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| '''Carpathian Germans''' ({{lang-de|Karpatendeutsche}}, ]: ''Karpatskí Nemci''), sometimes simply called ] Germans (German: ''Slowakeideutsche''), is the name for a group of German language speakers on the territory of present-day ]. The term was coined by the historian ], and is also sometimes used to refer to Germans in the ]. | '''Carpathian Germans''' ({{lang-de|Karpatendeutsche}}, ]: ''Karpatskí Nemci''), sometimes simply called ] Germans (German: ''Slowakeideutsche''), is the name for a group of German language speakers on the territory of present-day ]. The term was coined by the historian ], and is also sometimes used to refer to Germans in the ]. | ||
| Germans settled in Slovakia from the ] to ] centuries, mostly after the ] invasion of ], though there were probably some isolated settlers in the area of ] earlier. The Germans were usually attracted by kings seeking specialists in various trades, such as craftsmen and miners. They usually settled in older |
Germans settled in Hungarian highland ''(present-day Slovakia)'' from the ] to ] centuries, mostly after the ] invasion of ], though there were probably some isolated settlers in the area of ] earlier. The Germans were usually attracted by kings seeking specialists in various trades, such as craftsmen and miners. They usually settled in older Hungarian highland market and mining settlements. The main settlement areas were in the vicinity of ] and some language islands in the ] and the ]. The settlers in the ] region were known as ''Zipser Sachsen'', or ] ]. Until approximately the ], the ruling classes of most Hungarian highland cities consisted almost exclusively of ]. | ||
| ]] | ]] | ||
| The Carpathian Germans were, as the ], subjected to strong ] policies in the latter half of the ] and the beginning of the ] century (Slovakia was part of the ] at that period). | |||
| On 28 October 1918 the National Council of Carpathian Germans in ] declared their loyalty to the Hungarian Kingdom, but to no avail as Slovakia became part of ] two days later. | On 28 October 1918 the National Council of Carpathian Germans in ] declared their loyalty to the Hungarian Kingdom, but to no avail as Hungarian highland ''(present-day Slovakia)'' became part of ] two days later. | ||
| During the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938), Carpathian Germans had a specific political party, the Zipser deutsche Partei (1920-1938) of Andor Nitsch, who was elected from 1925 to 1935 on a common Hungarian-German list for parliamentary elections. In 1929, another party, more nationalist-oriented, was formed in Bratislava, the Karpathendeutschen Partei, which made a common list at the 1935 parliamentary elections with the ], whose leader Konrad Heinlein became its head in 1937 with Franz Karmasin as deputy. In 1935, both parties obtained a seat in both parliamentary assemblies. In 1939 the KdP was renamed Deutsche Partei with as führer Franz Karmasin, who had become in October 1938 state secretary for German Affairs in the ]<ref></ref> <ref></ref> <ref>Ondrej Pöss, Geschichte und Kultur der Karpatendeutschen, Slowakisches Nationalmuseum - Museum der Kultur der Karpatendeutschen, Bratislava, Bratislava/Pressburg, 2005</ref>. | During the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938), Carpathian Germans had a specific political party, the Zipser deutsche Partei (1920-1938) of Andor Nitsch, who was elected from 1925 to 1935 on a common Hungarian-German list for parliamentary elections. In 1929, another party, more nationalist-oriented, was formed in Bratislava, the Karpathendeutschen Partei, which made a common list at the 1935 parliamentary elections with the ], whose leader ] became its head in 1937 with Franz Karmasin as deputy. In 1935, both parties obtained a seat in both parliamentary assemblies. In 1939 the KdP was renamed Deutsche Partei with as führer Franz Karmasin, who had become in October 1938 state secretary for German Affairs in the ]<ref></ref> <ref></ref> <ref>Ondrej Pöss, Geschichte und Kultur der Karpatendeutschen, Slowakisches Nationalmuseum - Museum der Kultur der Karpatendeutschen, Bratislava, Bratislava/Pressburg, 2005</ref>. | ||
| The status of ] as a client state of ] during ] made life difficult for Carpathian Germans at the war's end. Nearly all remaining Germans fled or were evacuated by the German authorities before the end of ]. Most Germans from the Spiš evacuated to Germany or the ] before the arrival of the ]. This evacuation was mostly due to the initiative of ] and the preparations of the diocese of the German ], between mid-November, ], and ], ]. The Germans of Bratislava were evacuated in January and February of 1945 after long delays, and those of the Hauerland fled at the end of March, 1945. The Red Army reached Bratislava on ], 1945. | The status of ] as a client state of ] during ] made life difficult for Carpathian Germans at the war's end. Nearly all remaining Germans fled or were evacuated by the German authorities before the end of ]. Most Germans from the Spiš evacuated to Germany or the ] before the arrival of the ]. This evacuation was mostly due to the initiative of ] and the preparations of the diocese of the German ], between mid-November, ], and ], ]. The Germans of Bratislava were evacuated in January and February of 1945 after long delays, and those of the Hauerland fled at the end of March, 1945. The Red Army reached Bratislava on ], 1945. | ||
| After the end of war a third of the evacuated or fugitive Germans returned home to Slovakia. However, on ], 1945, they lost the rights of citizenship, as did the Sudeten Germans in the Czech area and the Hungarians in the south of Slovakia (see ]), by ] no. 33, and they were interned in camps (German: ''Sammellager'') in Bratislava-Petržalka, ], and in ]. In ] and ], about 33,000 persons were expelled from Slovakia by the ], while around 20,000 persons were entitled to remain in Slovakia due to special circumstances. Indeed, out of approximately 128,000 Germans in Slovakia in ], by ] only some 20,000 (15.6% of the pre-war total) remained. | After the end of war a third of the evacuated or fugitive Germans returned home to Slovakia. However, on ], 1945, they lost the rights of citizenship, as did the Sudeten Germans in the Czech area and the Hungarians in the south of Slovakia (see ]), by ] no. 33, and they were interned in camps (German: ''Sammellager'') in Bratislava-Petržalka, ], and in ]. In ] and ], about 33,000 persons were expelled from ''present-day'' Slovakia by the ], while around 20,000 persons were entitled to remain in Slovakia due to special circumstances. Indeed, out of approximately 128,000 Germans in Slovakia in ], by ] only some 20,000 (15.6% of the pre-war total) remained. Many Roma moved to the earlier German cities. | ||
| In ] there were fewer than 6,000 Germans in Slovakia. They have enjoyed equal rights, however, since the ] (1989). The ] exists now to maintain traditions. The most prominent member of this group is the former Slovak president, ]. | In ] there were fewer than 6,000 Germans in Slovakia. They have enjoyed equal rights, however, since the ] (1989). The ] exists now to maintain traditions. The most prominent member of this group is the former Slovak president, ]. | ||
Revision as of 08:19, 2 May 2008
Carpathian Germans (Template:Lang-de, Slovak: Karpatskí Nemci), sometimes simply called Slovak Germans (German: Slowakeideutsche), is the name for a group of German language speakers on the territory of present-day Slovakia. The term was coined by the historian Raimund Friedrich Preindel, and is also sometimes used to refer to Germans in the Carpathian Ruthenia.
Germans settled in Hungarian highland (present-day Slovakia) from the 12th to 15th centuries, mostly after the Mongol invasion of 1241, though there were probably some isolated settlers in the area of Pressburg earlier. The Germans were usually attracted by kings seeking specialists in various trades, such as craftsmen and miners. They usually settled in older Hungarian highland market and mining settlements. The main settlement areas were in the vicinity of Pressburg and some language islands in the Zips and the Hauerland. The settlers in the Zips region were known as Zipser Sachsen, or Zips Saxons. Until approximately the 15th century, the ruling classes of most Hungarian highland cities consisted almost exclusively of Germans.
On 28 October 1918 the National Council of Carpathian Germans in Käsmark declared their loyalty to the Hungarian Kingdom, but to no avail as Hungarian highland (present-day Slovakia) became part of Czechoslovakia two days later.
During the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938), Carpathian Germans had a specific political party, the Zipser deutsche Partei (1920-1938) of Andor Nitsch, who was elected from 1925 to 1935 on a common Hungarian-German list for parliamentary elections. In 1929, another party, more nationalist-oriented, was formed in Bratislava, the Karpathendeutschen Partei, which made a common list at the 1935 parliamentary elections with the Sudeten German Party, whose leader Konrad Heinlein became its head in 1937 with Franz Karmasin as deputy. In 1935, both parties obtained a seat in both parliamentary assemblies. In 1939 the KdP was renamed Deutsche Partei with as führer Franz Karmasin, who had become in October 1938 state secretary for German Affairs in the Slovak Tiso government .
The status of Slovak Republic as a client state of Nazi Germany during World War II made life difficult for Carpathian Germans at the war's end. Nearly all remaining Germans fled or were evacuated by the German authorities before the end of World War II. Most Germans from the Spiš evacuated to Germany or the Sudetenland before the arrival of the Red Army. This evacuation was mostly due to the initiative of Adalbert Wanhoff and the preparations of the diocese of the German Evangelical Church, between mid-November, 1944, and January 21, 1945. The Germans of Bratislava were evacuated in January and February of 1945 after long delays, and those of the Hauerland fled at the end of March, 1945. The Red Army reached Bratislava on April 4, 1945.
After the end of war a third of the evacuated or fugitive Germans returned home to Slovakia. However, on August 2, 1945, they lost the rights of citizenship, as did the Sudeten Germans in the Czech area and the Hungarians in the south of Slovakia (see First Vienna Award), by Beneš decree no. 33, and they were interned in camps (German: Sammellager) in Bratislava-Petržalka, Nováky, and in Handlová. In 1946 and 1947, about 33,000 persons were expelled from present-day Slovakia by the Beneš decrees, while around 20,000 persons were entitled to remain in Slovakia due to special circumstances. Indeed, out of approximately 128,000 Germans in Slovakia in 1938, by 1947 only some 20,000 (15.6% of the pre-war total) remained. Many Roma moved to the earlier German cities.
In 2004 there were fewer than 6,000 Germans in Slovakia. They have enjoyed equal rights, however, since the Velvet Revolution (1989). The Carpathian German Homeland Association exists now to maintain traditions. The most prominent member of this group is the former Slovak president, Rudolf Schuster.
Sources
- Herta Brydon, Limbach - Geschichte und Brauchtum eines deutschsprachigen Dorfes in der Slowakei bis 1945, 1991
- Dr. Thomas Reimer, Carpathian Germans history
- Ondrej Pöss, Geschichte und Kultur der Karpatendeutschen, Slowakisches Nationalmuseum - Museum der Kultur der Karpatendeutschen, Bratislava, Bratislava/Pressburg, 2005
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