Winston Churchill proposed the brutal 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 fled from lands they had
inhabited since the 13th century.
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 fled from lands they had
inhabited since the 13th century.
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.
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 and 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.
There is not much mention of the past German presence in Silesia today, and most reminders have
been cleanly purged.
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 and 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.
There is not much mention of the past German presence in Silesia today, and most reminders have
been cleanly purged.
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, even
sometimes fatal.
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, even
sometimes fatal.
| Stolen Heritage: German Silesia |
German Silesia was bounded by Brandenburg, Posen, Russian Poland, Galicia, Austrian Silesia,
Moravia, Bohemia and Saxony. Besides the bulk of the old duchy of Silesia, it comprised Glatz, a
fragment of the Neumark and part of Upper Lusatia, taken from Saxony in 1815. The province was
the largest in Prussia, was divided into three governmental districts, those of Liegnitz and Breslau
comprising lower Silesia, and of Oppeln taking in the greater part of mountainous Silesia.
Moravia, Bohemia and Saxony. Besides the bulk of the old duchy of Silesia, it comprised Glatz, a
fragment of the Neumark and part of Upper Lusatia, taken from Saxony in 1815. The province was
the largest in Prussia, was divided into three governmental districts, those of Liegnitz and Breslau
comprising lower Silesia, and of Oppeln taking in the greater part of mountainous Silesia.
Full of rivers, streams, hills and low mountains, Silesia was also comprised of fertile pastures and
meadows and forests abundant with deer and game, tremendous fisheries and mineral wealth. About
a third of the land was in the hands of large estates. Merino sheep were introduced by Friedrich the
Great, and the Prussians also gave Silesia its first public schools and a new, viable future.
meadows and forests abundant with deer and game, tremendous fisheries and mineral wealth. About
a third of the land was in the hands of large estates. Merino sheep were introduced by Friedrich the
Great, and the Prussians also gave Silesia its first public schools and a new, viable future.
The original population of Silesia was probably Celtic, and about the year 1138, Silesia was first
transferred to the Germans. The independent dynasty was drawn up under the influence of
Barbarossa and two princes who in 1163 divided the sovereignty among themselves as dukes of
Upper and Lower Silesia. The whole of sparsely populated rural Silesia was covered with German
settlements by the 12th century. As late as 1905, three-fourths of the inhabitants were German, but
to the east of the Oder, Poles formed the bulk of the population, with 15,500 Czechs in the southern
part of the province and 25,000 Wends near Liegnitz. The capital was Breslau, the largest and most
important town which was refounded about 1250 as a German town. By the end of the 13th century,
Silesia had virtually become a German land and Breslau grew to be a leading center of trade.
transferred to the Germans. The independent dynasty was drawn up under the influence of
Barbarossa and two princes who in 1163 divided the sovereignty among themselves as dukes of
Upper and Lower Silesia. The whole of sparsely populated rural Silesia was covered with German
settlements by the 12th century. As late as 1905, three-fourths of the inhabitants were German, but
to the east of the Oder, Poles formed the bulk of the population, with 15,500 Czechs in the southern
part of the province and 25,000 Wends near Liegnitz. The capital was Breslau, the largest and most
important town which was refounded about 1250 as a German town. By the end of the 13th century,
Silesia had virtually become a German land and Breslau grew to be a leading center of trade.
The rich Silesian duchies partitioned their territories with each new succession and by the end of the
14th century the country had been split up into 18 small, bickering principalities. In 1290, the Silesian
princes sought the protection of the German dynasty then ruling in Bohemia. The intervention of
these kings resulted in the appropriation of several petty states as crown domains. The earliest of
these Bohemian overlords, King Johann and the emperor Karl IV restored order vigorously. Later,
however, the Bohemians brought no benefit, but involved Silesia in the destructive Hussite wars and
then in a series of invasions from 1425 to 1435 which devastated the country and put the German
element of population in Upper Silesia in a weaker position, and a complete restitution of the
Slavonic nationality seemed imminent on the appointment of the Hussite, George Podiebrad, to the
Bohemian kingship in 1457. The burghers of Breslau fiercely repudiated the new suzerain, and
before he could enforce his claims he was ousted by Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus around 1469.
14th century the country had been split up into 18 small, bickering principalities. In 1290, the Silesian
princes sought the protection of the German dynasty then ruling in Bohemia. The intervention of
these kings resulted in the appropriation of several petty states as crown domains. The earliest of
these Bohemian overlords, King Johann and the emperor Karl IV restored order vigorously. Later,
however, the Bohemians brought no benefit, but involved Silesia in the destructive Hussite wars and
then in a series of invasions from 1425 to 1435 which devastated the country and put the German
element of population in Upper Silesia in a weaker position, and a complete restitution of the
Slavonic nationality seemed imminent on the appointment of the Hussite, George Podiebrad, to the
Bohemian kingship in 1457. The burghers of Breslau fiercely repudiated the new suzerain, and
before he could enforce his claims he was ousted by Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus around 1469.
Through confiscations of the nobles' lands, Corvinus asserted his dominance and instituted a
permanent diet of Silesian princes and tried to establish an effective central government. But the
Silesians, who experienced financial discomfort at Corninus' hands, began to resent the control of the
Bohemian crown, and under his successor Vladislav, they secured semi-autonomy which was theirs
until the outset of the Reformation which the predominantly Catholic Silesians accepted. German
king Ferdinand I reimposed the Bohemian crown upon them, and the Silesians lost power
completely. From 1550, Silesia passed almost completely under foreign administration, first under
the Habsburgs, which united the kingship of Bohemia with Austria and the imperial crown.
permanent diet of Silesian princes and tried to establish an effective central government. But the
Silesians, who experienced financial discomfort at Corninus' hands, began to resent the control of the
Bohemian crown, and under his successor Vladislav, they secured semi-autonomy which was theirs
until the outset of the Reformation which the predominantly Catholic Silesians accepted. German
king Ferdinand I reimposed the Bohemian crown upon them, and the Silesians lost power
completely. From 1550, Silesia passed almost completely under foreign administration, first under
the Habsburgs, which united the kingship of Bohemia with Austria and the imperial crown.
The Thirty Years War, however, brought most of Silesia to almost total ruin. It was estimated that
75% of the population perished, and commerce and industry were at a standstill. A greater measure
of religious liberty was secured for the Silesians by representatives of King Karl XII of Sweden, and
effective measures were taken by the emperor Karl VI to stimulate trafe between Silesia and Austria,
but the country remained very poor in the earlier part of the 18th century.
75% of the population perished, and commerce and industry were at a standstill. A greater measure
of religious liberty was secured for the Silesians by representatives of King Karl XII of Sweden, and
effective measures were taken by the emperor Karl VI to stimulate trafe between Silesia and Austria,
but the country remained very poor in the earlier part of the 18th century.
Finally, in 1740, after Silesia went under Prussian rule and, despite the Seven Years War, Friedrich
the Great brilliantly managed to bring Silesia back to normalcy. He made yearly visits to the country
and kept himself in touch with it, enacting numerous political reforms including the strict Prussian
enforcement of religious toleration, bringing peace. By judicious regulations he brought about a
dramatic increase of Silesian industries and he revived the mining and weaving operations.
the Great brilliantly managed to bring Silesia back to normalcy. He made yearly visits to the country
and kept himself in touch with it, enacting numerous political reforms including the strict Prussian
enforcement of religious toleration, bringing peace. By judicious regulations he brought about a
dramatic increase of Silesian industries and he revived the mining and weaving operations.
Silesia was occupied by French troops during the Napoleonic wars, and in 1815, it was enlarged by
receiving back a portion of Lusatia which, until then, had become detached from Silesia in the 11th
century and annexed to the kingdom of Saxony.
receiving back a portion of Lusatia which, until then, had become detached from Silesia in the 11th
century and annexed to the kingdom of Saxony.
"Austrian Silesia" was a duchy and the smallest province of Austria. In 1900, the population
included 44.69% Germans,33.21% Poles and 22.05% Czechs and Slavs. It was all that was left of
Austria's part of the country after the Seven Years War. It formed, with Moravia, a single province
until 1849, when it was created into a separate duchy.
included 44.69% Germans,33.21% Poles and 22.05% Czechs and Slavs. It was all that was left of
Austria's part of the country after the Seven Years War. It formed, with Moravia, a single province
until 1849, when it was created into a separate duchy.
Silesia was German and only 25% Polish when the victorious Allies hacked it up at the Treaty of
Versailles and parcelled it out between the newly endowed Poland and the newly hatched country of
Czechoslovakia. Austrian Silesia suffered the same fate. Encouraged by the Allies' desire to weaken
any future strength of Germany and Austria, Poles and Czechs were brought into the German cities
and towns to create a new voting majority. Ethnic Germans here and in all of former Prussia began
to experience violent attacks and discrimination* once German protection was removed. Protests
were lodged with international organizations but ignored. Germany took back possession of these
German parts of Silesia in 1939, and this marked the beginning of new hostilities.
Versailles and parcelled it out between the newly endowed Poland and the newly hatched country of
Czechoslovakia. Austrian Silesia suffered the same fate. Encouraged by the Allies' desire to weaken
any future strength of Germany and Austria, Poles and Czechs were brought into the German cities
and towns to create a new voting majority. Ethnic Germans here and in all of former Prussia began
to experience violent attacks and discrimination* once German protection was removed. Protests
were lodged with international organizations but ignored. Germany took back possession of these
German parts of Silesia in 1939, and this marked the beginning of new hostilities.
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.
Two years later, after finishing his swan-song, the epic "Lucius," he died. There is hardly another
German poet who found so many composers for his songs. Above: Schloss Lubowitz then and now.
It is difficult to fathom that there would come a day when simply singing one of his German Silesian
folksongs could incur an automatic death sentence, or that lovely Schloss Lubowitz and the original
Eichendorff monument would be crudely levelled. The town is Polish now, its German citizens
expelled in 1945 by gunpoint, their homes and properties stolen. German inscriptions on old
gravestones were defaced to further obliterate the memory of their centuries long presence.
German poet who found so many composers for his songs. Above: Schloss Lubowitz then and now.
It is difficult to fathom that there would come a day when simply singing one of his German Silesian
folksongs could incur an automatic death sentence, or that lovely Schloss Lubowitz and the original
Eichendorff monument would be crudely levelled. The town is Polish now, its German citizens
expelled in 1945 by gunpoint, their homes and properties stolen. German inscriptions on old
gravestones were defaced to further obliterate the memory of their centuries long presence.
| The Beginning of the End |
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.
"The last champion of romanticism" was a nobleman born on March 10, 1788, in the
Upper-Silesian castle of Lubowitz near Ratibor. Duke Eichendorff matriculated at the
University of Halle and became a follower of the Romantic School of poetry. His first
poems were printed in Berlin, among them the famous song 'In einem kühlen Grunde'.
The young baron fought against Napoleon, married and became a lawyer in Breslau.
Upper-Silesian castle of Lubowitz near Ratibor. Duke Eichendorff matriculated at the
University of Halle and became a follower of the Romantic School of poetry. His first
poems were printed in Berlin, among them the famous song 'In einem kühlen Grunde'.
The young baron fought against Napoleon, married and became a lawyer in Breslau.
In 1820, he received an educational position at Danzig and took a lively
interest in the restoration of the Marienburg, a castle of the Teutonic Order
and inspiration for his tragedy "Der letzte Held von Marienburg." His most
popular production was "Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts." In 1831,
Catholic Eichendorff was called to Berlin as councillor in the high office of the
ministry of public worship. The following years were spent mostly in Berlin,
where Eichendorff devoted his genius to the history of literature, and he wrote
a definitive history of the poetical literature of Germany. After the death of his
wife in 1855, he lived with his family at Neisse.
interest in the restoration of the Marienburg, a castle of the Teutonic Order
and inspiration for his tragedy "Der letzte Held von Marienburg." His most
popular production was "Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts." In 1831,
Catholic Eichendorff was called to Berlin as councillor in the high office of the
ministry of public worship. The following years were spent mostly in Berlin,
where Eichendorff devoted his genius to the history of literature, and he wrote
a definitive history of the poetical literature of Germany. After the death of his
wife in 1855, he lived with his family at Neisse.
*Approximately 58,000 ethnic Germans in Poland were reported as dead or missing by 1940. When the first
edition of government documents went to press on November 17,1939, 5,437 cases of murder against men,
women and children of the German minority in Poland had been reported. Between that date and February 1,
1940, the number of identified victims mounted to 12,857 and in addition to these victims, more than 45,000
persons were missing without a trace. The atrocities included murder, beatings, rape, robbery and arson.
edition of government documents went to press on November 17,1939, 5,437 cases of murder against men,
women and children of the German minority in Poland had been reported. Between that date and February 1,
1940, the number of identified victims mounted to 12,857 and in addition to these victims, more than 45,000
persons were missing without a trace. The atrocities included murder, beatings, rape, robbery and arson.
“. . . 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
