Elbing before and after 1945, above. Germans leaving their Homes, below
The communist army then went on another bloody rampage, torturing and murdering civilians,
including women and children, just as they did in nearby Danzig. Elbing remained predominantly
German as an Independent Free City State until it was handed over to Poland at the end of World
War Two for "preliminary administration" which still continues. 98% of the new inhabitants were
Poles brought in from elsewhere. It was then renamed Elbląg, and its new history rewritten to
remove all "Germanism". There has been no restitution for stolen homes, property and businesses.
Almost the entire German population was murdered, enslaved or expelled by the communists. Even
the cemeteries were bulldozed to hide traces of the city's German heritage and most are now only a
pile of rubble. Only since the fall of communism in the 1990's can the tiny surviving remnant of
German citizenry speak their native language without fear of imprisonment.
including women and children, just as they did in nearby Danzig. Elbing remained predominantly
German as an Independent Free City State until it was handed over to Poland at the end of World
War Two for "preliminary administration" which still continues. 98% of the new inhabitants were
Poles brought in from elsewhere. It was then renamed Elbląg, and its new history rewritten to
remove all "Germanism". There has been no restitution for stolen homes, property and businesses.
Almost the entire German population was murdered, enslaved or expelled by the communists. Even
the cemeteries were bulldozed to hide traces of the city's German heritage and most are now only a
pile of rubble. Only since the fall of communism in the 1990's can the tiny surviving remnant of
German citizenry speak their native language without fear of imprisonment.
During the Middle Ages, the Old Prussian settlement of Truso was
located near the current site of Elbing. Elbing was founded by
German tradesmen in the 13th century and the Teutonic Knights who
conquered the region populated it with more Germans. After the
defeat of the Teutonic Knights, the city successively passed under the
control of Poland, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Germany. Elbing, 35
miles east of Danzig was a German settlement with a German
majority for more than 700 years.
located near the current site of Elbing. Elbing was founded by
German tradesmen in the 13th century and the Teutonic Knights who
conquered the region populated it with more Germans. After the
defeat of the Teutonic Knights, the city successively passed under the
control of Poland, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Germany. Elbing, 35
miles east of Danzig was a German settlement with a German
majority for more than 700 years.
| Elbing |
Today, only part of the medieval city wall still stands. Elbing was
another victim to brutal Allied bombing, and the beautiful old German
Hanseatic League city was 70 to 90% destroyed by the bombing and
the fires started afterwards by the Red Army in an effort to burn the
whole city down. Left:German Elbing's Friedrich Wilhelm Platz.
another victim to brutal Allied bombing, and the beautiful old German
Hanseatic League city was 70 to 90% destroyed by the bombing and
the fires started afterwards by the Red Army in an effort to burn the
whole city down. Left:German Elbing's Friedrich Wilhelm Platz.
