Beneš decrees are no longer an issue for us, says head of Sudeten Germans in Berlin

The Sudeten German Homeland Association no longer sees the Beneš decrees as an issue, Rudolf Fischer, head of the association’s Berlin branch, told ČTK.

Fischer said he was surprised by the debate in Czechia surrounding the upcoming gathering of Sudeten Germans in Brno. However, he believes the debate will not damage Czech relations with Germany or Austria, since neither side can afford such damage economically.

The gathering begins on Friday and will be held in Czechia for the first time. Last week, the governing parties ANO, SPD and Motorists approved a resolution calling for it not to take place.

The term “Beneš decrees” refers to the legal framework of post-war Czechoslovakia governing the expulsion of Germans after WWII. They were formally ratified in 1946.