Germans of Sudetenland - where are they now?

Originally posted by bg_turk Originally posted by Majkes And You again are not right that You can't seek compensations for acts of war. Burning civilians houses and killing innocent civilians is a war crime and in civilized countries ( maybe in Germany not? I don't know ) it is punished. I totally agree on this one, and this was precisely my point from the very beginning, namely that civilians are entitled to seek justice in intenational courts for crimes comitted against them by the millitaries under the direct contol of other counties. Evey Pole who has lost relatives or poperties as a result of the German agession into her counties is entitled to seek compenastion, as are the German civilians who have been wrongfully expelled from their homeland.

Originally posted by bg_turk I totally agree on this one, and this was precisely my point from the very beginning, namely that civilians are entitled to seek justice in intenational courts for crimes comitted against them by the millitaries under the direct contol of other counties. Evey Pole who has lost relatives or poperties as a result of the German agession into her counties is entitled to seek compenastion, as are the German civilians who have been wrongfully expelled from their homeland.

But international practice is exactly the other way round, or at least German courts say so  . You may like to google for Distomo and Kommeno (re. WWII), or Varvarin (re. a more recent military conflict). There may be more cases from other wars that I'm not aware of at the moment.

Edited by yan. - 05-Aug-2006 at 04:17

ok, to close this endless discussion when everyone of us has some good points I will say that neither Germany should pay compensations 60 years after WWII nor should Poland. It should be internal issue of this countries cause its poisons our relationships to some degre. Of course it's not that serious. With time running the problems with war are getting less important issue.

Originally posted by yan. Originally posted by Majkes ok, to close this endless discussion when everyone of us has some good points I will say that neither Germany should pay compensations 60 years after WWII nor should Poland. It should be internal issue of this countries cause its poisons our relationships to some degre. Of course it's not that serious. With time running the problems with war are getting less important issue. German goverment had to get on with Jews and paid them compensations. Of course such cases are usually ended with some kind of agreement. Also Jews in US sued Polish goverment for their lost properties. We don't know what will be the result. Generally this is vere arguable matter among the lawyers.   By the way something is wrong with Your link to probably some polish article. I would like to see it if You have some other link.     Agree. I won't have much time to post for the next eight weeks or so anyway.   This is the correct links:   http://www.wprost.pl/cover/?I=1086

I have actually spoken to many people from the Sudetenland. Many escaped (often on foot or if they had with horse and carriage) to West Germany, fleeing the Russians.

They were then housed in refugee camps. Most accepted that Germany was defeated and was thus most likely liable to give up land (unlike many other peoples, ie the Palestinians). Most then progressed to start a new life and by the 1950s were integrated into society. We are talking of millions of refugees here by the way!

Many also decided to move on, migrating to especially Canada and Australia. The plight of these people and the injustice that has overcome them has so far not received the attention it deserves!

I know from what these people have told me that the land ceased certainly contained a majority German population. That was the reason Hitler originally gave for making "Anschluss" with these parts of Europe. Hence I believe that the Czech population took unfair advantage of the defeated and already weakened German population of those areas to claim land to which they never had any right anyway.

Unfortunately Germany has given up most land claims in Poland, although the last I heard, it is still claiming the current enclave of Koenigsberg (Kalliningrad). I am unsure if land claims persist in the Czech Republic.

I do know however that the Principlaity of Lichtenstein is still actively seeking the return of land in the Czech Republic, which was confiscated by the communists. LAst I heard on that HSH's claim in the ICJ was defeated but that does not mean that the Principality will give up.

It would also be interesting to hear of how many of the refugees went to Austria, seeming that most if the Czech Republic was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire till 1918 and if the Austrian Republic is still claiming land in the Czech Republic.

Originally posted by gideon's helpers ]   Unfortunately Germany has given up most land claims in Poland, although the last I heard, it is still claiming the current enclave of Koenigsberg (Kalliningrad). I am unsure if land claims persist in the Czech Republic.

The theory is good, but the question is how it shall be implemented in practice. I think that German uthorities shall compensate their German citizens.

The plight of Germanic populations fleing the advancing Russians or being outright expelled is one of the WW II dramas that used to be taboo since any talk of it was thought to encourage neo-Nazi sentiments. Yet there were HUGE war crimes commited against the afore mentioned populations, especially by advancing Red troops through Germany. These crimes will NEVER be addressed since the defeated usually simply has to accept his fortune and shut up. Of course we have to look at how this plight was created. Was it their fault that they listened to Hitler and were taken in by his rampant nationalism? Does that give them the right to complain of how they were treated after the defeat? When you rise up to f... the whole world, you'd better succeed 'cause otherwise the whole world is going to f... you. Vae victus. 

Oh no, I'm very knowledgeable. I CHOOSE to support this oppinion and I don't care about its political correctness or lack thereof.
And, yes, you're right: Germany should not be seeking compensations.