| The Oder of Churchill: The Displaced |
"Sudeten" refers to a mountain range 200 miles long and 20 to 40 miles wide, covering the north of
Bohemia and Moravia as well as part of Sudeten Silesia. Major German settlement in the Sudeten
began during the reign of King Premysl Otakar II in the 13th century when the area was largely
uninhabited and heavily forested, but Germans had lived in modern day "Czech" territory well
before Slavic tribes arrived around 500 AD.
Bohemia and Moravia as well as part of Sudeten Silesia. Major German settlement in the Sudeten
began during the reign of King Premysl Otakar II in the 13th century when the area was largely
uninhabited and heavily forested, but Germans had lived in modern day "Czech" territory well
before Slavic tribes arrived around 500 AD.
German and Latin remained the prevalent language of the Royal House and the aristocracy, even
among the Přemyslid dynasty. Between the 11th and the 16th centuries, German became the most
prevalent language in south Bohemia and Moravia, as well as in parts of north Moravia and northeast
Bohemia. There were also large German speaking populations in Prague, Brünn and other areas.
Towns with German majorities included Karlsbad, Krumau, Znaim and Reichenberg. The Germans
maintained their language and culture for centuries, becoming a third of the population of Bohemia
and Moravia. Today there is barely a trace of their existence. They once spoke, in dialects which are
now extinct, Saxon in north Bohemia, Frankish-Egerlandish in west Bohemia, Silesian German in
Silesia and north Moravia, and Bavarian-Austrian in south Bohemia and Moravia.
among the Přemyslid dynasty. Between the 11th and the 16th centuries, German became the most
prevalent language in south Bohemia and Moravia, as well as in parts of north Moravia and northeast
Bohemia. There were also large German speaking populations in Prague, Brünn and other areas.
Towns with German majorities included Karlsbad, Krumau, Znaim and Reichenberg. The Germans
maintained their language and culture for centuries, becoming a third of the population of Bohemia
and Moravia. Today there is barely a trace of their existence. They once spoke, in dialects which are
now extinct, Saxon in north Bohemia, Frankish-Egerlandish in west Bohemia, Silesian German in
Silesia and north Moravia, and Bavarian-Austrian in south Bohemia and Moravia.
In 1938, when the so-called Sudeten crisis that they helped create reached its maximum, Great
Britain and France finally asked Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Germany, and
Czechoslovakia accepted this requirement, the agreement of which was formally signed in Munich on
September 29, 1938. However, in 1939, President Benes's government-in-exile began to work
fervently from Britain and his murderous plans did not include any provisions for the
German-speaking community.
Britain and France finally asked Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Germany, and
Czechoslovakia accepted this requirement, the agreement of which was formally signed in Munich on
September 29, 1938. However, in 1939, President Benes's government-in-exile began to work
fervently from Britain and his murderous plans did not include any provisions for the
German-speaking community.
"Liberec will never again be Reichenberg. We will clear Liberec of the German enemies, and we will do it so
thoroughly that not the smallest place will remain where the German seed could grow once more. We shall expel
all the Germans, we shall confiscate their property, we shall de-nationalize not only the town but the whole area.
so that the victorious spirit of Slavdom shall permeate the country from the frontier range to the interior . The
government is determined to settle the question of the Germans uncompromisingly and unflinchingly . We are
aware that, in the West, various reactionary protectors of the Germans are at work. But the government will not
be misled or softened by any pressure, any campaigns, any libellous attacks. It is for us a decisive and
encouraging fact that the Soviet Union stands by us in the question of transferring the Germans, and that
Marshal Stalin himself has the greatest possible understanding for our endeavors to get rid of the Germans. We
will not allow even some hundreds of thousands of Germans to remain in this country . We do not want any
Germans along our north-western frontier, we want Czechoslovakia to form one integrally Slav territory with
Poland and the Soviet Union." Kopecky, the Stalinist Minister of Propaganda in the Czech cabinet, stated in a speech
at Reichenberg (Liberec) on July 25, 1945
thoroughly that not the smallest place will remain where the German seed could grow once more. We shall expel
all the Germans, we shall confiscate their property, we shall de-nationalize not only the town but the whole area.
so that the victorious spirit of Slavdom shall permeate the country from the frontier range to the interior . The
government is determined to settle the question of the Germans uncompromisingly and unflinchingly . We are
aware that, in the West, various reactionary protectors of the Germans are at work. But the government will not
be misled or softened by any pressure, any campaigns, any libellous attacks. It is for us a decisive and
encouraging fact that the Soviet Union stands by us in the question of transferring the Germans, and that
Marshal Stalin himself has the greatest possible understanding for our endeavors to get rid of the Germans. We
will not allow even some hundreds of thousands of Germans to remain in this country . We do not want any
Germans along our north-western frontier, we want Czechoslovakia to form one integrally Slav territory with
Poland and the Soviet Union." Kopecky, the Stalinist Minister of Propaganda in the Czech cabinet, stated in a speech
at Reichenberg (Liberec) on July 25, 1945
Aside from countless Germans who fled in advance of the Red Army and were bombed, drowned or
executed, since the British and Americans agreed at the Potsdam conference that the de factor border
of Poland and Czechoslavakia would include former German Eastern territories, they authorized and
encouraged the deportation to Germany of millions of ethnic Germans and gave the Communist
Polish and Czech governments the power and responsibility for who was deported and how.
executed, since the British and Americans agreed at the Potsdam conference that the de factor border
of Poland and Czechoslavakia would include former German Eastern territories, they authorized and
encouraged the deportation to Germany of millions of ethnic Germans and gave the Communist
Polish and Czech governments the power and responsibility for who was deported and how.
Chaos, kidnapping, rape, thievery and mass murder followed. Aided by the Red Army, Poles and
Czechs gave whole German villages sometimes only a half hour to vacate their homes. The Germans
were either collected by force or ordered to gather at a central location where selected individuals
were separated from the group and beaten, executed, or tagged for slave labor in a ruthless process
which even tore children from their mothers. The evicted Germans were methodically stripped of
their possessions before being taken to a train station, shoved aboard cars without adequate food,
water or sanitation facilities, and speedily shipped to and dumped in occupation zones in Germany.
Czechs gave whole German villages sometimes only a half hour to vacate their homes. The Germans
were either collected by force or ordered to gather at a central location where selected individuals
were separated from the group and beaten, executed, or tagged for slave labor in a ruthless process
which even tore children from their mothers. The evicted Germans were methodically stripped of
their possessions before being taken to a train station, shoved aboard cars without adequate food,
water or sanitation facilities, and speedily shipped to and dumped in occupation zones in Germany.
These destinations were often in rubble without enough food and supplies for their own residents.
Forbidden to ever return to their homes, all the property they left behind confiscated, few of them
reached these destinations with even a handbag left in their possession. Many died on the roadside
from disease, exposure or starvation. In the Sudeten, the situation was horribly violent. When a
transport of Sudeten Germans from Troppau in Czech Silesia arrived in Berlin in August, 1945 after
18 days of transport, only 1,350 out of 4,250 woman, children and old people were still alive.
Forbidden to ever return to their homes, all the property they left behind confiscated, few of them
reached these destinations with even a handbag left in their possession. Many died on the roadside
from disease, exposure or starvation. In the Sudeten, the situation was horribly violent. When a
transport of Sudeten Germans from Troppau in Czech Silesia arrived in Berlin in August, 1945 after
18 days of transport, only 1,350 out of 4,250 woman, children and old people were still alive.
Reduced to skin and bones, the refugees were starving on the
roadsides, with women, children and babies dead in the ditches.
Expelled Germans who made it alive to bombed-out and already
starving and over-strained West Germany were often regarded as
unwanted foreigners and had to struggle to fit in, often taking menial
jobs well below their former skill levels.
roadsides, with women, children and babies dead in the ditches.
Expelled Germans who made it alive to bombed-out and already
starving and over-strained West Germany were often regarded as
unwanted foreigners and had to struggle to fit in, often taking menial
jobs well below their former skill levels.
The Allied Control Council had worked out procedures for taking into the occupied territory
6,650,000 "racial Germans" who were to be expelled from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and
Austria. The US zone's share was 1,750,000 from the Sudetenland and 500,000 from Hungary.
They were scheduled to come at a rate of a quarter million a month in December, January, and
February and even larger numbers in the spring. But they came at greater rates, and the Allies were
in no way prepared or eager to deal with the situation humanely.
6,650,000 "racial Germans" who were to be expelled from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and
Austria. The US zone's share was 1,750,000 from the Sudetenland and 500,000 from Hungary.
They were scheduled to come at a rate of a quarter million a month in December, January, and
February and even larger numbers in the spring. But they came at greater rates, and the Allies were
in no way prepared or eager to deal with the situation humanely.
The Germanic villagers living for centuries along the sections of ancient salt routes through the
present day Czech Republic were all rounded up and either murdered or exiled after World War
Two. Their homes and farms were stolen. The place names of German villages and cities in these
areas were all changed, and their histories subsequently stolen, erased or rewritten. An example is the
farming village of BoemishRoerhren, a resting & watering place for salt trade horses going from
Passau to Prachatitz to exchange salt for wheat & barley. The village was laid out facing the morning
sun against the mountain. The Germans were brutally expelled in 1944.
present day Czech Republic were all rounded up and either murdered or exiled after World War
Two. Their homes and farms were stolen. The place names of German villages and cities in these
areas were all changed, and their histories subsequently stolen, erased or rewritten. An example is the
farming village of BoemishRoerhren, a resting & watering place for salt trade horses going from
Passau to Prachatitz to exchange salt for wheat & barley. The village was laid out facing the morning
sun against the mountain. The Germans were brutally expelled in 1944.
In Budweis, now "Ceské Budejovice". in 1945, the
entire, centuries old German population living in the city
was forced to assemble. Some were murdered outright,
and the rest were forced into exile under horrible
conditions, leaving their homes. farms and businesses
behind. Today, Budweis is part of the present day Czech
Republic, the German heritage intentionally erased.
entire, centuries old German population living in the city
was forced to assemble. Some were murdered outright,
and the rest were forced into exile under horrible
conditions, leaving their homes. farms and businesses
behind. Today, Budweis is part of the present day Czech
Republic, the German heritage intentionally erased.
...Certified luggage for a person : 30 kg and 10 kg hand baggage.
All else is to be left in the home!" These citizens were never
repaid for the brazen theft of their homes and properties.
Zuckmantel, now "Zlate Hory", was the home of Schubert's
father, Franz Theodor Schubert. He moved in 1783 from German
speaking Neudorf near Mährisch- Schönberg in the Sudetenland
to Vienna. Again, there were genocidal expulsions from this entire
area, now in the Czech Republic, after World War Two.
All else is to be left in the home!" These citizens were never
repaid for the brazen theft of their homes and properties.
Zuckmantel, now "Zlate Hory", was the home of Schubert's
father, Franz Theodor Schubert. He moved in 1783 from German
speaking Neudorf near Mährisch- Schönberg in the Sudetenland
to Vienna. Again, there were genocidal expulsions from this entire
area, now in the Czech Republic, after World War Two.
| The Sudetenland |
In another time, in another place, a town called Gablonz an der Neiße in northern Bohemia was the
second largest town of the Liberec Region and it had for centuries a large German majority, mainly
glass blowers and glass workers. By a Czech decree of June 21, 1945, all property belonging to the
"German Race" was confiscated without compensation. The Germans who survived the genocide
were expelled from Gablonz, which was renamed "Jablonec", and they migrated near to the old
Bavarian town of Kaufbeuren where they founded the township of Neu gablonz.
second largest town of the Liberec Region and it had for centuries a large German majority, mainly
glass blowers and glass workers. By a Czech decree of June 21, 1945, all property belonging to the
"German Race" was confiscated without compensation. The Germans who survived the genocide
were expelled from Gablonz, which was renamed "Jablonec", and they migrated near to the old
Bavarian town of Kaufbeuren where they founded the township of Neu gablonz.
For 700 years, German speaking people had inhabited Zuckmantel, the birthplace of Schubert's
mother Maria Vietz (1756- 1812) until the very last remnants of them were cruelly driven out at the
end of World War Two between December and January of 1946. Their new Czech masters almost
overnight, by gun point, issued the following directive: that the inhabitants must leave their houses
"completely furnished; curtains, carpets, lamps, bedlinen... with beds to be freshly made for 2
persons per home. The luggage may not be packed in carpets and coats....
mother Maria Vietz (1756- 1812) until the very last remnants of them were cruelly driven out at the
end of World War Two between December and January of 1946. Their new Czech masters almost
overnight, by gun point, issued the following directive: that the inhabitants must leave their houses
"completely furnished; curtains, carpets, lamps, bedlinen... with beds to be freshly made for 2
persons per home. The luggage may not be packed in carpets and coats....
He was determined that his Czechoslovakia should not only keep its pre-war borders, but rid itself of
its German minority. After coming to power following the war, Benes issued the decrees allowing the
expulsion of over two million ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia and the confiscation of their
property after the war, a ruthless solution supported by the Allies and the Soviets.
its German minority. After coming to power following the war, Benes issued the decrees allowing the
expulsion of over two million ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia and the confiscation of their
property after the war, a ruthless solution supported by the Allies and the Soviets.
When the Czech protestant aristocracy was defeated in the
Thirty Years War, German language and culture became
dominate for three centuries under the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. Czech and German-speaking inhabitants generally
lived peacefully together. Until their expulsion in 1945, 3.5
million Sudeten Germans formed the majority population in
west, north and south Bohemia, as well as in parts of north
and south Moravia. Karlsbad, left (now "Karlovy Vary")
Thirty Years War, German language and culture became
dominate for three centuries under the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. Czech and German-speaking inhabitants generally
lived peacefully together. Until their expulsion in 1945, 3.5
million Sudeten Germans formed the majority population in
west, north and south Bohemia, as well as in parts of north
and south Moravia. Karlsbad, left (now "Karlovy Vary")
Czech nationalism revived in the 19th century, but it wasn't
until the First World War that Czech politicians, greatly
encouraged by the Americans, French and British for the sole
reason of weakening Germany and Austria, began to consider
independence from Vienna a practical or lucrative possibility.
From exile in the United States, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk and
his colleague Edvard Benes, who later became the first and
second Czechoslovak presidents, laid the foundations for an
independent Czech state. Czechoslovakia was founded on
October 28,1918, ostensibly as a modern democratic state
based on the USA but with a Czech nationalist slant.
until the First World War that Czech politicians, greatly
encouraged by the Americans, French and British for the sole
reason of weakening Germany and Austria, began to consider
independence from Vienna a practical or lucrative possibility.
From exile in the United States, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk and
his colleague Edvard Benes, who later became the first and
second Czechoslovak presidents, laid the foundations for an
independent Czech state. Czechoslovakia was founded on
October 28,1918, ostensibly as a modern democratic state
based on the USA but with a Czech nationalist slant.
It was supposed to guarantee the three million Germans fair
minority rights, however, in December, 1918, in order to
gain a voting majority and thus invalidate the claims of the
Sudeten Germans, the Czech military invaded and occupied
the German regions. When on March 4, 1919, the Sudeten
Germans rallied in peaceful demonstrations to protest against
this occupation, they were attacked by the Czech army who
murdered 54 and injured hundreds. With the 1919 dictate of
St. Germain, the ruthless annexation of Sudeten German
territory by the new "Czechoslovakia" was sanctioned, and
the ethnic Germans were on borrowed time.
minority rights, however, in December, 1918, in order to
gain a voting majority and thus invalidate the claims of the
Sudeten Germans, the Czech military invaded and occupied
the German regions. When on March 4, 1919, the Sudeten
Germans rallied in peaceful demonstrations to protest against
this occupation, they were attacked by the Czech army who
murdered 54 and injured hundreds. With the 1919 dictate of
St. Germain, the ruthless annexation of Sudeten German
territory by the new "Czechoslovakia" was sanctioned, and
the ethnic Germans were on borrowed time.
The new Czechoslovakian government soon started to implement a policy of discrimination against
the Sudeten Germans by suppressing German language and culture, firing Germans in the Civil
Service and by devaluing their self-determination organizations in districts, towns and villages, guided
by the idea of “cleaning” the state of everything German, except of course the industry, businesses,
farms, resorts. roads, hospitals and schools the Germans had created.
the Sudeten Germans by suppressing German language and culture, firing Germans in the Civil
Service and by devaluing their self-determination organizations in districts, towns and villages, guided
by the idea of “cleaning” the state of everything German, except of course the industry, businesses,
farms, resorts. roads, hospitals and schools the Germans had created.
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