Post-war expulsions still dividing opinion, says Berlin-based Czech journalist
It's not just Poland and Germany who differ over how those expelled ethnic Germans should be depicted by history. Austria and the Czech Republic have their differences over the Sudeten Deutsch. In fact across Central Europe the legacy of the end-of-war expulsions continues to cause friction and demands for compensation, or at least, recognition of suffering. Radio Prague's Ian Willoughby spoke to Berlin-based Czech journalist and academic Jaroslav Sonka about how various countries are dealing with it:
"The expulsions had two different routes. One was a sort of 'central order Europe', a sort of punishment of the Germans. And this was a case discussed by the Allies and confirmed in Potsdam on, I think, August 2 1945. Nevertheless, the expulsions began much earlier, and I think states like the recovering Czechoslovakia and Poland intended to make a sort of fait accompli.
"And Stalin was a little bit behind this too, because he had already begun with the expulsions of other groups in the Soviet Union, years previously."
In the time since the expulsions took place how have the different countries dealt with the issue? Have they forgotten about it, or tried to forget about it? Or has it been addressed in Poland or the modern day Czech Republic?
"Let me say one thing: the Poles did not expel so many Germans from regions which originally was not Germany. So from Poland, let me say. Poland was moved to the west after World War II and from those regions the Germans had already been expelled by the Red Army, by the Russians.
"On the other hand, the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia were for a long time compatriots of the Czechs. So if there is another feeling among the Czechs about the expelling of the Sudeten Germans it is caused by this common history over a long time."
"Well, they differ a little bit. Let me say the left part of the political spectrum is more against it. The more right part would underline such a way to deal with their own victims of the post-war time.
"There is now a profound debate about whether this should have a European dimension within this centre in Berlin, or not. The founders of the first initiative included the European aspect in the founding text."
And assuming we will see such a centre, where do you think it will be built?
"The people who founded the initiative in Germany have already done some fundraising, so I would expect that they simply do their job according to their own ideas.
"It is even supported by the possible winners of the next elections in September, the Christian Democratic Party, who have taken a positive position towards this project. So I think it's coming through.
"It's a little bit of a pity that the dialogue with the partner nations like Poland and the Czech Republic is not very deep, and they would not wait for a sort of contribution from the 'neighbourhood'.
"On the other hand if they are a sort of bottom up movement they cannot wait for an agreement of states, because they are dealing with victims who are now dying. So I can understand both sides of the conflict."
