| More Old German Lands: Silesia and Sudetenland |
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.
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.
| 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. German Breslau, left
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. German Breslau, left
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. Germany took back possession of these German parts of Silesia in 1939. With German defeat in 1945,
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. 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 out between the newly endowed Poland and the newly hatched country of Czechoslovakia. Austrian Silesia suffered the
same fate. Germany took back possession of these German parts of Silesia in 1939. With German defeat in 1945,
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. 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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
Czech nationalism revived in the 19th century, and was encouraged by the Allies during the First World War who ensured
that "Czechoslovakia" was founded on October 28,1918. This created a nightmare for the millions of ethnic Germans in
the country. Immediately after World War Two ended, these German inhabitants were all either murdered or expelled.
The place names of German villages and cities were all changed, and their histories stolen, erased or rewritten.
that "Czechoslovakia" was founded on October 28,1918. This created a nightmare for the millions of ethnic Germans in
the country. Immediately after World War Two ended, these German inhabitants were all either murdered or expelled.
The place names of German villages and cities were all changed, and their histories stolen, erased or rewritten.
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| Sudetenland |
