Winston Churchill proposed the genocidal plan adopted at the 1945
Potsdam Conference for putting Poland "on wheels" and "rolling it
westward" into German lands. As a result of his final solution to the
"German problem", millions of Poles were displaced from territories
granted to the USSR and even more millions of Germans were expelled
or forced to flee from lands they had inhabited since the 13th century.
Potsdam Conference for putting Poland "on wheels" and "rolling it
westward" into German lands. As a result of his final solution to the
"German problem", millions of Poles were displaced from territories
granted to the USSR and even more millions of Germans were expelled
or forced to flee from lands they had inhabited since the 13th century.
Forced out at gunpoint, old and young, rich and poor had to leave their
family homes behind furnished and unlocked for the new inhabitants. The
Oder-Neisse as the border of a new postwar Germany was deceptively
described as "tentative" until a final peace settlement with Germany. The
issue was not laid to rest by Germany until it was forced to sign it as the
high price for German reunification: some or nothing at all.
family homes behind furnished and unlocked for the new inhabitants. The
Oder-Neisse as the border of a new postwar Germany was deceptively
described as "tentative" until a final peace settlement with Germany. The
issue was not laid to rest by Germany until it was forced to sign it as the
high price for German reunification: some or nothing at all.
Silesian Germans, some of whom had roots in Silesia going back centuries, and who before World
War II amounted to about 4 million, were collectively labelled "German partisans" and either fled or
were murdered, put in camps, sent to the Gulags or expelled. Often, the men would be rounded up
from the villages and camps and marched a short distance away, shot and buried in mass graves.
Under the terms of the agreements at the Yalta Conference of 1944 and the Potsdam Agreement of
1945, German Silesia east of the rivers Oder and Lusatian Neisse was transferred to Poland. Poles
from lands stolen by Stalin were trucked in and resettled there before the blood had even dried. The
Germans were sometimes ordered to not only leave all of their possessions behind, they were
ordered to leave the beds made with clean linen. It was efficient, well-planned and organized.
War II amounted to about 4 million, were collectively labelled "German partisans" and either fled or
were murdered, put in camps, sent to the Gulags or expelled. Often, the men would be rounded up
from the villages and camps and marched a short distance away, shot and buried in mass graves.
Under the terms of the agreements at the Yalta Conference of 1944 and the Potsdam Agreement of
1945, German Silesia east of the rivers Oder and Lusatian Neisse was transferred to Poland. Poles
from lands stolen by Stalin were trucked in and resettled there before the blood had even dried. The
Germans were sometimes ordered to not only leave all of their possessions behind, they were
ordered to leave the beds made with clean linen. It was efficient, well-planned and organized.
It was not just adults who were expelled from their homes. Children became adults overnight when
suddenly orphaned or when separated from their parents, and they had to face the hard and
dangerous treks alone, at the mercy of the elements and vicious predators. The violence used to
obliterate the ethnic memory of Germans was degrading and often fatal.
suddenly orphaned or when separated from their parents, and they had to face the hard and
dangerous treks alone, at the mercy of the elements and vicious predators. The violence used to
obliterate the ethnic memory of Germans was degrading and often fatal.
| Stolen Heritage: German Silesia |
With German defeat in 1945, all of Silesia was suddenly occupied by the Soviet Red Army who,
following their violent pattern, embarked upon another horrendous spree of rape. In one instance,
182 Catholic nuns were raped in Neisse and in the diocese of Kattowitz, they left behind 66 pregnant
nuns. Even small children were not spared the horrors of violent sexual assault, and little girls were
being attacked as often as their mothers. Boys who tried to protect their mothers and sisters were
shot, as were many of the victims afterward.
following their violent pattern, embarked upon another horrendous spree of rape. In one instance,
182 Catholic nuns were raped in Neisse and in the diocese of Kattowitz, they left behind 66 pregnant
nuns. Even small children were not spared the horrors of violent sexual assault, and little girls were
being attacked as often as their mothers. Boys who tried to protect their mothers and sisters were
shot, as were many of the victims afterward.
Reduced to slaves by their new masters, Germans were forced to make public apologies for their
"collective guilt" at social and governmental gatherings. Others were sent to camps with unbearable
conditions. Of 8,064 Germans in Camp Lamsdorf in Upper Silesia, 6,488, including hundreds of
children, died from starvation, disease, hard labor, and physical maltreatment including torture. This
repeated itself by the thousands. Illness brought on by bad water, starvation, exposure and even
poisoning was rampant and suicides epidemic. Five times as many Germans died in the first year
after the War's end as died during five of the War itself.
"collective guilt" at social and governmental gatherings. Others were sent to camps with unbearable
conditions. Of 8,064 Germans in Camp Lamsdorf in Upper Silesia, 6,488, including hundreds of
children, died from starvation, disease, hard labor, and physical maltreatment including torture. This
repeated itself by the thousands. Illness brought on by bad water, starvation, exposure and even
poisoning was rampant and suicides epidemic. Five times as many Germans died in the first year
after the War's end as died during five of the War itself.
“. . . In unending succession were girls, women and nuns violated. . . Not merely in secret, in hidden
corners, but in the sight of everybody, even in churches, in the streets and in public places were
nuns, women and even eight-year-old girls attacked again and again. Mothers were violated before
the eyes of their children; girls in the presence of their brothers; nuns, in the sight of pupils, were
outraged again and again to their very death and even as corpses . . . ”
Mississippi Senator Eastland quoting from a letter smuggled out of Breslau September, 1945
corners, but in the sight of everybody, even in churches, in the streets and in public places were
nuns, women and even eight-year-old girls attacked again and again. Mothers were violated before
the eyes of their children; girls in the presence of their brothers; nuns, in the sight of pupils, were
outraged again and again to their very death and even as corpses . . . ”
Mississippi Senator Eastland quoting from a letter smuggled out of Breslau September, 1945
In the parts of Germany taken for Poland in 1945, the entire ethnic German population was either
murdered, expelled or faced severe reprisals at war's end. As cited elsewhere, in East Prussia and
Pomerania, from Danzig to Stettin to Elbing and to all of the old Baltic German cities, catastrophic
Allied bombing was followed by Red Terror. The few surviving Germans in these areas were placed
before violent Communist led "verification" committees who decided their fate. Their language and
civil rights were immediately suspended. Thousands died trying to flee. Slave labor camps in Poland
included, among those run by the infamously sadistic Salomon Morel and Czesław Gęborski, the
Central Labour Camp Jaworzno, Central Labour Camp Potulice, Łambinowice, Zgoda labour camp
and others. Aside from being thrown into one of these 1,255 "labor" camps under Polish
administration in early 1945, it was estimated that about 165,000 Germans were deported to slave
labor in the Soviet Union from the German territories annexed de-facto by Poland.
murdered, expelled or faced severe reprisals at war's end. As cited elsewhere, in East Prussia and
Pomerania, from Danzig to Stettin to Elbing and to all of the old Baltic German cities, catastrophic
Allied bombing was followed by Red Terror. The few surviving Germans in these areas were placed
before violent Communist led "verification" committees who decided their fate. Their language and
civil rights were immediately suspended. Thousands died trying to flee. Slave labor camps in Poland
included, among those run by the infamously sadistic Salomon Morel and Czesław Gęborski, the
Central Labour Camp Jaworzno, Central Labour Camp Potulice, Łambinowice, Zgoda labour camp
and others. Aside from being thrown into one of these 1,255 "labor" camps under Polish
administration in early 1945, it was estimated that about 165,000 Germans were deported to slave
labor in the Soviet Union from the German territories annexed de-facto by Poland.
It is interesting to note that not all Germans were expelled: in the Opole/Oppeln region in Upper
Silesia, some German miners and their families were "allowed" to stay, but their culture was
repressed and they were virtual slaves. German language remained forbidden for the next forty years.
Silesia, some German miners and their families were "allowed" to stay, but their culture was
repressed and they were virtual slaves. German language remained forbidden for the next forty years.
Gerhart Hauptmann's birthplace was a resort town in Silesia named Bad Salzbrunn. Fortunately for
him, he died long before 1945 when he would have joined the millions of other Germans cast from
their homes forever. An order of expulsion was placed upon the expellees by Section Commander
Major Zinkowski:
1.On the 14th of July 1945 from 6 to 9oclock a resettlement of the German population
will take place.
2.The German population will be resettled to an area west of the river Neisse.
3.Each German is allowed to take 20kg of luggage with him at the most.
4.No means of transportation (wagons, oxen, horses, cows etc) is permitted.
5.The total of the living and dead inventory in an undamaged state remains the property
of the Polish government.
6.The last resettlement deadline will terminate on the 14th of July at 10 o’clock.
7.Noncompliance with this order will be punished severely, including the use of weapons.
8.Sabotage and looting will also be prevented by the use of weapons.
9.Assembly point on the street station Bad Salzbrunn Adelsbacher Weg in a four person
marching column. The head of the column is to be 20 meters before the village of Adelsbach.
10.Those Germans who have a certified none evacuation order, are not permitted to leave their
dwelling with their family members from 5 o’clock to 14:00.
11.All dwellings in the city must remain open; all apartment and house keys must be
left in the outside locks.
him, he died long before 1945 when he would have joined the millions of other Germans cast from
their homes forever. An order of expulsion was placed upon the expellees by Section Commander
Major Zinkowski:
1.On the 14th of July 1945 from 6 to 9oclock a resettlement of the German population
will take place.
2.The German population will be resettled to an area west of the river Neisse.
3.Each German is allowed to take 20kg of luggage with him at the most.
4.No means of transportation (wagons, oxen, horses, cows etc) is permitted.
5.The total of the living and dead inventory in an undamaged state remains the property
of the Polish government.
6.The last resettlement deadline will terminate on the 14th of July at 10 o’clock.
7.Noncompliance with this order will be punished severely, including the use of weapons.
8.Sabotage and looting will also be prevented by the use of weapons.
9.Assembly point on the street station Bad Salzbrunn Adelsbacher Weg in a four person
marching column. The head of the column is to be 20 meters before the village of Adelsbach.
10.Those Germans who have a certified none evacuation order, are not permitted to leave their
dwelling with their family members from 5 o’clock to 14:00.
11.All dwellings in the city must remain open; all apartment and house keys must be
left in the outside locks.