| The Sad Story of East Prussia |
| "Kill!Kill! In the German race there is nothing but evil. Stamp out the fascist beast once and for all in its lair! Use force and break the racial pride of these German women. Take them as your lawful booty. Kill! As you storm forward. Kill! You gallant soldiers of the Red army." Ilya Ehrenburg |
| Murder by Ice |
| "The Germans are not human beings. From now on the word German is for us the worst imaginable curse and strikes us to the quick. We shall not get excited. We shall kill. If you have not killed at least one German a day,you have wasted that day....for us there is nothing more joyful than a heap of German corpses." IIya Ehrenburg. |
In daylight, Soviet planes circled overhead and intentionally cut off large ice floes with artillery fire,
sending them hopelessly adrift. Those who escaped on land joined an endless parade of stunned,
bereaved people on overflowing roadways. They witnessed whole cartloads of people crushed and
mowed over by advancing Russian tanks, with wailing children and frantic mothers stretched for mile
after mile of human misery. Unprepared for the 60 degree below zero wind chill and deep snow,
some turned back home in despair. Blazing farms lit up the horizon, burned by the Red Army or set
on fire by hopeless owners who then committed suicide.
sending them hopelessly adrift. Those who escaped on land joined an endless parade of stunned,
bereaved people on overflowing roadways. They witnessed whole cartloads of people crushed and
mowed over by advancing Russian tanks, with wailing children and frantic mothers stretched for mile
after mile of human misery. Unprepared for the 60 degree below zero wind chill and deep snow,
some turned back home in despair. Blazing farms lit up the horizon, burned by the Red Army or set
on fire by hopeless owners who then committed suicide.
| A Civilian Maritime Disaster with no Movie |
The Wilhelm Gustloff was a 25,000-ton passenger liner. On January 30, 1945, when it steamed out
of Gotenhafen, it carried a crew of 1,100 officers and men, 73 critically wounded soldiers, 373
young women of the Women's Naval Auxiliary and more than 6,000 desperate refugees, most of
them women and children who had reached the safety of the ship after grueling personal ordeals.
of Gotenhafen, it carried a crew of 1,100 officers and men, 73 critically wounded soldiers, 373
young women of the Women's Naval Auxiliary and more than 6,000 desperate refugees, most of
them women and children who had reached the safety of the ship after grueling personal ordeals.
The Gustloff was 13 miles off the coast of Pomerania when 3 torpedoes from a Soviet sub under the
command of Captain A.I. Marinesko, struck the ship. 90 minutes later it sank under the icy waves of
the Baltic. Barely 1,100 survived. At least 7,000 Germans died. A few days later, on February 10,
Marinesko struck again and sank the German hospital ship the General von Steuben carrying 3,500
wounded soldiers and another 1,000 refugees.
command of Captain A.I. Marinesko, struck the ship. 90 minutes later it sank under the icy waves of
the Baltic. Barely 1,100 survived. At least 7,000 Germans died. A few days later, on February 10,
Marinesko struck again and sank the German hospital ship the General von Steuben carrying 3,500
wounded soldiers and another 1,000 refugees.
| Murder by Fire |
By February of 1945, thousands upon thousands of panic stricken refugees who managed to survive
the grueling exodus from the eastern regions flooded into Dresden and other towns and cities seeking
shelter and help. On the 14th and 15th of February, Dresden was incinerated
the grueling exodus from the eastern regions flooded into Dresden and other towns and cities seeking
shelter and help. On the 14th and 15th of February, Dresden was incinerated
This was the "orderly and humane expulsion" of Germans that Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin shook
hands to. More than 1.9 million of nearly 2.4 million East Prussians joined by Germans from central
Poland fled westward under horrible conditions. 173,000 people could not or would not leave. Later,
researchers of the Federal Archives counted 3,300 locations just in areas they had access to where at
least 120,000 German civilians were either shot or beaten to death by the Red Army.
hands to. More than 1.9 million of nearly 2.4 million East Prussians joined by Germans from central
Poland fled westward under horrible conditions. 173,000 people could not or would not leave. Later,
researchers of the Federal Archives counted 3,300 locations just in areas they had access to where at
least 120,000 German civilians were either shot or beaten to death by the Red Army.
| "The German 'good fellows', those who at home give way to sentimentalities, piggy-backs to their kiddies and feed the German cats with morsels of their rationed hamburgers, murder Russian children with the same pedantry as do the bad Germans. They murder because they have come to believe that only people with German blood are worthy of living on this earth of ours." IIya Ehrenburg. |
| "Wojna kaput-damoi".... Go Back Home! The Theft of East Prussia |
Virtually every city that refugees were known to have flocked to, from Kiel to Swinemünde, suffered
from major catastrophic Allied bombing attacks as part of "Operation Thunderclap" and "Operation
Clarion" at the hight of their exodus. Two Allied air raids were carried out on the old city of
Königsberg on August 26/27 and August 29/30, 1944 based on "misinformation" from Churchill that
it was a "a modernised heavily defended fortress." 90% of the city of Kant was absolutely destroyed
and it burned for several days. The entire historic city center, including the cathedral, the castle, the
old churches, the old and the new universities and the old shipping quarter were entirely destroyed.
from major catastrophic Allied bombing attacks as part of "Operation Thunderclap" and "Operation
Clarion" at the hight of their exodus. Two Allied air raids were carried out on the old city of
Königsberg on August 26/27 and August 29/30, 1944 based on "misinformation" from Churchill that
it was a "a modernised heavily defended fortress." 90% of the city of Kant was absolutely destroyed
and it burned for several days. The entire historic city center, including the cathedral, the castle, the
old churches, the old and the new universities and the old shipping quarter were entirely destroyed.
During January and February of 1945, the "evacuation" of surviving German began, including those
who had returned to reunite with or save their families. Almost two years later, in October of 1947,
there were still 30,000 Germans in the city and they were shipped by trains to the future GDR or
sent to Soviet gulags. In February of 1948, the Ministerial Council of the USSR decided to "resettle"
all remaining Germans they discovered in East Prussia to the GDR, officially declaring them illegal
residents. According to Soviet sources, 102,125 persons were "resettled" to the GDR in 1947 and
1948, but only 99,481 arrived (GDR authorities attributed this to "perhaps a Soviet calculation
error.") In May 1951, another 3,000 East Prussian were shipped to the GDR. These last remaining
German residents were expelled in more ethnic cleansing of 1949-50. Thousands totally vanished
and are presumed murdered. Below: Kalinin, Ehrenburg; Street sign in today's Rostock, Germany
who had returned to reunite with or save their families. Almost two years later, in October of 1947,
there were still 30,000 Germans in the city and they were shipped by trains to the future GDR or
sent to Soviet gulags. In February of 1948, the Ministerial Council of the USSR decided to "resettle"
all remaining Germans they discovered in East Prussia to the GDR, officially declaring them illegal
residents. According to Soviet sources, 102,125 persons were "resettled" to the GDR in 1947 and
1948, but only 99,481 arrived (GDR authorities attributed this to "perhaps a Soviet calculation
error.") In May 1951, another 3,000 East Prussian were shipped to the GDR. These last remaining
German residents were expelled in more ethnic cleansing of 1949-50. Thousands totally vanished
and are presumed murdered. Below: Kalinin, Ehrenburg; Street sign in today's Rostock, Germany
German cities and towns were neglected or demolished and the place names all changed.
Königsberg, founded in 1255, was renamed Kalingrad in honor of a murderous Soviet thug who
never stepped foot in the city. In July of 1945, northern East Prussia became part of the USSR and
in the autumn the first Soviet settlers arrived from Russian, Belarus and the Ukraine. The city of
Kant was doomed, and the beauty that had come with wisdom, age and grace was to be poorly
remodelled. The 800 year old Königsberg castle was dynamited to make way for the hideous
22-story "House of Soviets," however the castle had contained many underground tunnels and the
building above began to slowly collapse. Because of Kalingrad's use as a navy base, there is nuclear
pollution and the city bore grave contamination from the Chernobyl disaster. Its streets are crime and
drug infested, filthy and stinking, and it has one of the world's highest rate of AIDS.
Königsberg, founded in 1255, was renamed Kalingrad in honor of a murderous Soviet thug who
never stepped foot in the city. In July of 1945, northern East Prussia became part of the USSR and
in the autumn the first Soviet settlers arrived from Russian, Belarus and the Ukraine. The city of
Kant was doomed, and the beauty that had come with wisdom, age and grace was to be poorly
remodelled. The 800 year old Königsberg castle was dynamited to make way for the hideous
22-story "House of Soviets," however the castle had contained many underground tunnels and the
building above began to slowly collapse. Because of Kalingrad's use as a navy base, there is nuclear
pollution and the city bore grave contamination from the Chernobyl disaster. Its streets are crime and
drug infested, filthy and stinking, and it has one of the world's highest rate of AIDS.
Kalingrad was declared a 'free economic zone' in 1992 in a futile attempt to revive the economy. It
never developed into a "Hong Kong of the Baltic" as some desired, and corruption keeps most
investment away. Approximately 400,000 people live in metropolitan Kaliningrad and a total of one
million are in the "oblast" but not those people who bravely settled the land hundreds of years ago.
never developed into a "Hong Kong of the Baltic" as some desired, and corruption keeps most
investment away. Approximately 400,000 people live in metropolitan Kaliningrad and a total of one
million are in the "oblast" but not those people who bravely settled the land hundreds of years ago.
In the late 1980's some ethnic Germans arrived, most driven out of other parts of the USSR, and by
1991, 5,000 ethnic Germans inhabited the city and 13,000 the region. Closed off to foreigners since
WWII, the Kaliningrad region, about one half the size of Belgium and some 200 miles away from the
border of Russia proper, was reopened on January 1, 1991 when the first direct train since 1945 ran
from Kaliningrad to Berlin. After the fall of the USSR when neighboring Lithuania and former Soviet
republics gained their independence, Kaliningrad had been cut off from Russia. Although railroads
connect Kaliningrad to Russia though Lithuania and Belarus, high tariffs in Lithuania make importing
food and supplies from Russia prohibitively expensive.
1991, 5,000 ethnic Germans inhabited the city and 13,000 the region. Closed off to foreigners since
WWII, the Kaliningrad region, about one half the size of Belgium and some 200 miles away from the
border of Russia proper, was reopened on January 1, 1991 when the first direct train since 1945 ran
from Kaliningrad to Berlin. After the fall of the USSR when neighboring Lithuania and former Soviet
republics gained their independence, Kaliningrad had been cut off from Russia. Although railroads
connect Kaliningrad to Russia though Lithuania and Belarus, high tariffs in Lithuania make importing
food and supplies from Russia prohibitively expensive.
In an article of March, 3,1945 Ehrenburg emphasized that the "historical mission of the Soviet army
consists in a modest and honorable task of reduction of the population of Germany." Ehrenburg
whipped the Red Army into such a pathological fury of hatred that by the time they arrived in East
Prussia it was easy to rape and kill the mostly female population. There were reports of young
women in East Prussia having been crucified on barn doors, tied up by their legs and torn in two by
cars, or groups of naked girls being tied to a rope like fish on a line and dragged behind wagons, or of
small groups of children being found with their tongues nailed to tables and lifeless babies discovered
with their skulls broken and bodies punctured by bayonets. It is said that every captured woman
between eight and eighty was violently raped, most multiple times and many were killed after.
consists in a modest and honorable task of reduction of the population of Germany." Ehrenburg
whipped the Red Army into such a pathological fury of hatred that by the time they arrived in East
Prussia it was easy to rape and kill the mostly female population. There were reports of young
women in East Prussia having been crucified on barn doors, tied up by their legs and torn in two by
cars, or groups of naked girls being tied to a rope like fish on a line and dragged behind wagons, or of
small groups of children being found with their tongues nailed to tables and lifeless babies discovered
with their skulls broken and bodies punctured by bayonets. It is said that every captured woman
between eight and eighty was violently raped, most multiple times and many were killed after.
In August, 1944, news got out that in the East Prussian villages of Nemmersdorf and Goldap, the
Red Army had raped, tortured and murdered all of the inhabitants down to the last baby. This scene
soon played out in West Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, the Sudetenland and other areas of eastern
Europe. The Red Army was cajoled to behave in Germany "as Mongolian hordes of old" by Stalin's
propagandists, among whom was the grand master of hate, Ilya Ehrenburg, who encouraged troops
to injure, torture, rape and kill all German civilians. As the violence spread, the only option for the
endangered population of East Prussia was to flee, and they would face uncounted scenes of terror.
Red Army had raped, tortured and murdered all of the inhabitants down to the last baby. This scene
soon played out in West Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, the Sudetenland and other areas of eastern
Europe. The Red Army was cajoled to behave in Germany "as Mongolian hordes of old" by Stalin's
propagandists, among whom was the grand master of hate, Ilya Ehrenburg, who encouraged troops
to injure, torture, rape and kill all German civilians. As the violence spread, the only option for the
endangered population of East Prussia was to flee, and they would face uncounted scenes of terror.
In the winter of 1945, East Prussia was cut off from the west,
the only escape route for many being from the small port of
Pillau and over the Baltic Sea toward the west. Throngs of
desperate Königsberg civilians had only one way out, a frigid
walk over half frozen lagoons to Frische Nehrung, a narrow
slice of land, from where they hoped to reach Danzig. Almost
a million people are said to have tried this perilous crossing.
Survivors later recounted the hopelessness and horror of
making this deadly trek in the dark as whole families pulling
carts and sleds filled with children and the elderly slid into
holes in the ice and plunged into the unforgiving sea.
the only escape route for many being from the small port of
Pillau and over the Baltic Sea toward the west. Throngs of
desperate Königsberg civilians had only one way out, a frigid
walk over half frozen lagoons to Frische Nehrung, a narrow
slice of land, from where they hoped to reach Danzig. Almost
a million people are said to have tried this perilous crossing.
Survivors later recounted the hopelessness and horror of
making this deadly trek in the dark as whole families pulling
carts and sleds filled with children and the elderly slid into
holes in the ice and plunged into the unforgiving sea.
Only 650 people survived. Hailed as a hero, Marinesko was later awarded the Combat Order of the
Red Banner for his record in sinking the most tonnage in a single cruise. He would later be demoted
for other offenses. On May 6,1945 the German freighter Goya, also part of the rescue fleet, was
torpedoed by another Soviet submarine, and more than 6,000 non-combatant refugees fleeing from
East Prussia also died. Below: Wlm.Gustloff; Marinesko, Monument glorifying him in 'Kalingrad'
Red Banner for his record in sinking the most tonnage in a single cruise. He would later be demoted
for other offenses. On May 6,1945 the German freighter Goya, also part of the rescue fleet, was
torpedoed by another Soviet submarine, and more than 6,000 non-combatant refugees fleeing from
East Prussia also died. Below: Wlm.Gustloff; Marinesko, Monument glorifying him in 'Kalingrad'
After the Red Army's capture of Königsberg under General Chernyakhovsky, the wreckage of the
city was cordoned off and turned into a giant internment camp, then a mass grave. The Red Army
immediately and methodically set about erasing any trace of former German presence, starting with
the human beings who did not or could not get out in time. Out of Königsberg's prewar population of
316,000, an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 people were still present in the ruins of the devastated city
on the day of capitulation and thousands did not survive the communist orgy of bloodshed and
revenge. Many that did survived murder soon met their end by starvation, disease and freezing to
death. Probably no other German city paid so cruel a price for defeat. 90,000 German military
prisoners were also taken, almost none of whom were never heard from again.
city was cordoned off and turned into a giant internment camp, then a mass grave. The Red Army
immediately and methodically set about erasing any trace of former German presence, starting with
the human beings who did not or could not get out in time. Out of Königsberg's prewar population of
316,000, an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 people were still present in the ruins of the devastated city
on the day of capitulation and thousands did not survive the communist orgy of bloodshed and
revenge. Many that did survived murder soon met their end by starvation, disease and freezing to
death. Probably no other German city paid so cruel a price for defeat. 90,000 German military
prisoners were also taken, almost none of whom were never heard from again.
The name "Prussia" was formally expunged from international language by order Number 46 of the
Allied Control Commission on February 23, 1945 because, as it incorrectly stated: "Since time
immemorial it has been the pillar of militarism and reaction in Germany." Lost in this heroic rhetoric
was the fact that Prussia was also the "pillar" of historical religious tolerance lacking in its European
neighbors, and a pillar of hospitality in its offering of a new, free, undiscriminating homeland for
persecuted refugees from Scotland, France, Austria and elsewhere throughout its history. Prussia was
also a "pillar" of musical genius, the arts, science, philosophy and medicine. Prussia as a state was
far less aggressive and warlike than Britain, France or Russia, and certainly less adept at gobbling
large areas of the earth and subjugating native populations by enforcing blood thirsty colonial rule on
anywhere near the scale of her neighbors. Prussia's history did not include murderous suppression of
minorities, profiteering from slave trading or using hunger blockades and enforced famine to
inhumanly starve out its enemies. Nor did Prussia ever encourage the exile, rape or burning alive of
millions of women and children non-combatants in wartime.
Allied Control Commission on February 23, 1945 because, as it incorrectly stated: "Since time
immemorial it has been the pillar of militarism and reaction in Germany." Lost in this heroic rhetoric
was the fact that Prussia was also the "pillar" of historical religious tolerance lacking in its European
neighbors, and a pillar of hospitality in its offering of a new, free, undiscriminating homeland for
persecuted refugees from Scotland, France, Austria and elsewhere throughout its history. Prussia was
also a "pillar" of musical genius, the arts, science, philosophy and medicine. Prussia as a state was
far less aggressive and warlike than Britain, France or Russia, and certainly less adept at gobbling
large areas of the earth and subjugating native populations by enforcing blood thirsty colonial rule on
anywhere near the scale of her neighbors. Prussia's history did not include murderous suppression of
minorities, profiteering from slave trading or using hunger blockades and enforced famine to
inhumanly starve out its enemies. Nor did Prussia ever encourage the exile, rape or burning alive of
millions of women and children non-combatants in wartime.
The German inhabitants who settled these deserted plague and famine devastated lands and made the
area their home for centuries, working the land, raising their families and building canals, villages,
homes, schools, churches and businesses, were now brutally driven into exile with their farms and
properties all stolen by force. Any evidence of the region's long Germanic heritage was carefully
obliterated. Russia even claims the great German philosopher Kant as "one of their own".
area their home for centuries, working the land, raising their families and building canals, villages,
homes, schools, churches and businesses, were now brutally driven into exile with their farms and
properties all stolen by force. Any evidence of the region's long Germanic heritage was carefully
obliterated. Russia even claims the great German philosopher Kant as "one of their own".
The Germans initiated "Operation Hannibal" to withdraw German civilians and troops from East
Prussia. Beginning on January 21, 1945, it ended up being one of the largest emergency evacuations
by sea in history and one of the German Navy's most significant achievements. In a period of about
15 weeks, between 500 and 1,080 merchant vessels of all types and numerous naval craft, including
Germany's largest remaining naval units, transported about 900,000 refugees and 350,000 soldiers
across the Baltic Sea to Germany and occupied Denmark. But not all rescues were successful.
Prussia. Beginning on January 21, 1945, it ended up being one of the largest emergency evacuations
by sea in history and one of the German Navy's most significant achievements. In a period of about
15 weeks, between 500 and 1,080 merchant vessels of all types and numerous naval craft, including
Germany's largest remaining naval units, transported about 900,000 refugees and 350,000 soldiers
across the Baltic Sea to Germany and occupied Denmark. But not all rescues were successful.
