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GENOCIDE of the Ethnic Germans in Yugoslavia 1944-1948 Throughout history the Balkan
countries have often been called the "Powder Keg of
Europe." Indeed, they have sparked many conflicts,
including World War I which created the dispersal
of ethnic groups and the forging of new frontiers
that to this day are the source of continual
conflicts. The current political events
involving Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Kosovo focus the
spotlight on Yugoslavia's attempted ethnic
cleansing of Albanians, Bosnians and Croats,
causing the United Nations and NATO to intervene.
The genocide of the ethnic German population of
Yugoslavia at the end of World War II and during
the period of 1944-1948 has been, however, largely
suppressed or ignored and needs to be recognized.
At the beginning of World War
II about 540,000 people whose mother-tongue was
German lived within the national boundaries of the
then Yugoslav kingdom. About 510,000 belonged to
the ethnic group of Danube Swabians, which comprise
the ethnic Germans of the West Banat, Batschka,
Belgrade, Serbia, Syrmia, Baranja Triangle,
Slavonia, Croatia and Bosnia. Additional groups
were the Germans (formerly Austrians) of Slovenia,
mainly the German Untersteirer, German Oberkrainer
and the Gottscheer. This publication is a
condensed version of the German language series of
five volumes Verbrechen an den Deutschen in
Jugoslawien 1944-1948 (Crimes against the
ethnic Germans in Yugoslavia 1944-1948) documenting
the genocide of, and atrocities committed against,
the ethnic Germans of Yugoslavian nationality by
the Communist Titoregime at the end of World War II
and the years 1944-1948. For almost 300 years these
ethnic Germans have lived peacefully in, and
contributed to, the prosperity of the entire
region, adapting themselves to all subsequent
changes of sovereignty. Numerous eyewitnesses were
interviewed and their personal experiences recorded
in order to document the crimes of genocide and
ethnic cleansing so they can be included in the
historical records of that era. These volumes were
published by the Donauschwäbische
Kulturstiftung, München, Germany. To make the
world aware of these tragic events the Danube
Swabian Association of the USA, in cooperation with
the Donauschwäbische Kulturstiftung (Danube
Swabian Cultural Foundation) München, Germany,
has issued this English-language edition. It is
also a historical document for the Danube Swabians
scattered throughout the world. In the title, and throughout
this publication, the authors have used the term
"genocide" to describe the atrocities committed
against the ethnic Germans in Yugoslavia.
The United Nations
"Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide" Article II and III give the
following definition of genocide: In the present Convention,
genocide means any of the following acts committed
with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a
national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as
such: The following acts shall be
punishable: The complete copy of the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide is included in the Appendix
section of this publication. The reader will undoubtedly
come to the conclusion, as the authors have, that
the crimes committed and described here come under
the definition of "genocide" as determined by the
United Nations Convention. While ethnic German
minorities in Hungary and Romania also were
persecuted and expelled as an aftermath of World
War II, it was in Yugoslavia where the most
gruesome atrocities were committed against this
entire ethnic group. Between 1698 and 1782 these
ethnic Germans, known collectively as
"Donauschwaben" (Danube Swabians), were recruited
by the territorial rulers to resettle and help
rebuild the devastated areas which were liberated
from Turkish invaders. At that time these
territories were part of the Austrian-Hungarian
Empire. For about 300 years they cohabited with
other ethnic groups as loyal and respected citizens
in their adopted homelands. During World War II they were
caught up in the political and military power
struggles, particularly when German troops occupied
Yugoslavia. At the end of World War II Southeastern
Europe came under Communist control and the tragic
fate of the ethnic Germans was sealed. Most of those who managed to
escape or were expelled and the survivors of the
death camps settled in nearby Austria and Germany
or emigrated to America, Canada, Australia and
South America. In the United States and Canada they
migrated mainly to larger communities where they
were able to stay together and establish their
cultural societies which foster Danube Swabian
culture and traditions. They and their descendents
have again become loyal and respected citizens in
their new homelands but the world needs to know of
their tragic history. |