robbed, raped, and many
were murdered and beaten. Many died, too old, too young or too feeble to make such a grueling trek.
Bodies lined the roadways. More dead were placed in several cemeteries on the Austrian side in
single graves, and there are large mass graves in Drasenhofen, Mistelbach, Stammersdorf, and
Purkersdorf in Austria, not including those who were murdered before they even left Brünn.
with them no more than 500 marks (roughly $50) and a maximum of 300 kilograms of luggage. But
few could keep even a handbag from thieves. Robbed every step of the journey, most ended their
trek with nothing left at all. All along the way they were taunted, tortured, robbed, raped, and many
were murdered and beaten. Many died, too old, too young or too feeble to make such a grueling trek.
Bodies lined the roadways. More dead were placed in several cemeteries on the Austrian side in
single graves, and there are large mass graves in Drasenhofen, Mistelbach, Stammersdorf, and
Purkersdorf in Austria, not including those who were murdered before they even left Brünn.
227 prisons and 1255 "camps" were hastily erected to accomplish various other expulsions. The
driving out of the East German and the Sudeten Germans was the biggest mass exile in human
history, and nothing else of comparison equals the genocide and crimes against humanity as this
event. Germans were expelled not only from East Germany and the Sudetenland, but completely out
of the east, central east and southeast of Europe.
driving out of the East German and the Sudeten Germans was the biggest mass exile in human
history, and nothing else of comparison equals the genocide and crimes against humanity as this
event. Germans were expelled not only from East Germany and the Sudetenland, but completely out
of the east, central east and southeast of Europe.
Spring came early to Brünn and was intensely beautiful. That Easter was the loveliest anybody could
ever remember. On April 18, the last two special trains with Germans who wanted to flee the city
departed. By May 30, 1945, the Germans, about 25000 to 30000 women, children and old people,
still remaining in Brünn were driven out. The Brünn death march was a planned and organized
action, accomplished predominantly with the help of the Czech workers of the Brünn weapon works
(Zbrojovka) who were excited and anxious for the anticipated loot and free real estate. The
supervisor of this crime was the Czech staff captain Bedřich Pokorný.
ever remember. On April 18, the last two special trains with Germans who wanted to flee the city
departed. By May 30, 1945, the Germans, about 25000 to 30000 women, children and old people,
still remaining in Brünn were driven out. The Brünn death march was a planned and organized
action, accomplished predominantly with the help of the Czech workers of the Brünn weapon works
(Zbrojovka) who were excited and anxious for the anticipated loot and free real estate. The
supervisor of this crime was the Czech staff captain Bedřich Pokorný.
German civilians were yanked out of their homes by force,
some naked, with the women indecently prodded for hidden
jewelry and other items of values they might have taken with
them. Then they were forced to assemble on the street in
several parts of the city where they were "marked", and the
few men among them taken away and shot. Then, flanked by
armed guards, the people were driven out like a herd of cattle
with guns as prods, with no stopping allowed, so that the
injured or exhausted were simply shoved by the roadside and
left to die.
some naked, with the women indecently prodded for hidden
jewelry and other items of values they might have taken with
them. Then they were forced to assemble on the street in
several parts of the city where they were "marked", and the
few men among them taken away and shot. Then, flanked by
armed guards, the people were driven out like a herd of cattle
with guns as prods, with no stopping allowed, so that the
injured or exhausted were simply shoved by the roadside and
left to die.
For weeks and even months they had to vegetate in primitive
camps because the Russian troops that occupied Austria did not
permit them to cross the border.
camps because the Russian troops that occupied Austria did not
permit them to cross the border.
Atrocities were committed across the land. The massacre of Aussig on July 31, 1945 occured the day
after an explosion of a ammunition depot in Krásné Březno. Immediately, and without trying to find
the guilty parties, all German civilians, who were easily recognizable from the white armlets they
were forced to wear, were rounded up and drowned using fire hoses that pushed them off the Elbe
bridge. Survivors were fired at in the water. The corpses floated into neighbouring Saxony and 80
corpses were retrieved at Meissen alone and 117 more were found downstream. The number of the
dead with this massacre was indicated for many years as approximately 2,000 ( Czech records say
40-100 ). There were also massacres at Saaz and Postelberg at the beginning of of June 1945.
after an explosion of a ammunition depot in Krásné Březno. Immediately, and without trying to find
the guilty parties, all German civilians, who were easily recognizable from the white armlets they
were forced to wear, were rounded up and drowned using fire hoses that pushed them off the Elbe
bridge. Survivors were fired at in the water. The corpses floated into neighbouring Saxony and 80
corpses were retrieved at Meissen alone and 117 more were found downstream. The number of the
dead with this massacre was indicated for many years as approximately 2,000 ( Czech records say
40-100 ). There were also massacres at Saaz and Postelberg at the beginning of of June 1945.
| Collective Guilt for all German Civilians, young and old. |
In Prerau, on June 18/19, 1945 265 German refugees from the Upper and Unterzips who were in a
railway station were murdered by Czechoslovakian soldiers. They had been evacuated briefly before
end of war and wanted to return now to their homeland. They ran into Czechoslovakian soldiers on
their way back from a victory celebration in Prague. The intelligence collection officer Karol Pazúr
with his soldiers forced the 265 defenseless civilians to leave the building and dig a mass grave
throughout the night. They then had to undress to their underwear, deliver all personal objects of
value and were all shot in the neck one by one. Beside the 71 old men and 120 women, there were
74 children among the murdered, the youngest victim only eight months old. The murderers were
never condemned. Karol Pazur was arrested briefly, but fell under the Benes Czechoslovakian
amnesty law which allowed for mudering German civilians and he was therefore never punished.
railway station were murdered by Czechoslovakian soldiers. They had been evacuated briefly before
end of war and wanted to return now to their homeland. They ran into Czechoslovakian soldiers on
their way back from a victory celebration in Prague. The intelligence collection officer Karol Pazúr
with his soldiers forced the 265 defenseless civilians to leave the building and dig a mass grave
throughout the night. They then had to undress to their underwear, deliver all personal objects of
value and were all shot in the neck one by one. Beside the 71 old men and 120 women, there were
74 children among the murdered, the youngest victim only eight months old. The murderers were
never condemned. Karol Pazur was arrested briefly, but fell under the Benes Czechoslovakian
amnesty law which allowed for mudering German civilians and he was therefore never punished.
For most, this meant either escape or being herded out like cattle, kidnapped, raped, beaten, tortured
or murdered. If we include among the victims the German prisoners of war who vanished or were
starved, worked to death and executed, and also add in the victims of the intentional campaign of
starvation of both civil populations, refugees and prisoners of war after war's end, 20 million humans
unnecessarily lost their lives, human beings that are generally never spoken of or remembered.
or murdered. If we include among the victims the German prisoners of war who vanished or were
starved, worked to death and executed, and also add in the victims of the intentional campaign of
starvation of both civil populations, refugees and prisoners of war after war's end, 20 million humans
unnecessarily lost their lives, human beings that are generally never spoken of or remembered.
