"Flucht aus Ostpreussen 1944-1945" (Flight from East Prussia) A Personal Account

e Annin Hruck History Department Toweor. State University August 1986 FLUCKT AUS OSTPREUSSEK 1944-45 (Flight From East Prussia) A Personal Account "Besser ein Ende nit Schrecken als ein Schrecken ohne Bide? Sc read » a state inert of the government of Czechoslovakia for the removal of the i Sudeten Germans during the summer of 1945. (C.S.S. Report). And so felt some ' Germans in that fateful year, peace just would have to be better than war. Others of the Landsknecht type said, *Let us enjoy the war, peace will be hcrrible 1 r Certainly these statements were voiced more often than net by the victimized, in the case of this paper from the Germans whose homes were East of the Vistula River, specifically East — and West Prussia. It is conceivable that such sentiments were shared by friend and foe alike. The idea for this paper and session was conceived during last year’s convention of the G.S.A. when papers were read dealing with -the lives of Germans during the immediate pc st-war era, hov they personally experienced Allied occupation. From a chronological point of view, this session should have preceded last year's presentations. However, even the backward moving time-clock does not obscure the basic theme of la в t and this year's session. It deals with the story of victimized Germans. ' Last October, my distinguished cclleague and fellow panelist Dr. Ed Fete r son wrote •Germany has been well portrayed in its Bari role as vietiidxer, 'but rarely described in the i^.rly postwar role as victim.* '* Kay be — sc he continues — "the time is rip>e . . .to-» show the other side of the coin.* (Letter of Professor Ed Peterson, October В, 19B5). This is desirable in order to affect a acre balanced treatment of those fateful months