August 16, 2006
Czech Republic - do something!
Since the end of communism hundreds of conferences, seminars and workshops have taken place in which the post War treatment of 3.5 million Sudeten Germans has been analysed and discussed. Despite disagreements about the interpretation of certain historical events, there is an overwhelming consensus among Czech, German and international experts that a terrible crime against humanity had been committed. Well known Czech historians- and they should know best have repeatedly demanded for Czech authorities to take appropriate and unambiguous steps towards reconciliation with the Sudeten Germans.
However, 17 years after the velvet revolution and 2 years after the country's accession to the European Union, Czech politicians remain unrelenting on this issue.
Instead of the reconciliatory steps many were hoping for, Czech legislators added fuel to the fire by declaring the Benes decrees, the basis of the post War mistreatment of ethnic Germans, "irrevocable" and by bestowing controversial former President Edvard Benes with the status of an "important contributor to the state".
The fact of the matter is that thousands of innocent people were murdered in wild mass executions; tens of thousands died in forced labour camps or during the so called "humane transfer"; hundreds of thousands lost all their belongings and- not to forget- their roots, heritage and homeland.
Sudeten Germans were without any rights for many months after the War. They were forced to wear armbands marked with an "N" for Nemec, the Czech word for German, and treated as outlaws. Czechs were often free to use them as slave labour or take their property at random. Rapes of young girls and pillage were the order of the day. Anarchy reigned. Those Germans that were allowed or forced to remain in the country were treated as second class citizens for years.
Today there remain millions of people that lived through the horror of this period themselves, or that have learned about these events from their parents or grandparents. As visitors to their traditional homeland they are usually treated as unwelcome and suspicious "guests".
Important aspects of their roots and heritage, like the monuments and graves of their forefathers, have either been destroyed or are decaying. Historic Sudeten German place names have been abolished and only Czech place names are usually used in German language publications, guided tours and on official websites. Bilingual signage is non existent. Dozens of unique German dialects are in extreme danger of extinction.
While other European countries have been trying to protect and recover their historic linguistic and cultural heritage over the last decades, the Czech Republic has been busy brushing everything under the carpet that is not Czech, particularly if it is German. Today the 3.5 million expelled and remaining Sudeten Germans can only dream of the rights and support that around 30'000 Sorbs in neighbouring Germany enjoy.
Czech politicians have long been using the Sudeten Germans as scapegoats to distract from the countries own historic deficiencies or to pick up cheap votes with populist slogans. However, many of them hold very different opinions in private. Most of them know very well that what has happened was wrong, and that the Nazi period can never serve as an excuse for the excessive mistreatment of 3.5 million largely innocent bystanders that were used as chess figures- first by inter-War Czechoslovakia, then by Nazi Germany, and finally by post-War Czechoslovakia.
"Defending national interests" has become a popular notion among Czech politicians, especially in regard to the countries hard line policy towards the Sudeten Germans. However, as examples of other countries show, national interests are in fact best defended by finding a consensus with all current and historic population groups.
Hungary and Romania did not distinguish between Germans and others in their restitution policy after the end of communism. Bilingual signs have been put up in most cases regardless of the percentage of Germans left. Hungarian and Romanian representatives will confirm that their countries, and particularly the regions affected, have benefited greatly from the return of German property as well as German tourism generated through bilingualism. No Hungarian or Romanian has lost property as a result of any restitution program while the relationship between the ethnic groups has improved markedly.
Austria has made great efforts in recent years to shed its image of a country where Nazis and Nazi crimes remained unpunished after the War. Since the late 90s institutions have been actively searching for the rightful owners of confiscated property. Millions worth of property has been returned. A recent decision by an independent commission that three famous Klimt paintings had to be restituted to a Jewish family in the US was first criticised as an act against the countries national interest. However, only three months later Vienna is benefiting from a tourism boom triggered off by a "Klimtmania" caused by the publicity surrounding the case.
The newly elected Czech parliament should follow the example of other European countries and look for solutions to overcome the current situation of complete injustice in regard to the Sudeten Germans. The Czech Republic in general, and the border regions in particular, will benefit greatly from tourism and investments generated by expelled Sudeten Germans. Just like in other countries, restitutions can be limited to government property. The move will also weaken Anti-European forces in the country that use the ongoing polarization of the Sudeten German issue to create fear and prejudice.
The new government would also be well advised to hold a consensus conference involving all political parties, the expelled Sudeten Germans, members of the German, Hungarian and Polish minorities, as well as organisations representing Nazi victims, including Jewish and Roma organisations and the Czech freedom fighters, to find a lasting solution in the interest of the Czech Republic and the Sudeten Germans. By involving all important groups in society the Czech Republic will not only start the process of extinguishing current injustice, it will also create a new atmosphere of respect and co- operation- something that formed the basis of post-War Western European reconciliation, and is completely missing in Czech politics today.
The writing over the official Czech coat of arms reads "Truth prevails". It will only prevail if the country is ready to face the darkest side of it's past. By doing so Czechs will win- not lose. It will make the country and its position in Europe and the world stronger than ever.