Membership in a National Socialist party did not automatically make you a criminal. Besides, they were indeed suffering under bad economic situations. For example, during the depression, unemployment in the German areas was five times higher than it was in Czech areas. When German owned companies went to the Czechs for help, they were forced to hire Czechs in order to get aid.

Add to this the fact that when Czechoslovakia was first created 1/5 of their individual holdings were confiscated (to include land). 4.5% of that land was redistributed to Germans, the rest to Czechs.

Kinda easy to see why the Sudeten Germans may have been pretty fed up with the Czech government.

Anyways, the Sudeten Germans were not the only group expelled. Tell me, jaro, were all Germans in the eastern territories criminal as well?

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There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

That is at the heart of it, I think. Their only crime was simply being Germans.

__________________
There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

Unemployment in German areas might have been caused by the fact that they were mainly oriented towards German economy. They could have worked in Czech parts of the country, which had lower unemployment. After the creation of Czechoslovakia, land had to be redistributed, due to unequal position of certain groups in the monarchy (nobility, and some Germans), where Czechs were disadvantaged. 1/5 is not that much. Germans also didn't vote for Czech parties, they had their own social democratic party, christian party and so on. In the beginning, they also refused to cooperate, no wonder that they didn't get their autonomy much earlier.

No, they pissed off every nation in europe, not just Czechs. Brits and Russians were instrumental in expelling them. Without their approval, it wouldn't have happened. Nobody wanted to have a German neighbour.

__________________
No loyalty towards the EU.

Ignore list: Stapo, Thorvald

I agree that none of these things would have happened had the allies (both the western and the Russians) did not support it. Those governments of that time share much of the blame for these actions, because they were certainly illegal.

__________________
There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

It is true that much of the industry in the Sudetenland was geared towards export, and mainly to Germany. However, just because unemployment rates in the Czech parts of the country were lower didn't mean there were jobs to be had.

I find it interesting that you think land had to be redistributed. Do you not believe in private property?

The Germans refused to cooperate because they, unlike other ethnic groups in central Europe, were not given the right of self determination. They never asked to be part of Czechoslovakia and, had they been given the choice, would most likely have joined with Germany.

__________________
There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

I do not believe in right to private property acquired under unfair conditions.

__________________
No loyalty towards the EU.

Ignore list: Stapo, Thorvald

But that property was acquired legally, even if you don't think it was fair. In the end it is still private property. Besides, unfair is totally subjective.

__________________
There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

Legality has nothing to do with fairness. Germans were priviledged in Austrian monarchy, including other persons, and therefore part of their property was redistributed. I do not advocate reposession of all property. Another case where the redistribution was justified was land owned by nobles. Similar procedures were carried out in Russia against their tycoons.

__________________
No loyalty towards the EU.

Ignore list: Stapo, Thorvald

Fairness has nothing to do with it. Again, that land was the private property of those nobles (be they German, Czech, Hungarian, etc....), whether you thought it fair or not. It is theft, plain and simple.

__________________
There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

In Europe, the opinion about confiscation of property of nobles is quite different from that in the USA. After WW1 and WW2, property of various groups was confiscated, not just nobles or Germans. In Austria for example the state confiscated property of the Habsburg family and banned them out of Austria. It still hasn't been returned and nobody is planning to do it (except for a very small group of monarchists). It is in the competency of state to do that, so it is not an unlawful theft. Also taxation is a form of state theft.

__________________
No loyalty towards the EU.

Ignore list: Stapo, Thorvald

And what all this has to do with ordinary, little Fritz-shoemaker like Germans being expelled from their homes by fear/force after ww2?

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"bellum omnium contra omnes; atque in eo bello jus esse omnibus in omnia."
Thomas Hobbes

"Homo Homini Lupus"
Thomas Hobbes

This could be a fascinating museum. It was the largest mass migration in European history, and some of those who experienced it are still alive. Their personal experiences should be preserved.

I am always interested in old photos of what used to be Königsberg, Stettin, Breslau, Posen and Danzig. They were once beautiful cities.

One of my favorite books is East Prussian Diary by Hans von Lehndorff. He provides a day-to-day account of life in Königsberg, from 1945-1947, until his escape to the west.

The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff should be acknowledged, and would certainly fit in to the theme of the museum.

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"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

I believe so as well (concerning it being fascinating museum) and that's why I still hope that an at least tri-national approach/cooperation will be found for the managment of it.

The whole issue of the ww2(+ending) and the massive resettlement of ethnic groups is at the heart of German/Eastern European history and future.

We were/are and always will be interlinked with each other (since 1000's of years) and that's why it's so important to find a common look at what took place back then.

So maybe a museum could be a step into this direction and I truely hope many more further steps/initiatives into this direction will follow.

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"bellum omnium contra omnes; atque in eo bello jus esse omnibus in omnia."
Thomas Hobbes

"Homo Homini Lupus"
Thomas Hobbes

Agreed.

A cultural event likes this does more to unite individuals than any national organization or politician.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

I cannot imagine cooperation on this museum. German attempts to instill guilt into the minds of Czechs and Poles will not be successful. Czechs and Poles are not interested in such a museum.

__________________
No loyalty towards the EU.

Ignore list: Stapo, Thorvald