Demographics Demographic estimates of the flight and expulsion of Germans

1 demographics

1.1 expulsion area
1.2 post-war germany , austria

1.2.1 german naturalisation of foreign ethnic german refugees , expellees


1.3 religious demographics
1.4 germans remaining in central europe in 1950
1.5 method of counting confirmed deaths

1.5.1 research german church search service
1.5.2 1974 german federal archive report


1.6 method of using population balance

1.6.1 estimates compiled in 1950s
1.6.2 schieder commission
1.6.3 west german government demographic study of 1958
1.6.4 study gerhard reichling
1.6.5 federation of expellees estimates


1.7 allied strategic bombing
1.8 estimates concerning czech republic only
1.9 tracing fates of individuals in yugoslavia
1.10 estimates concerning poland only

1.10.1 poland expulsions , deportations
1.10.2 germans remaining in poland

demographics

german expellees in northwestern germany, 1948


expulsion area

the federal expellee law (bvfg) defines expulsion area (einheitliches vertreibungsgebiet; i.e. uniform territory of expulsion) former eastern territories of germany (lost first or second world war), former austria-hungary, estonia, latvia, lithuania, , poland.

according 1967 report west german federal ministry expellees, in 1950 there 14,447,000 persons affected expulsions, 11,730,000 had fled or expelled, , 2,717,000 still remained in homelands. 1966 sum total of german expellees , offspring had increased 14,600,000 persons. higher figure of 14 million expellees cited historians.

covered wagon, brunswick national museum

between 1944–50, 12 million ethnic germans had fled or expelled east-central europe. 1951 1982 additional 1.1 million persons of german ancestry emigrated east-central europe germany. in eyes of german law there total of 16 million expellees in 1982 (see schedule below) if 1 includes germans resettled in poland during war nazis, children born expellees , persons immigrated aussiedler germany eastern europe after 1950.

former eastern territories of germany lost in world war , ii shown in grey , black, respectively. present-day germany marked red on 1914 map.

germans fled, evacuated, or expelled result of actions of nazi germany, red army, civilian militias, and/or organized efforts of governments of reconstituted states of eastern europe. between 1944 , 1950, @ least 12 million had fled or had been expelled , resettled post-war germany, (11.5 million) territories of post-war poland , czechoslovakia. 3 million persons of german ancestry remained in expulsion areas, gradually emigrated westward in cold war era or have been assimilated local populations. areas germans fled or expelled subsequently repopulated nationals of states territory belonged, many of whom poles fled or expelled former polish territories in ussr. 148 000 of polish citizens declared german nationality in 2011.

the german federal expellee law (bvfg) classifies following expellees (vertriebene):

those ethnic germans emigrated eastern europe after 1 january 1993 no longer classified expellees under german law, can apply immigration , naturalisation under special terms spätaussiedler (ethnic german late emigrant ). nazi german occupational functionaries , other german expatriates, had relocated german-annexed or german-occupied foreign territory during war, not considered expellees german law unless showed circumstances (such marrying resident of respective area) indicating intention permanently settle abroad time after war (bvfg § 1 (4)).

treated separately refugees , expellees had neither german citizenship nor german ethnicity had fled or been expelled former domiciles , stranded in west germany or west berlin before 1951, amounting 130,000 in 1951, , less 3,000 in 2011. classified displaced persons international refugee organizations until 1950, when west german authorities granted them special status of heimatloser ausländer (i.e. homeless foreigner, comprising either foreign citizens unable or unwilling repatriate, or stateless persons go). covered under preferential naturalization rules, distinct other legal aliens or stateless persons.

flight, expulsion , accounting expellees 1950

expellees defined german law

1—pre-war eastern europe ethnic germans resided in eastern europe prior war.

1950–oder–neisse region (pre-war germany): 6,980,000; poland: 690,000; danzig: 290,000; czechoslovakia: 3,000,000; hungary: 210,000; romania: 250,000; yugoslavia: 300,000; , baltic states: 170,000.

1982–oder–neisse region (pre-war germany): 8,850,000; poland: 1,000,000; danzig: 357,000; czechoslovakia: 3,521,000; hungary: 279,000; romania: 498,000; yugoslavia: 445,000; , baltic states: 200,000.

2—pre-war soviet union – ethnic germans ussr resettled in german-annexed or occupied poland during war. 1950 (100,000); 1982 (250,000). during war nazis resettled 370,000 ethnic germans ussr in poland; soviets returned 280,000 ussr after war.

3—germans west of oder neisse resettled during war. category includes german nationals living west of oder–neisse line in 1939 resettled in occupied eastern europe nazi germany. in 560,000 resettled in eastern europe (530,000 in postwar territory of poland , 30,000 in czechoslovakia). considered expellees in eyes of german law. in 1950 460,000 counted expellees, , 1982 number had increased 500,000. according german law defining expellees (bvfg § 1 (4)), nazi german occupational functionaries , other german expatriates had relocated german-annexed or german-occupied foreign territory during war not considered expellees unless showed circumstances (such marrying resident of respective area) indicating intention permanently settle abroad after war. section bvfg § 1 (5) of german law excludes persons expellees implicated in nazi war crimes , violations of human rights.

an additional 1,320,000 germans settled in poland , czechoslovakia during war, including 410,000 german nationals living in pre-war german oder–neisse region , 910,000 ethnic germans east-central europe (166,000 eastern poland; 127,000 baltic states; 212,000 romania; 35,000 yugoslavia; , 370,000 ussr in 1939 borders). these persons included above first 2 categories of expellees, 1- pre-war eastern europe , oder–neisse region , 2- pre-war soviet union.

3—pre-war western europe , abroad - ethnic germans pre-war western europe , abroad resided in postwar germany.

4—resettled in western europe during war - during war nazis resettled german nationals in western europe. after war returned postwar germany considered expellees.

expellees place of residence

post-war germany , austria

refugee camp in bavaria, 31 december 1944

on 29 october 1946, allied occupation zones in germany held 9.5 million refugees , expellees: 3.6 million in british zone, 3.1 million in u.s. zone, 2.7 million in soviet zone, 100,000 in berlin , 60,000 in french zone.

these numbers subsequently increased, 2 million additional expellees counted in west germany in 1950 total of 7.9 million (16.3% of population). origin, west german expellee population consisted of 5.5 million people post-war poland, former german east/new polish west, 2 million former sudetenland, , rest southeast europe, baltic states , russia.

german children @ refugee camp, western germany, 31 december 1944

according estimates made in west germany, in soviet zone number rose 4.2 million 1948 (24.2% of population) , 4.4 million 1950, when soviet zone became east germany.

thus, total of 12.3 million heimatvertriebene constituted 18% of population in 2 german states created allied occupation zones (the federal republic of germany , german democratic republic) in 1950, while 500,000 expellees found refuge in austria , other countries. because of influx, population of post-war german territory had risen 9.3 million (16%) 1939 1950 despite wartime population losses.

after war, area west of new eastern border of germany crowded expellees, of them living in camps, looking relatives, stranded. between 16.5% , 19.3% of total population expellees in western occupation zones , 24.2% in soviet occupation zone. expellees made 45% of population in schleswig-holstein , 40% in mecklenburg-vorpommern; similar percentages existed along eastern border way bavaria, while in westernmost german regions numbers lower, in french zone of occupation. of expellees stranded in east germany, many migrated west germany, making disproportionally high number of post-war inner-german east-west migrants (close 1 million of 3 million total between 1949, when west , east german states created, , 1961, when inner-german border closed).

german naturalisation of foreign ethnic german refugees , expellees

ethnic german refugees , expellees of foreign or no citizenship, residing within german borders stood in 1937, granted german citizenship west german constitution (grundgesetz), art. 116 (1) when came force in 1949. expellees arriving later in federal republic of germany granted german citizenship well, detailed legal treatment varied, depending on or ancestors citizenship. aussiedler (see above) or ancestors had been german citizens before 1945 legally considered being german citizens, regardless of other citizenships may have held. according nationality law of german empire , states (reichs- und staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz; rustag) of 1913, valid until 1999, loss of german citizenship valid if 1 applied (rustag § 21 (1)), , competent german authority issued denaturalisation deed (entlassungsurkunde, rustag § 23 (1)), , person denaturalised emigrated german territory within year after starting procedure (rustag § 24 (1)).

west german jurisdiction maintained until treaty of germany on seizures of territories (concluded german–polish border treaty (1990)) should legalise de facto status, eastern territories of germany annexed other nations in 1945 , saar protectorate legally german territory purpose. alternatively german citizens living abroad – in west german definition outside of german borders of 1937 – unilateral voluntary adoption of foreign citizenship entail 1 s denaturalisation german (rustag § 25 (1)).

however, conditions of voluntarity, issuance of deed, , leaving german territory (if applicable), not fulfilled german citizens authoritatively naturalised eastern european states happened live in after 1945. children gained german citizenship jus sanguinis (rustag § 4). aussiedler of foreign citizenship descending ancestors holding german citizenship before 1918 (regardless of ethnicity) granted german citizenship federal expellee law (bvfg § 6 (2)), while aussiedler without such german descent of german ethnicity (to evidenced german culture, language, traditions, etc.) received german citizenship (see bvfg § 1 (1) no. 1).

religious demographics

the west german researcher gerhard reichling published study estimated prewar german population @ 18,267,000 in eastern europe (including ussr), of whom 2,020,000 dead in expulsions , forced labor in ussr. in addition, estimated military , civilian war dead in area of expulsions @ 1,250,000, did not provide details figure. reichling provided breakout of ethnic german population religion included german-speaking jews other religions , beliefs. did not give separate total german jews included in figure others , nor did enumerate jewish dead in figures of wartime , postwar losses. kurt horstmann of federal statistical office of germany wrote forward study endorsing work of reichling, employee of federal statistical office involved in study of german expulsion statistics since 1953.

religion of germans east, according gerhard reichling

reichling defines others follows - term other includes other creeds (jewish communities , groups, other peoples , world religions, freethinkers , enlightenment associations) , without creed or no report of religious belief.

german-speaking jews in eastern europe prior war

a. former eastern territories of germany – based on may 1939 census in eastern regions of germany there according nazi antisemitic terminology – full jews 27,526; one-half jewish 6,371; , one-quarter jewish 4,464. ingo haar maintains 27,533 jews in former eastern territories of germany, of whom perished in holocaust, included dead expellees in west german figures.

b. czechoslovakia - polish demographer piotr eberhardt estimated there 75,000 german-speaking jews in czech lands in 1930; did not give figure slovakia. based on may 1939 census in sudetenland there – using nazi terminology – full jews 2,363; one-half jewish 2,183; , one-quarter jewish 1,396. 2,035 jews in sudetenland included german population in west german figures used calculate expulsion losses.

c. hungary - eberhardt estimated there 10,000 german-speaking jews in hungary in 1930.

d. poland - according december 1931 census of poland there 7,000 german-speaking jews in poland.

c. yugoslavia - schieder commission report yugoslavia put number of german-speaking jews @ 10,026 in 1931.

german historians hans henning hahn , eva hahn have raised issue of german minority in eastern europe , holocaust. point out german historians of expulsions have hardly covered fate of german-speaking jews in holocaust. there many jews in eastern europe spoke german primary language , identified german nationality prior war, , many others spoke german second language. in czechoslovakia there 46,000 jews identified german nationality in 1930.

many jews fled czechoslovakia in 1939 prior beginning of war; of remained perished in holocaust. hahns mentioned many of jewish victims in czechoslovakia have german-sounding names. according hahns wartime estimate nazi researcher put number of jews outside of czech lands @ 6.8 million, of whom 4% spoke german.

germans remaining in central europe in 1950

the table summarizes estimates ethnic germans remaining in eastern europe in 1950. west german government in 1958 made estimate cited in historical literature. in 1985, gerhard reichling, researcher employed west german government, provided own estimate of germans remaining in east europe in 1950, plus additional 1,312,000 living in ussr. reichling detailed 1,410,000 persons emigrated 1951 1982 considered expellees under west german law; poland: 894,000; czechoslovakia: 160,000; hungary: 30,000; romania: 144,000; yugoslavia: 80,000; , ussr: 102,000. in 2003, eberhardt made estimates remaining germans in 1950 lower made in germany.

method of counting confirmed deaths

studies of kind try count individual deaths, various means. sources may include registry death records, police , military records, church files of missing , killed persons, or reports of eyewitnesses .

research german church search service

a. work , findings of german church search service

already @ end of war in august 1945 efforts being made in germany trace civilians dead or missing in central , eastern europe. suchdienst (search service) set german roman catholic , protestant churches working german red cross. in 1950 west german government provided funding these efforts , in 1953 set unified body of suchdienst (search service) coordinate these various efforts, organize complete system of records, clarify fates of missing , prepare final report. german red cross sent 2.8 million questionnaires survivors in order obtain relevant information on fates of dead , missing. information compiled records of local communities in central , eastern europe(soll-listen) , eyewitness accounts of expellees. work of suchdienst (search service) partially successful. able survey records(soll-listeen) local communities encompassed 8.6 million persons, 1 half of germans in territory of expulsions. work of suchdienst (search service) hampered during cold war communist bloc governments in central , eastern europe did not extend full cooperation these west german efforts trace missing persons. in 1965 conclusions , final report issued suchdienst (search service) of german churches able confirm 473,013 civilian deaths, there additional 1,905,991 cases of persons fate not determined 1965. report remained confidential until end of cold war. west german government authorized release in 1986 , summary of findings published in 1987 german scholar de:gert von pistohlkors german search service located in munich germany, continue investigate fates of persons missing in war, in 2005 maintained research put losses @ 2,251,500 persons in expulsions , deportations. did not provide details of figure.

summary of population surveyed search service investigation

summary of results of search service investigation of dec. 31, 1965

details of 1,905,991 unsolved cases - deported 68,416; interned 17,704; missing 768,010; deaths 179,810; no information provided(ohne jeden hinweis) 872,051. rüdiger overmans maintains 872,051 cases no information provided “karteileichen”( “card corpses)of persons not traced because insufficient information provided , therefore of doubtful validity. considers important consideration in analysis of 1.9 million unsolved cases.

summary of german church search service figures in 1965

the authors of search service report used wartime administrative regions set nazi germany in poland , czechoslovakia basis breakout population rather pre war administrative regions , boundaries. rudiger overmans used description poland summarize figures region east of oder–neisse line, included former eastern territories of germany, danzig, pre war poland, , memel territory population surveyed in pre war poland included polish citizens on volksliste of dubious german ancestry. losses in poland included deaths in wartime flight, post war deaths in soviet kaliningrad region , in post war poland. confirmed deaths in poland include 17,209 refugees in denmark , 15,000 in polish internment camps. figures sudetenland include protectorate of bohemia , moravia not include slovakia , Český těšín - zaolzie. figures czechoslovakia in 1937 borders (including slovakia , zaolzie/Český těšín) are: population in 1945- 3,397,446; confirmed dead 21,332 , unsolved cases 307,616 there no breakout of figures showing age , sex of population surveyed , date of reported deaths or persons missing.

b. academic commentary on figures of suchdienst (search service)

dr.rüdiger overmans presented summary of suchdienst (search service) data @ 1994 historical symposium in poland. overmans believes figures of church service unreliable , should treated caution. made following observations regarding church service data:

non germans included in total population surveyed.
military deaths included in figures. total military deaths understated more one-half because there no coordination military search service.
the figures expellees in gdr not reliable. number of surviving persons, natural deaths , births after war in gdr understated.
the figures of persons deported ussr understated.
the reports given eyewitnesses surveyed not reliable in cases.
overmans maintains there more arguments lower figure of 500,000 rather higher figure of 2.3 million, believes since there 473,000 confirmed deaths, new research needed determine fate of 1.9 million reported missing.

the german historian ingo haar maintains figure of 473,000 confirmed dead provides realistic view of total losses due flight , expulsions. haar points out 473,000 confirmed dead 1.9 million unresolved cases search service used west german government when compiling 1958 demographic analysis die deutschen vertreibungsverluste @ put losses 2.225 million. haar maintains west german government pressured statistisches bundesamt match figures of search service in 1958 demographic analysis though figures included unresolved cases lacked adequate support. after completion, german church numbers archived , not released general public - according ingo haar, due fear low , lead politically undesirable conclusions .

the german historians hans henning hahn , eva hahn have published detailed study of flight , expulsions sharply critical of german accounts of cold war era. hahn s believe official german figure of 2 million deaths historical myth lacks foundation. point out figure of 473,013 confirmed deaths includes 80,522 in post war internment camps, maintain deaths occurred in flight , evacuation during war

1974 german federal archive report

on 28 may 1974, west german federal archive (bundesarchiv) issued report following directive of federal ministry of interior compile , evaluate information available in federal archives , elsewhere regarding crimes , brutalities committed against germans in course of expulsion . in particular, report identify deaths due crimes against international law: 1958 report of federal office statistics listed post-war losses 2 million people fate remained unaccounted in population balance, according 1974 report not exclusively victims of crimes against international law . report defined term expulsion (vertreibung) according prevailing interpretation , i.e. whole uprooting process . sources used report were:

about 10,000 eyewitness accounts (erlebnisberichte), compiled during documentation of expulsion of germans east central europe , conducted on initiative of federal ministry expellees between 1950 , 1953, since 1955 stored in federal archive. stock added eyewitness accounts secret state archive (gsta) in dahlem, main state archive in düsseldorf, collection of state commissioner refugee affairs in stuttgart , collection of bavarian ministry of interior, further eyewitness accounts sent federal archive directly.
about 18,000 reports fate of municipalities (gemeindeschicksalsberichte), collected since 1952 in course of abovementioned documentation , , 1954 1959 federal archive itself. these reports laid out standardized questionaries distinct municipalities , covered 85.2% of municipalities in former eastern territories of germany, majority of municipalities in area of pre-war poland home german population, , other such municipalities in former sudetenland , southeastern europe.
about 12,100 so-called soul lists (seelenlisten) compiled between 1952 , 1956 listing former german inhabitants of rural , small urban communities east of oder-neisse line, in part noting deaths , causes.
information archives of german dioceses.

the final report included deaths confirmed @ least 2 independent sources. deaths reported 1 source rejected unless met reliability criteria laid out in catalogue adopted schieder et al. (1958): dokumentation der vertreibung der deutschen aus ost-mittewleuropa vol. i/1, page iiif. report states sources hint @ magnitude of crimes, not sufficient thorough statistic. of faction of sources said detail names , number of victims, others merely point crime scenes not elaborate on numbers , details. extent of crimes in larger municipalities and, few exceptions, in camps , prisons not replicable sources given according report.

in areas east of oder-neisse line, reviewers identified 3,250 crime scenes in sources. 630 of those, number of victims not established, while 23,200 people identified died @ other 2,620 scenes. estimate total number of casualties, 1974 report relied on data set retrieved 1964 church search service report compiling complete of soul lists . 455 rural communities of east prussia , 432 rural communities of pomerania, these lists reported 1,731 , 1,278 people killed, respectively, 1% of 1939 population (152,124 , 137,709 inhabitants, respectively). number of these identified deaths added number of 4,000 missing, of whom may unconfirmed deaths. 1974 report relates 1% confirmed deaths minimum value 1939 population of former eastern territories of germany set @ 9.6 million people, receiving number of @ least 96,000 people killed in area during expulsion. estimated @ least 19,000 people killed during expulsions area of pre-war poland, calculated 1% of 1,9 million germans living there in 1944. on premise in area of pre-war poland, 20% more people overrun advancing red army in areas occupied later on, number adjusted above 20,000, resulting in total of @ least 120,000 people killed east of oder , neisse rivers. furthermore, estimated 200,000 people incarcerated in polish-run , 110,000 in soviet-run camps , prisons in area death rates between 20% , 50%. therefore, estimated @ least 100,000 people died in these camps , prisons. 200,000 people died result of deportation ussr, based on german red cross estimates. addition of these values, report found east of oder , neisse rivers, @ least 400,000 people died during expulsions.

of abovementioned sources, 2,000 concerned czechoslovakia (including sudetenland). of those, faction included reliable numbers of killed germans adding 6,000 confirmed deaths. report cites estimate kurt w. böhme (1965): gesucht wird..., p. 264, according whom 350.000 germans interned in camps, 100,000 of whom died. sources, 1974 report says numbers of interned higher, , refers study a. bohmann (1959): das sudetendeutschtum in zahlen, p. 199, presenting estimate of 1 million internees. report further states czechoslovakia, relatively few germans deportated ussr.

for yugoslavia, report says sources confirm 7,200 germans killed outside of camps. researchers suspected numbers given in sources in part inflated, referred sources reporting other killings without quantifying victims. adding numbers victims of executions of camp inmates, report estimates between 15,000 , 20,000 germans died violent death . report thereby refers sources 49 large camps, of estimated total of 67,000 deaths 8,000 due violence, , rest due starvation, disease , maltreatment. many small camps , prisons, yugoslav german pows shot in captivity partisans, report lacked detailed sources. regarding numbers of yugoslav germans deported ussr, report refers theodor schieder et al. (1958): dokumentation der vertreibung vol. v, p. 97e, citing numbers of 27,000 30,000 deportees , respective death toll of 4,500 people given there. report postulates @ least 80,000 yugoslav germans died during expulsions.

the report concludes that

no distinct group of germans preferred target, instead remaining german population targeted whole
the perpetrators identified members of red army, nkvd, polish militia , security forces, czechoslovak people s guard , liberation army , yugoslav partisans
the sources used report insufficient calculate comprehensive balance, situation in larger communities , camps available sources fragmentary overview
the sources differed in accounts of number of inmates , deaths in camps
the total numbers of deaths given in report rough estimates .

expulsion deaths listed german federal archives 1974

source: german federal archive, spieler, silke vertreibung und vertreibungsverbrechen 1945-1948. bericht des bundesarchivs vom 28. mai 1974. archivalien und ausgewählte erlebnisberichte. bonn 1989 pages 53–54 authors maintain these figures cover deaths caused violent acts , inhumanities(unmenschlichkeiten) , not include post war deaths due malnutrition , disease. not included persons raped or suffered mistreatment , did not die immediately. no figures given romania , hungary.

rüdiger overmans believes 1974 report not definitive , new research needed determine total deaths due expulsions. overmans made following observations regarding german federal archives report:

some deaths may have gone unreported in archives study because there no eye witnesses events.
the german federal archives report not comparable other studies because ussr, hungary, romania , deaths in air war not surveyed.
overmans maintains there more arguments lower figures of 500,000 600,000 rather higher figures of on 2.0 million

the german historian ingo haar believes realistic view of total deaths due expulsions in range of 500,000 600,000. harr maintains these figures include post war deaths due malnutrition , disease , higher figures of on 2.0 million have been overstated german government political reasons.

since fall of ussr soviet archives have been accessible researchers. russian scholar pavel polian in 2001 published account of deportations during soviet era, against will, polian s study detailed soviet statistics on employment of german civilian labor during stalin era. research polian put number of deported germans @ 271,672 , deaths @ 66,000. during cold war german red cross made rough estimates of deported @ 400,000 persons of whom 200,000 perished, these figures used german federal archives compile 1974 report on deportations ussr. recent disclosures polian contradict figures in german federal archives report of 1974.

in 1995, joint german , czech commission of historians revised number of civilian deaths in czechoslovakia between 15,000 , 30,000 persons during cold war german historians made rough estimates of 350,000 persons interned in czechoslovakia of whom 100,000 perished, these estimates used german federal archives estimated 30,000 persons killed during prague uprising , in post- war czechoslovakia. recent report joint german , czech commission of historians contradict figures in german federal archives report of 1974.

the german historians hans henning hahn , eva hahn have published detailed study of flight , expulsions put number of dead in polish internment camps @ 15,000 based on information published in poland. these recent disclosures contradict figures in german federal archives report of 1974 put figure @ 60,000. however, polish historians witold sienkiewicz , grzegorz hryciuk maintain internment resulted in numerous deaths, cannot accurately determined because of lack of statistics or falsification. periodically, 10% of inmates. interned estimated @ 200-250,000 germans , local population, , deaths might range 15,000 60,000 persons.

method of using population balance

estimates population losses in expulsions appear in historical literature derived reports published german government. methodology behind these figures computation of estimated population deficit.

early estimates compiled in 1950s

in 1950 west german government made preliminary estimate of 3.0 million dead , missing fate needed clarified. in 1953 german scholar gotthold rhode made demographic estimate of 3,140,000 total ethnic german dead in central , eastern europe 1939 1950. rhode s figures total population losses, including military dead did not break out. bruno gleitze estimated in 1953 800,000 civilian deaths (for germany within 1937 borders only) among eastern germans in area of expulsion these estimates superseded subsequent publication in 1958 of demographic study west german government statistical office.

the schieder commission

from 1954 1961 schieder commission issued 5 reports on flight , expulsions, estimated death toll of 2.3 million civilians. head of commission dr. theodor schieder rehabilitated former member of nazi party. in 1952 schieder chosen west german government head commission document fate of germans east-central europe. schieder commission has been criticized because covered flight , expulsions did not provide background on wartime crimes of germany in east-central europe triggered post war expulsions death toll estimated schieder commission superseded subsequent publication in 1958 of demographic study west german government statistical office.

flight , expulsion deaths-estimates schieder commission

notes

figure of 2 million oder-neisse region includes 1.6 million in former eastern territories of germany, 217,000 in borders of pre war poland , 100,000 in danzig.
figure of 2 million oder-neisse region includes 75,000 100,000 civilian deaths prior may 1945 during military campaign.
figure of 2 million oder-neisse region includes 100,000 125,000 civilian deaths in forced labor of germans in soviet union.
figure of 2 million oder-neisse region not include deaths among on 800,000 germans resettled in poland during war.
figure of 2 million oder-neisse region not include additional 500,000 military , 50,000 civilian air raid dead
figure of 6,000 deaths hungary due forced labor of germans in soviet union
figure of 40,000 deaths romania includes 10,000 in forced labor of germans in soviet union , 30,000 deaths in oder-neisse region among 160,000 germans of romania resettled in poland during war.
figure of 69,000 yugoslavia includes 2,631 during wartime flight; 5,777 executed soviet , yugoslav forces; 5,683 deportation deaths (including 4,500 5,000 in forced labor of germans in soviet union); 48,027 in yugoslav internment camps; 187 in prisons , 6,273 missing.

west german government demographic study of 1958

based on 1954 directive of west german government federal statistical office of germany(statistisches bundesamt) responsible analyzing figures relating population losses due expulsions , issuing final report. in 1958 issued report die deutschen vertreibungsverluste(the german expulsion casualties), estimating unsolved cases (postwar losses) of 2.225 million german civilians in of central , eastern europe. figures listed in table below report. statistisches bundesamt noted in introduction since conclusion of study data had been published in east germany putting number of expellees living in east germany @ 127,000 more figures listed below in die deutschen vertreibungsverluste in november 1958 statistisches bundesamt published revised figures put losses germany in 1937 borders @ 1,212,100 persons, 127,000 less die deutschen vertreibungsverluste

die deutschen vertreibungsverluste, using prewar population figures, wartime estimates , postwar figures both german states , in central , eastern europe, concluded 3,325,000 people died in war , expulsions, , estimated 1,100,000 of these war dead, including 11,500 civilians killed allied strategic bombing (up until 1/31/1945), reducing number of civilian deaths in flight during war , subsequent expulsions 2.225 million. report listed total of approximately 12.0 million expelled. summary table in west german government statistical office report uses description giving total post war losses of 2.225 million persons, detailed analysis in text lists 169,000 civilian deaths during flight , evacuation during war ( 128,000 pre-war germany, 35,000 czechoslovakia , 4,000 hungary). figures in report include losses during forced labor of germans in soviet union

die deutschen vertreibungsverluste(the german expulsion casualties)

source:

die deutschen vertreibungsverluste. bevölkerungsbilanzen für die deutschen vertreibungsgebiete 1939/50.herausgeber: statistisches bundesamt - wiesbaden. - stuttgart: verlag w. kohlhammer, 1958

notes

english language sources published during cold war dealing expulsions put death toll @ 2 3 million based on west german government statistical analysis of 1950s.
in 2006 german government reaffirmed belief 2 million civilians perished in flight , expulsion central , eastern europe. maintain figure correct because includes additional post war deaths malnutrition , disease of civilians subject expulsions. on 29 november 2006 state secretary in german federal ministry of interior, christoph bergner, outlined stance of respective governmental institutions in deutschlandfunk saying numbers presented german government , others not contradictory numbers cited haar, , below 600,000 estimate comprises deaths directly caused atrocities during expulsion measures , includes people on spot raped, beaten, or else brought death, while above 2 millions estimate includes people on way post-war germany have died of epidemics, hunger, cold, air raids , like.
the german historian ingo haar believes civilian losses in expulsions have been overstated in germany decades political reasons. haar argues during cold war west german government put political pressure on statistisches bundesamt push figures upward agree unreliable church service figure of 2.3 million dead , missing. harr disputes statements of german government , maintains lower estimates of 500-600,000 deaths include post war deaths due malnutrition , disease. maintains figures population of prewar germany include 27,000 jewish victims of holocaust. harr points out these issues raised west german government, inflated numbers continued used when demographic report published in 1958 in order agree previous findings of schieder commission , church search service.
the german scholar dr. rüdiger overmans believes statistical foundations of 1958 west german government demographic report questionable , cannot regarded definitive. overmans made following observations on figures of 1958 demographic report.




1-the report not mathematically consistent, because not proof read.






2-the figures of germans overstated including persons of doubtful german ethnic identity. persons became assimilated local population in central , eastern europe included in persons reported missing.






3-the figure given statistisches bundesamt total german population effected expulsions 16.5 million higher church search service figure of 16.2 million persons. 2 figures not directly comparable because church search service figure includes 700,000 soviet germans not included in statistisches bundesamt study, means figure total population used compute losses statistisches bundesamt inflated 1.0 million persons.






4-military losses understated inflating civilian losses.






5-the number of surviving expellees in gdr understated inflating losses. .






6-overmans maintains there more arguments lower figure of 500,000 rather higher figures of on 2.0 million. believes previous studies german government should subject critical revision , new research needed establish actual number of expulsion deaths.




in 2000 study of german military casualties dr. rüdiger overmans found 344,000 additional military deaths of germans former eastern territories of germany , conscripted ethnic germans central , eastern europe. overmans believes reduce number of civilians listed missing in expulsions.
the polish scholar piotr eberhardt found that; speaking, german estimates…are not highly arbitrary, tendentious in presentation of german losses maintains german government figures 1958 overstated total number of ethnic germans living in poland prior war total civilian deaths due expulsions. example, eberhardt points out total number of germans in poland given equal 1,371,000. according polish census of 1931 there altogether 741,000 germans on entire territory of poland.
the german historians hans henning hahn , eva hahn have published detailed study of flight , expulsions sharply critical of german accounts of cold war era. hahn s believe official german figure of 2 million deaths historical myth lacks foundation. hahns pointed out official 1958 figure of 273,000 deaths czechoslovakia prepared alfred bohmann ex-nazi party member had served in wartime ss, bohmann journalist ultra-nationalist sudeten-deutsch newspaper in post war west germany. hahn s maintain figures total ethnic german population in central , eastern europe include german speaking jews killed in holocaust
the organizations of ethnic german expellees yugoslavia have traced fate of civilians perished in expulsions. in 1991-1995 results of research published in 4 volume study listed names , cause of death each person. study identified 57,841 civilians confirmed dead , 889 listed missing. contradicts 1958 study estimated losses @ 136,000.
in 1996 joint czech-german historical commission found demographic estimate german government of 270,000 civilian deaths due expulsions czechoslovakia based on faulty data. estimated total deaths of 15,000-30,000

study gerhard reichling

population balance estimated gerhard reichling 1986

source figures-dr. gerhard reichning, die deutschen vertriebenen in zahlen, teil 1, bonn 1995. page 36

a 1986 study dr. gerhard reichling die deutschen vertriebenen in zahlen (the german expellees in figures) concluded 2,020,000 ethnic germans perished after war including 1,440,000 result of expulsions , 580,000 deaths due deportation forced laborers in soviet union. figures rough estimates made reichling , not based on actual enumeration of dead. dr. kurt horstmann of federal statistical office of germany wrote forward study, endorsing work of reichling. reichling employee of federal statistical office involved in study of german expulsion statistics since 1953.
the german historians hans henning hahn , eva hahn have provided analysis of work reichling. remark work new variant of information had been published previously. refer study old wine in new bottles magically comes official figure of 2 million expulsion deaths. outline career official in west german civil service focused on fate of expellees in post war germany. authors mention reichling not explain readers nazi racial policy of resettlement , deportation during war underlying cause of subsequent expulsion of germans after war.

federation of expellees estimates

the german foundation centre against expulsions of federation of expellees has compiled following data various sources.

this more detailed accounting susceptible specific objections , questions meaning of numbers. while table presented estimates of number of expelled, , column expelled suggests government responsible, these assertions have been questioned. following points relevant interpretation of above statistics

the statistics used compile list of dead centre against expulsions derived schieder commission reports , 1958 west german government demographic study die deutschen vertreibungsverluste. ingo haar maintains statistical basis of data used centre against expulsions empirically unsound. haar believes out statistics include missing persons fate in central , eastern europe not clarified during cold war , not mean deaths in expulsions. haar points out centre against expulsions includes deaths in wartime flight subsequent expulsions.
many germans evacuated german authorities , died during soviet military operations, starvation , extreme cold during final months of war. german population arrived in post war germany ravaged starvation , disease. polish historians maintain of deaths occurred during flight , evacuation during war, deportation u.s.s.r. forced labor , after resettlement due harsh conditions in soviet occupation zone in post war germany. in sharp contrast position centre against expulsions implies these deaths due post war expulsions.
the number of germans expelled fraction of arrived in germany. of total 11.6 million persons listed germany expellees, 4.5 million fled during war, 2.6 million returned pow , 4.5 million deported germany after war.
poland, hungary , romania controlled soviet authorities during post war era when expulsions occurred. nominal governments did not have control on policy. yugoslavia controlled titoist partisans @ time. czechoslovakia did not come under direct communist control until 1948.
the basis of great part of expulsion potsdam agreement (article 12) agreed usa, uk , ussr.

allied strategic bombing

in 1945, german city of swinemünde (Świnoujście in contemporary poland) destination port refugees east prussia. on 12th of march 1945, eighth air force raided city. due uncertainty concerning number of refugees within city exact number of casualties unknown. capacity of air raid shelters limited regular populace, many refugees killed @ spa gardens. motor vessel andros, carrying 2,000 refugees, had arrived @ harbour , sunk loss of 570 people. 500 victims of raid identified , buried close entrance of cemetery , remaining dead buried in mass graves. estimated number of victims, including residents of swinemünde encompassed expulsions, varies 5,000 23,000. 1958 west german government demographic study of expellee deaths estimated total civilian dead in east pommerian region due anglo-american air raids after 1/31/45 @ 8,000. german war graves commission estimates 20,000 victims buried @ golm war cemetery further burials within town limits.

an unknown number of refugees east among estimated total 18,000-25,000 dead in bombing of dresden in world war ii. german historian rüdiger overmans believes “the number of refugee dead in dresden bombing few hundred, hardly thousands or tens of thousands”

estimates concerning czech republic only

in 1930 census german-speaking population of czechoslovakia 3,231,688, 22.3% of total population. polish demographer piotr eberhardt maintains figure german-speaking population in czechoslovakia included 75,000 jews in 1930.

the west german statistisches bundesamt put 1939 german population in czechoslovakia @ 3,477,000. (this figure detailed in schedule below.) sources in english dealing expulsions put number of germans in czechoslovakia @ 3.5 million persons based on west german analysis. according eberhardt, figure ethnic german population in sudetenland based on may 1939 census disputed czech authors . maintain german figures included 300,000 persons of czech ethnicity in sudeten german population.

notes:

a. figures sudetenland include non-resident population of 27,283 sudeten germans in military or labor service.
b. statistisches bundesamt estimated total ethnic czech population in sudetenland @ 319,000 persons including undetermined or undeclared citizenship in census czechs.
c. number of jews sudetenland in may 1939 census foreign nationals, stateless or of undetermined citizenship not given in statistisches bundesamt report. separate breakout of jews in sudetenland published in statistisches jahrbuch für das deutsche reich 1941/42 gives total figure of 2,363 jews; there additional 3,579 persons of half or quarter jewish ancestry. these figures encompass 85% of population in annexed territory of sudetenland , not include bohemia-moravia , slovakia.
d. estimated may 1939 german population of 259,000 in protectorate of bohemia , moravia based on 1 october 1940 ration cards of german occupation regime. statistisches bundesamt maintains figure of 259,000 pre-war resident german population, not including persons resettled during occupation.
e. german population in slovakia of 154,000 based on 1940 slovak census put number of germans @ 130,192 , 23,000 germans in slovak territory annexed hungary estimated in 1941 german occupation regime in protectorate of bohemia , moravia.
f. these figures not include ethnic germans in czech portion of cieszyn silesia included poland statistisches bundesamt.

the estimated german population of 3,477,000 persons, based on may 1939 census , bohemia , moravia wartime ration cards, used statistisches bundesamt when estimated expulsion losses of 273,000 civilians in czechoslovakia. german historians hans henning hahn , eva hahn pointed out statistisches bundesamt report czechoslovakia work of alfred bohmann, ex-nazi party member had served in wartime ss. bohmann journalist ultra-nationalist sudeten-deutsch newspaper in post-war west germany. statistisches bundesamt estimate expulsion death toll of 273,000 civilians cited in historical literature.

in czech republic these events not referred expulsions, rather use expression odsun meaning evacuation in english. in case of czech republic, 1996 report of commission on losses connected transfer, prepared @ joint czech-german historical commission . reported number of deaths 15,000 30,000 , number of 220,000 estimated centre against expulsions not supported evidence. commission able confirm 15,580 deaths related expulsions , additional 6,667 suicides, total of 22,247 confirmed deaths. in final report commission raised total estimated maximum 30,000 deaths in order account possibility of unreported deaths.the commission found demographic estimates german government of 220,000 270,000 civilian deaths due expulsions czechoslovakia based on faulty data. commission determined demographic estimates german government counted missing 90,000 ethnic germans assimilated czech population; military deaths understated , 1950 census data used compute demographic losses unreliable. [1]

developing clear picture of expulsion of germans czechoslovakia difficult because of chaotic conditions existed @ end of war. there no stable central government , record-keeping non-existent. many of events occurred during period spontaneous , local rather being result of coordinated policy directives central government. among these spontaneous events removal , detention of sudeten germans triggered strong anti-german sentiment @ grass-roots level , organized local officials.

records of food rationing coupons show approximately 3,325,000 inhabitants of occupied sudetenland in may 1945. of these, 500,000 czechs or other non-germans. thus, there approximately 2,725,000 germans in occupied sudetenland in may 1945.

on initiative of joint czech-german commission of historians, statistical , demographic investigation conducted, resulting in publication of opinion of commission on losses connected transfer . number commission arrived @ has since been accepted large section of historians, press , media in other countries:

tracing fates of individuals in yugoslavia

a. organizations of ethnic german expellees yugoslavia have traced fate of civilians perished in expulsions. in 1991-1995 results of research published in 4 volume study listed names , cause of death of each person. following summary of findings.

the report listed deaths of 605 civilians killed in military operations outside of yugoslavia , 26,064 men dead , missing in german armed forces. report mentioned total of 166,970 civilians interned yugoslav authorities , additional 12,380 deported ussr forced laborers.

b. german church search service figures issued in 1965 follows: 55,300 confirmed deaths:( 5,538 violent deaths; 2,052 deported forced labor ussr; 43,274 in internment camps; 1,960 during wartime flight , 287 in course of expulsions). in addition german church search service listed 36,164 unsolved cases of civilians listed missing , 29,745 military dead.

c. schieder commission figures published in 1961 follows: c.69,000 civilian casualties including (5,777 violent deaths; 5,683 dead , missing persons deported forced labor in ussr; 48,027 in internment camps; 2,361 during wartime flight,187 in prisons , 6,273 missing persons).

estimates concerning poland only
poland expulsions , deportations

in poland, these events not referred expulsions, rather use expression wysiedlenie emigracja ludności niemieckiej – deportation , emigration of german people.

a 2005 study in poland reported data of polish government indicated 4 million germans remained on polish territory in mid-1945, out of pre-war population of 10 million. remaining balance killed in war, held pows or had fled germany in final months of war. 1950, 3 million persons had been deported poland , 1.1 million persons verified polish citizens.

by 1964, suchdienst (search service) of german churches able confirm 367,392 civilian deaths territory of contemporary poland (detailed follows: 44,603 violent deaths; 10,330 suicides; 32,947 forced labor dead; 27,847 in transit camps prior expulsion; 86,860 during flight west; 57,814 after expulsions; , 106,991 cause undetermined). there additional 1,404,993 unconfirmed cases of persons reported dead , missing.

the 1974 report of german archives estimated east of oder-neisse line 60,000 german civilians died on polish territory in communist internment camps , 40,0000 in soviet forced labor in kaliningrad oblast, not including 100,000 killed red army , allies during war , 200,000 in forced labor in ussr.

the polish historian bernadetta nitschke has provided summary of research in poland on calculation of german losses due flight , resettlement of germans poland only, not including other central , eastern european countries. nitschke contrasted estimate of 1.6 million deaths in poland reported in 1958 west german government more recent figure of 400,000 detailed rudiger overmans in 1994. noted polish researcher stefan banasiak estimated in 1963 death toll during post-war deportations 1,136 persons, figure accepted other polish historians maintain of deaths occurred during flight , evacuation during war, deportation u.s.s.r. forced labor , after resettlement due harsh conditions in soviet occupation zone in post war germany. in sharp contrast 1958 west german government schieder commission report, maintained these deaths occurred after war on polish territory.

2,612,000 germans left poland february 1946 december 1949 according s. jankowiak, cited b. nitschke.

during pre-potsdam expulsions, many germans forced march on 100 , 200 kilometres. different estimates of number of germans expelled people s army of poland alone during pre-potsdam deportations (all numbers after jankowiak): 365,000 1,200,000 germans deported polish administration.

the 1958 german government report of 1958 listed 7,960,000 expellees poland (including pre-war territories of germany, poland , danzig). figure includes persons fled during war , returned pows left poland after war.

expelled poland july- dec. 1945

1,222 thousand, according k.kersten, 1964
300 thousand, according s.banasiak
400 thousand, k.skubiszewski
500 thousand, a.ogrodowczyk
350-450 thousand, a.magierska, 1978
200-250 thousand, t.białecki, 1970
620-630 thousand, s.zwoniński, 1983

estimated deaths

in 1965 andrzej brożek quoted losses @ 1,020,000 in poland. barbara nitschke dismissed number high.
300-400 thousand, s.chojnecki, 1980
230-250 thousand, cz. osękowski
500–550 thousand, z. romanow
400 thousand, b.nitschke
400 thousand, m.wille, 1996
600–700 thousand
1.6 million per 1958 german government statement
367,000 confirmed deaths 1965 german search service.
400,000 per 1974 german archives study

germans remaining in poland

former german citizens remaining in poland after 1950 in oder-neisse territories put @ 1.1 million according 1950 polish census figures including autochthons – polish-speaking or bilingual german citizens – in upper silesia, masuria , west prussia. figure confirmed 1950 german government demographic study of population. dr. gerhard reichling in 1995 put total number @ 1.3 million in 1950(note: significant proportion of germans remaining in postwar poland allowed emigrate after 1956 , benefited result of brandt s ostpolitik.)