Memorial Deported Germans

At the Waldfriedhof in Darmstadt there is a monument that commemorates the deported Germans who had to leave home and hearth during and just after World War II and who previously lived in Hungary (Ungarn Deutsche), Romania (Siebenburgen Sachsen), Romania/Ukraine (Buchenland) , Danube valley (Donauschwaben), Poland/Czech Republic (Uberschlesien, Schlesien), Czech Republic (Sudetendeutsche), Poland (Weischsel-Warthe, Pommern, Danzig, West Preussen) and Poland/Russia (Ost Preussen).

On the left wall it says:
"1945 FLUCHT DEPORTATION VERTREIBUNG" which means "1945 FLIGHT DEPORTATION EXPULSION"

There is also a commemorative plaque and translated it reads:
"50 years ago we were, as Germans, deported from our homeland and interned in work and death camps. We had to endure grave injustice, need and death.
Having grown from the purifying power of suffering we demanded in our charter of 5 August 1950 the rejection of revenge, the reconstruction of Germany and the creation of a unified, peaceful and free Europe in which all people and peoples can live without fear and coercion.
We called and call on the people and peoples of good will to labor that out of guilt, unhappiness, suffering, poverty and misery a better path to the future may be found for all of us.
We remember our dead."

On the right wall it says:
"Sometimes one of us, who had to endure injustice, may recall a child, a woman, a man to whom we want to say:
I thank you!".
Whether in the old homeland
Or in the work and death camps
After 1945 or during flight
Whether after finally reaching freedom
In Germany or in one of those countries
Into which a friendly power steared our way
Everywhere we also met people
Who helped us survive
Who encouraged us - as in the city of Darmstadt
And in the counties of Darmstadt and Dieburg
To build a new home
Association of Refugees".

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Source

• Text: Gio Theunissen
• Photos: Gio Theunissen