|
Probably if you’ve been in town long enough you've heard the name Breslau mentioned and wondered what the hell he, she or it is…? Ask any Germans however and they will be less puzzled, as Breslau was, until quite recently, one of the foremost cities in Prussia, the powerful Germanic state that bossed Europe until the end of the Second World War. And whereas today the majority of Europeans are happy to use the Polish name of Wroclaw, there are many west of the German-Polish border who still refer to this Silesian town by the pre-war title of Breslau.
Perhaps this is unsurprising if you consider that, whereas Wroclaw was governed first by the Polish Piast kings in the 10th century, from the 13th century onwards the city was populated predominantly by Germans. It was German settlers at this time that helped to rebuild the city after it had been sacked by the Mongols and to turn it into a thriving commercial centre. In the centuries that followed Wroclaw prospered under both the Bohemians and the Austrians, before, in 1741, Frederick the Great II took hold of the city and officially changed the its name to Breslau (the Germanic name however had been in use long before that). The next 200 years saw the city increasingly Germanised, although it was only in the years directly following the Nazis seizure of power in 1933 that this was done with aggressive intent. By 1938 the entire Polish community had been forced out of the city, along with two thirds of the Jews. 
The city gained a new and bloody chapter in its turbulent history during the events of World War II, when Breslau became the last stronghold of the Third Reich in the struggle against the Soviet forces. Dubbed 'Festung Breslau' ('Breslau Fortress') by Hitler it was the scene of a brutal siege lasting 14 weeks and that cost the lives of 170,000 civilians, 6,000 German troops and 7,000 Russian troops. Finally the city capitulated (the last to do so, four days after Berlin) on May 6th 1945 in a state of absolute ruin. An estimated 70% of the city was destroyed. Those German civilians that hadn’t been killed or evacuated were left at the mercy of the Red Army, for whom 'liberating' the city went hand-in-hand with drunken marauding, rape and pillage.
In the aftermath of the World War II, Stalin (who held the trump cards in the post-war negotiations) effectively shifted the whole of Poland west so as to include formerly Polish cities like Wilno (now Vilnius) and Lwow into the Soviet Union - granting Poland formerly German cities like Breslau as means of recompense. As a result the remainder of the German population of Breslau was evicted and forced to relocate within Germany's newly drawn frontiers. In their place arrived thousands of Poles from what is now the Ukrainian town of Lviv (which was previously the Polish town of Lwow). Naturally Breslau was given back its Polish name, Wroclaw.
Confused? Well so were the new settlers. Forcibly uprooted from their own town of Lwow, the shell-shocked Poles found themselves in a ruined German city, that they were now being told to call home sweet home. No wonder they didn't take to it straight away – not only did the German signs, road names, monuments and inscriptions evoke painful memories of their times under Nazi occupation, but the private possessions left behind in the houses were a constant reminder of the fact that they were living in a city that had been ‘stolen’ from another people.
In the years that followed Wroclaw underwent major surgery – both physical and mental. Great effort was made to propagate the myth of Wroclaw as a Polish city that has at last been returned from the hands of the dastardly Nazis to its rightful owners (a far from complete picture of the town’s mixed heritage and colourful history). Much money was invested too, firstly in 'de-Germanising' the city with the removal of all German writings and inscriptions, and secondly in the restoration of the splendid 13th century buildings destroyed in the war, so that the bruised and battered city could hold its head high once more and embrace the future as a beautifully-restored Polish town.
However, underneath today's smiling and dynamic city lurk the shadows of history’s wrongs. Questions raised about the unfair treatment of German civilians by the Polish after the war have undermined the moral high ground that many Poles like to take about their role in history and their perception of themselves as perpetual victims of foreign aggression. Perhaps that is why these days the Wroclawians genially welcome back the Germans as tourists looking to trace their former homes or those of their forefathers. They keep their consciences clean with the argument that whereas wrongs were done to many innocent Germans, much worse was done by the Germans to the Poles; and they remind themselves that they too were forcibly and unwillingly uprooted from their homes in Lwow, and by this reasoning they hope both to find empathy from their evicted counterparts, and more importantly to justify their abduction of the city. This last idea is something of a romanticised truth however – part of the Polish government's post-war propaganda was designed to assuage Polish guilt about the tenure of their new property. Only about 20% of the post-war population of Wroclaw arrived from Lwow and the surrounding area of the Kresy, with many more settlers in fact coming from Warsaw and Poznan.
Despite all the complications of its contentious past, or perhaps because of them, Wroclaw is a relaxed and forward-looking city that is keen to brush the cobwebs of history under the carpet. And let's face it, no one is keener to join them than the Germans, who more than any nation would like to encourage a 'forgive and forget' policy towards the events of the 20th century. This mutual acceptance of guilt serves the city of Wroclaw well. The Poles don't bring up the Germans' atrocities during the War, and in return the Germans don't ask for their city back. But whereas both parties would openly agree that they must be prepared to move on, the reality is less clearly defined. The fact is that you can forgive, but you can never forget – which is why Wroclaw today is full of German tourists hoping to find some small trace of the Breslau that they left behind.
If you are one of our German readers then you may find the following link useful for tracing Breslau's and her peoples' history: www.Breslau-Wroclaw.de | | | |
 | | "subhuman haha as i said milions germanic people in the world have slavic blood show me your dna better and we'll see you wrote anglosaxons... check english wikipedia title saxons saxons mixed with polabian and pomerian slavic people and then went abroad to uk you moron Hitler was probably Hidlarcek (cech slovak orgin)" | Grzeh re:
Poland
May.07.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "My Mother Ingeburg Ruffer and her sister Helga were born in Breslau and were about at the time of the war, anyone know them, apparently the family owned a forest around the area. " | sid
United Kingdom
Apr.30.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Grzeh, I am german and germanic. ANglo-Saxons are Germanic and nothing to do with the subhumans Slavs" | Alfred Rosenberg
United States
Apr.22.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Simon your fuckin idiot she is polish and always be polish cause she born polish blood. Did she or her familly colaborate with nazi germans? Many Polaks moved do to Germany espacilly from Silesian regions. It has to be a reason why she left Poland dont you think. German want back eastern lands so they should give us our slavic lands between Elbe and Havele rivers. Berlin is our city orginally set up by our brothers Lechites tribes power. Germans and Brits are idiots hates and afraid of Polaks Germans have more than 20% of slavic blood and so Brits with Saxons origin have slavic blood.Idiots should be banned." | Grzeh
Poland
Apr.18.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "The history of these lands are very weird i think. This is a story about polish nobilities who were germanised. Moltke was changed from polish Mlotek which mean "hammer" in polish polish mlotek could also changed into hammer or hamer. Moltke family was famous... Another example Morgenstern familly were germanised. Really name sounds Jutrzenka and it means the same in polish as in german. Von Klein was orginally from Poland and family name was Klejnowski. All these familys came from "restored" lands. German president
Lubke had also polish orgin. Nimmitz came from polish word Niemiec(germanisation)-many names ending -tz -ke are germansied. Fred Aster really was Austerlitz haha Austerlitz is Slawkow in Moravia so he was probably czech or slovak. Putkamers orginally came from Warmia or Masuria. Dont remember they real polish name but this name is taken from german when they germanised. Many more examples etc... " | Grzeh
Poland
Apr.18.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "oh, if someone could help me, my email address is cfitzpa454@aol.com thanks!!!!" | harrach
United States
Apr.16.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I'm also looking for some ancestry info. I am wondering how to get birth and/or death records for my family, the Harrach family, especially Peter Harrach, father of George Harrach and son of Count Johann Karl Harrach (may be know as Count Karl Harrach). I only speak English so I'm not sure how to find info!" | harrach
United States
Apr.16.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Peggy Longmire.
My maternal great grandparents immigrated from Breslau ( sometime before 1900 I think) to the US.
Hermann Pletschke ( best I know), I think his wifes maiden name was Bennett, not sure of spelling.
I know my grandmother says she was German, but not sure if that meant the area was ruled by Germany at the time or , it was ethnically German.
All I was told was , they owned a farm on a large river and it was taken by the Kaiser, and they left, and grandfather was pitch forked in the leg.
I must read up more on Silesia now.
Anyone with info, please email me.
nancy.hannah@mac.com
" | Nancy Hannah
United States
Apr.15.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Wroclaw is turning into a beautiful city as the renovation of the old architecture continues. As always, the city continues to lead the way in trade and commerce.
To the Germans who say Breslau was stolen...you are wrong. Which country started and lost WWII? Germany. Who forced the Poles to move there? Stalin. I am a German living in Poland and this is what I told my grandmother who is from Gleiwitz /Gliwice. Yes my relatives lost their homes too, but those are the consequences for starting a stupid war.
Speaking of which, you Poles should be ashamed of yourselves too. It was Konrad Mazowiecki (Konrad of Masovia) who betrayed you to start Poland's downfall. The kings and dukes that followed were equally corrupt and weak allowing the Prussians and Russians simply to advantage of you. Kind of like your present day politicians. How many big companies in Poland are still under Polish control? Almost zero. Well your politicians allowed the foreigners to buy Poland. Thankfully it was not an invading army.
Finally read the Polish history book written by Norman Davis, that should knock some sense into both sides. It is a real "eye-opener" to the history of German - Polish relations. We are more mixed and integrated than most of you want to believe." | TS
Poland
Apr.15.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "wroclaw is a wonderful city. for those trying to find ancestors, try here:
http://familysearch.org" | nick humphrey
Norway
Apr.09.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "We're all going to heaven... Yehhhh!" | Seán
Ireland
Apr.08.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Breslau ja !
Worclaw nein !" | Teutonic Knight
United States
Apr.08.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I have just visited this site after a long break and see that the mud is still flying in all directions. Perhaps the following may help: Silesia was celtic before it was slavic or anything else. This may explain why I, a native of Breslau born during the war, love living in one of the 'celtic corners' of Great Britain. " | Lerge
United Kingdom
Apr.05.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Teutonic Ninny, turn off your caps lock. Do you not care how much of an ass you're making of yourself or is this just normal for you? "I know Breslau better than you"? What is this, the school playground? You are just sad and pathetic." | Marta S.
United States
Apr.04.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "Teutonic Kraut, Breslau does not exist, it was destroyed by the Soviets, and rightly so. The new city that has been build by Poles in its place is Wroclaw. Warsaw met the same fate, but not by its own making. Almost all “old” buildings one sees in both cities have actually been build after the war to look like the originals. Poles did it without assistance from anyone i.e. Marshall Plan. You may continue to look down upon it; we do not expect anything more from Teutonic Krauts like yourself. Poznan (Posen) was not and never will be a German city, as it actually is a cradle of Polish statehood. Just because Prussia for a while changed its name to Posen (just like they did to many other places that sounded Slavic in XIX century) and occupied it for 123 years along with other natively Polish territories does not make it German. " | Slav
United States
Apr.03.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "Proud German-Prussian nut case living in United Sates. Looks like Aprils Fools joke." | Slav
United States
Apr.03.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Marta, I went to Breslau in 2006. I know the area more than you. My family has been living in Silesia for hundred of years. My roots are Prussians. My family was Junkers. We had a large estate in Silesia near Breslau. We lost all of this when the Russians pigs arrived in 1945. I will never forget what you Polish did to my family in 1946 !
GERMAN AND PROUD TO BE GERMAN
BRESLAU GERMAN !
SILESIA GERMAN FOR EVER !
You may have destroyed Prussia by stealing Pomerania, Silesia and East Prussia but Prussia still living in our hearts !" |
United States
Apr.01.2008
rates this page 3/5
|
| | "*Knight*" | Marta S.
United States
Mar.31.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "P.S.
Well said, Peter. Teutonic night, c'mon. When was the last time you actually went to Wroclaw? Call me crazy, but I'm guessing never. Wroclaw is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in Poland and that's sans-German rule, kiddo. When you finish blasting enemies on level 83 of Dungeons and Dragons, pick up a history book and read it (don't just use it as a paperweight). There's a thought." | Marta S.
United States
Mar.31.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "There are very few comments here (aside, of course, from the comments posted by innocent bystanders just trying to track their ancestry) that would be considered articulate and intellectual by anyone with a kindergarten-level education (and, for those of you who have a college education or consider yourself knowledgeable in the area of history yet still verbalize your thoughts in the ridiculous manner you do, go back to the university where you studied and get your money back!). It is extremely disheartening to see arguments from both sides containing such ignorance and, worst of all, hatred. The juvenile name-calling and baseless "he started it" arguments make you (you know who you are) look idiotic and sad. If you want an argument heard, I suggest you present it in an intelligent and more objective manner or your words will be dismissed by all as mindless, angry banter.
Furthermore, to begin my historical rebuttal to the aforementioned comments, those of you who actually have the cheek to imply (or flat out claim, as you have so done) that the Second World War was "started," as you put it, because of the Treaty of Versailles, you make me laugh. Do you actually stand by such a broad and ignorant statement? Wars are not begun because of a single event. They are brought about by dozens, if not sometimes hundreds, of circumstances and events which culminate to become the catalyst of that thing we call war. Blaming it, as you do, on a single event, is not only silly, but just plain wrong (though I do agree, as anyone with common sense would, that the Treaty of Versailles was, in fact, one of those many factors leading to the successful rise of the Nazi party and thereafter WWII).
Lastly: Patriot, of Poland, shame on you! As the daughter of Polish immigrants who visits the country annually and who is literate and fluent in Polish, I am disappointed and embarrassed. It is people like you who give the nation of my parents a bad name. And for those of you up-in-arms against Poland because of comments coming from nitwits like Patriot, forgive his mindless rant and please keep an open mind about the true character of Poles." | Marta S.
United States
Mar.31.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "I am have been reading some emails written by some arrogant Poles. They insult the Germans and spit on Germany but hundred thousands of Poles are working in Germany. Polish people are very ungrateful. They claimed that Silesia was polish long before. But if Silesia including Breslau has been florishing it is due to the Germans. Without the Germans, Breslau would not be existing. In 1945, they stole Breslau. Under Polish "management" Breslau went down the drain. It is the same with the other German cities under Polish control, Stettin, Danzig, Posen. Once flourishing under German control, this cities lost their lustre under Polish control." | Teutonic Knight
United States
Mar.25.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This city is Breslau and will still Breslau. Breslau has been stolen from Germany by the Poles. Breslau will still German for ever !" | Teutonic Knight
United States
Mar.25.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I also think it's absurd for the Germans to play the victim, it was mentioned that most of the folks who moved to Wroclaw were not from Lvov but from Warsaw. The same Warsaw that was systematically destroyed building by building by the Germans? The same one where they killed hundreds of thousands of Poles? Well holy cow, how dared they not have compassion for their German "friends". As far as Germans during the war, most did support Hitler, especially when they received stolen cattle and other resources from the occupied lands. It was a real golden age of freebies wasn't it? That is until they started to loose the war.
Germany did get of easy, after the war we flipped the bill for it's reconstruction, while the Poles were sold out to the communists. If ever something did not make sense that was it.
So please no more playing the victim from those who elected a borderline psychotic as a leader and supported invasions of other countries. I sure will not be surprised when the day of reckoning hits my Country for electing Bush, but then again some here will complain that they were victims as well." | Peter
United States
Mar.16.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "My father was from Breslau and did not hear from his familiy after 1939. Anyone familiar with the name Pantke?" | Lucy Serwa
United States
Mar.08.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Ich liebe Breslau auch! I also love Breslau/Wroclaw! What I think is that we must learn and understand history, but I'm sure Germans living in Germany (not nostalgic sons of Germans like me) are OK with the current borders. No German really wants the Silesia back, specially after all the still existent East-West Germany reunion problems. " | Walter
Israel
Jan.20.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "My Opa and oma were born in this city and my opa fought in the battle of breslau agianst the stupid communist russians. I think that Germany was royal screwed over in WWI and even though they kpt this city it was still hard to live in 1930 ish. I am kinda of offended at the fact that they say that both germans and polish would be happy to call it wroclaw. My Heritage is in Breaslau nicht wroclaw and it is the same city but I think that the Soviet govt could have kept the name. I just wanted to share what I think about the whole city which i am sure is beautyful/schoen. Ich liebe Breslau/Wroclaw" | Der Hofmeister
United States
Jan.18.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Great site! Congratulations to the authors! Wroclaw is a Polish city and I'm sure both Poles and Germans are happy with that. Great to remember about Wroclaw/Breslau history. My mother was born there (from a German-Jewish family). Hope to visit there someday. " | Walter
Israel
Jan.15.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I'm glad I found this website. My father was born in Breslau in 1892, & left for Canada with his family in 1897. (They later moved to Montana.) I guess my great grandparents could be buried there. I didn't know anything about this city until I found this website. Sounds like a very interesting city now, as well as in the past." | Delores
United States
Jan.01.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Fankie you're right it was a massive theft done by Geramans along with their Austrian and Russian allies that lasted for 123 years, as in 1914 Prussia (Germany) was partially comprised from natively Polish lands like Wilekopolska, part of Kujawy, east Pomorze, west Mazowsze and west Malopolska. Thanks to Germans Poland did not exist then. But that I bet somehow escaped you as you love to cherry pick historical facts to match your agenda. Are you asking Poles to show empathy for German suffering and by doing that deny their right to exist as an independent nation? Get a grip on reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitions_of_Poland" | Slav
United States
Dec.13.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "Hallo, Eva Beyer: if you go into www.Breslau-Wroclaw.de (see above) you will see 'Stadtplaene'. Click on it and have a look at the map of 1935 (bottom left on the page). I hope this is what you are looking for!" | Lerge
United Kingdom
Dec.06.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Hello, I was at the Festung Breslau in 1945. Born at Graebschenerstrasse 14, in 1927, I was very young when the brutality of war swept over us. I don't bear any grudge against anyone, since things like that will fester and presto we might have more calamities. I really don't understand why we made it through. If there is one thing I would like to have, it is a street map of Breslau before it was demolished, with german street names. Is this possible? I would be very much obliged. Sincerely, Eva Beyer" | Eva Beyer
United States
Dec.06.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Correction: WROCLAW. Of course!" | Lerge
United Kingdom
Nov.22.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I have just returned from Warclaw. This charming city owes its beauty, so perfectly and painstakingly restored in the old part, mainly to its Austrian and Prussian past. Sadly, no memory of this fact has been allowed to remain because their language was German. One laudable exception is the exhibition of past excellence in the university where the 9 Nobelprize Holders of the former Breslau are commemorated. For any German inscriptions you have to go to the Jewish Cemetery. " | Lerge
United Kingdom
Nov.22.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I am pretty disturbed by some of the comments from ignorant narrow-minded idiots who dont know German history and have no idea what it was like being a german during the war. Hitler gained the trust of his people by promising them a better life and they believed him. He killed them too. They suffered so much pain and suffering themselves. No I am not German but I know my history. Try to trace relatives. Please ca you help?" | Sarah
United Kingdom
Nov.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Excellent site - for honesty and balance, the site is a good starting point for those with limited knowledge of the wrongs done to Germany starting with the Treaty of Versailles and ending with the 1944-50 expulsions from Eastern Europe.
As regards the comments made by the Pole called 'Spooky' - Ireland would be better off without your type, kith and kin, but unfortunately the citizens of Ireland have not been allowed a say as regards the present changes to the population profile of our land." | Rohan
Ireland
Nov.19.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hi, Rob, what a lot of nonsense by someone who hasn't got a clue! " | Lerge
United Kingdom
Nov.15.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I don't think Germans can compare their sufferings to other nations in this case. After all doesn't a people have to take some responsibility for its leaders? How did Hitler gain such power if not with the support of a vast majority of the German people. Yes every German now admits that Hitler was mad/evil, but at the time he enjoyed enormous support. You can't have it both ways - support a tyrant in his attempts to aggrandise Germany and then say, "we never agreed with him" after he loses. There is very little evidence of Germans rebelling against Hitler whilst Nazi power was in its prime. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg assassination attempt was made when Hitler was losing the war. Ie. he only wanted to kill Hitler to protect Germany after he foresaw the repercussions ahead - not because he wanted to protect all those who Hitler and the German army had murdered in cold blood. Sorry but Germany and the Germans got what they deserved - actually they got off lightly. Of course there comes a point when we have to forgive, forget and move on and young Poles have done that as have the rest of Europe. But it's more than rich to hear Germans starting to whinge about their sufferings now... sorry i sympathise with individuals, but as a nation you can have no complaints. Read up on the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and the Wola Massacre (also in Warsaw) if you want to know about innocent people suffering during WWII, or maybe the Siege of Leningrad and the plight of ordinary Russians." | Rob
United Kingdom
Nov.15.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Yes, people do seem to forget, or indeed, don't know, that ordinary Germans suffered too. I am an English woman with a German mother, and have recently returned from a trip to a small village near Breslau to see my mother's birth place (from which she and her family fled in 1945 from the advancing Red Army). Upon visiting the local churchyard, which is around about 16th century, I was shocked to find that the earliest grave (Polish, as were all of them), dated from 1953..." | Christina
United Kingdom
Nov.08.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Everyone forgets that the Germans suffered too. Look at the map of Germany in 1914 and then look at one now, massive theft!" | Fankie
France
Oct.22.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Frau Sigrid Marsh, March 10th 2007: In the official ADRESSBUCH of 1941 you can find a Richard Bleiel, Postfacharbeiter, Ostendstrasse 4. Perhaps you recognize the address. The Web page www.Breslau-Wroclaw.de may be of interest to you and anyone who may be able to do their research in German. " | Brix
United Kingdom
Oct.19.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "For anyone looking for birth and other certificates prior to 1945 in the former Breslau can write to the Registry at usc@um.wroc.pl
They issue copies of the original German documents and also copy certificates in Polish. I found them most efficient and helpful and was able to correspond in English and German.
Fortunately, I only needed my own birth certificate. The Silesian family records, going back to the early 17th century, were preserved by my grandparents who, having lost all except a rucksack full of clothing in 1945, carried these invaluable documents with them from East to West. Although I have lived in Britain for over 40 years I cherish my Silesian roots.
" | Dita
United Kingdom
Oct.18.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "What about the house prices ! Shift a few more Germans out and sell me a house. The directions in Germany still show Wroclaw and all the villages in German names. One day they will return, they are taking over slowly now by buying up land and houses" | Dan
United Kingdom
Oct.04.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Be proud of what Wroclaw/breslau has become since all the troubles of the 20th century have passed" | willy
United Kingdom
Sep.19.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "How sad for you patriot that you have to live with such anger.Blame Hitler and his followers for what happened, not those who's only goal was for them and their families to survive. There were countless innocent victims of WWII of many ethnic groups.As far as the German people of today, how can they be blamed, unless they were one of Hitler's followers or are still living in the past as are you. Don't waste your life on so much anger, life is to short and anger is a waste of energy. There are and always will be good and bad people from all walks of life, thats the way it is, period. No one can choose where they are born or of what nationality they are born with, only the kind of person they choose to be can be decided. How can you possibly decide what a person is like just by looks or ethnic background until you take time to know them. This is so so sad. I'll pray for you." | Anonymous
United States
Sep.14.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I moved to Wroclaw recently and I tell you, this is the place worth to visit. Beautiful (especially at evening), monumental downtown full of nice restaurants and pubs provides excellent entertainment. There is always something to do and somewhere to go. Moreover Wroclaw isn't crowded by tourist like Krakow. I felt in love with that city. See you there!" | Krzysiek
Poland
Sep.11.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Shut up all fucking GERMANS !!!
We'll always hate u for what u did to our nation !!! Get lost.... lossseeeers" | patriot
Poland
Sep.10.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I wish to say Thank you to Dave for the most helpful information. God Bless you! You have no idea what this means to me. Words can't express my gratitude. I hope to travel to my mom's birthplace in the future. Her birthdate was 2-18-1924, so I guess I must have typed it wrong saying 1925. It doesn't matter as the information probably still wouldn't be there. If I am able to come up with the money to go there for me and my husband, I will communicate what happened here. Thanks again so very much!" | Caroline D McCasland
United States
Aug.29.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Caroline~
I saw your similar post in Rootsweb..don't know if you've progressed since. Just wanted you to know that Bad Reinerz is now named
Duszniki-Zdrój, and Grunewald is now named Zieleniec; both in the region of
Lower Silesia, now named Dolny Slask. The two towns are very close to each other, so that might explain the confusion about birthplace.
These are the RC parishes in Duszniki-Zdrój:
IX. DEKANAT KUDOWA ZDRÓJ
1. DUSZNIKI ZDRÓJ, św. Franciszka z Asyżu i św. Leonarda
ul. Podgórska 4, 57-340, tel. (0-74) 866-94-40, fax (0-74) 866-06-47.
Prob.: o. Aureliusz KUŁAKIEWICZ OFM
Wik.: o. Emanuel Krzysztof ŻAK OFM
Rezydent: o. Konrad KIK OFM
Ojcowie klasztoru w Zieleńcu:
1. o. Maurycy MATUSZEK OFM
2. o. Karol GŁOWACKI OFM
2. DUSZNIKI ZDRÓJ, św. św. Piotra i Pawła
ul. Kłodzka 15, 57-340, tel. (0-74) 866-97-07.
Prob.: ks. Zbigniew WICHROWICZ
Wik.: ks. Grzegorz JAKUSZEWSKI
Rezydenci:
1. ks. Franciszek BIELIŃSKI MSF - kapelan Sióstr Elżbietanek.
2. ks. Jerzy PANKOWIAK - 57-340 Duszniki Zdrój, ul. Mickiewicza 13, tel. (0-74) 866-93-87.
3. KUDOWA ZDRÓJ, św. Katarzyny Dz. M.
ul. Kościelna 29, 57-350, tel. (0-74) 866-13-84.
Prob.: ks. Jan SZETELNICKI
Wik.: ks. Jacek STALA
Rezydent: ks. Jan MYJAK
4. KUDOWA ZDRÓJ, Miłosierdzia Bożego
ul. Lubelska 3, 57-350, tel. (0-74) 866-16-23, e-mail: ks.Jan.Odziomek@archidiecezja.wroc.pl.
Prob.: ks. Jan ODZIOMEK
5. KUDOWA ZDRÓJ - CZERMNA, św. Bartłomieja Ap.
ul. Moniuszki 8, 57-350, tel. (0-74) 866-14-33.
Prob.: ks. Romuald BRUDNOWSKI
Wik.: ks. Andrzej MAJKA
Rezydent: ks. Tadeusz FITYCH
----
The first parish listed, Sts. Francis of
Assisi and St. Leonard is most likely
the location of your ancestor's baptismal
record, as there is a residence of the Order of Friars Minor located in the parish, in the town of ZIELINIEC!
This parish is in the diocese of Świdnicka. Here is the URL of a map of the diocese:
http://www.diecezja.swidnica.pl/pic/mapa-diec.gif
As you can see, the area is very close
to the border of the Czech republic, so that may be why your ancestor claimed she was Czech. There was a lot of ethnic
crossover in those border areas, historically so, and there were colonies
of persons of Czech extraction and culture within the Silesian border. There
were also persons who were of German ethnic origin that lived in the former Czechoslovakia who identified as Czech as
their families had lived there for a long
time[which seems to be the case with your family at least in my opinion due to the two surnames you listed and the fact that
the family was expelled by the Russians..if they had been Slavic-speaking Czechs, they would have
been allowed to remain].
The records available at www.familysearch.com don't cover the 1925
year of your mother's birth so won't be of help. Contacting the Archdiocese of Wroclaw for any baptismal records would be best as the request goes from the 'top' down; you're more likely to get a
response. You will need to enclose a
cash donation as well. You can write in English as there will be people there who
are fluent. Include ALL info that is
pertinent.
The address is:
ARCHIDIECEZJI WROCŁAWSKA
ul. Katedralna 13, 50-328 Wroclaw, POLAND
Hope this helps." | Dave
United States
Aug.25.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Thank you for your web site. Greatly helped me to understand Wroclaw/Breslau. I am tracing my grandfather's heritage. He was born/lived in the small village of Neuvorwerk by Freyhan, Silesia, which I believe is in the government district of Breslau. I am looking for the birth, marriage and military records of Frederick Bloy and names/records of his
parents - dates 1830-1870. He immigrated to Wisconsin in the United States in 1874. I don't speak or read polish - and only very little German. Whatever help'hints you can give me will be much appreciated" | Wilmer Bloy
United States
Aug.20.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Dear Mrs Sigrid Marsh:
Regarding your inquiry, I was lucky to get hold of the Polish Embassy here in my country (Mexico) to - through them only - request the registry service in Poland for the lost original of my father´s birth certificate. Perhaps you can also request the Polish embassy in your country for this service.
Good luck!" | Leonora
Mexico
Aug.16.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "What a wonderful site. My mother was born in Breslau in 1934. Her maiden name was Kuhndel. Sound familiar to any of you? Thanks." | Glen
United States
Aug.11.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "The Pole who now lives in the UK is talking errent rubbish. Breslau was taken from Germany, by the Russians. The Russians who have done more to harm Poland than ever Germany did. The second world war was caused by the Treaty of Verseille. Had France not have pressed for a treaty that punished Germany the second world war could have been avoided. Remember,Hitler only came to power by default. He was appointed he never actually won an election. The Poles made Germany agree it would not ask for the return of Silesia as part of re unification in 1990. I note that the he lives in the UK now and I know a lot of Poles that are very arogant. One believed it was perfectly ok for Poles to work in the UK but not for UK citizens to buy property in Poland. I enjoy coming to Poland, I do feel that Poland needs to address a few things. One is its own attitude. I speak of the rise of the Polish Nazis and the extreme right wing attitudes of the Polish government. When you have done this then you can lecture the rest of Europe." | K Donitz
United Kingdom
Aug.11.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Hi I am Piotrek from Poland and living in Dublin/Ireland. Here is my home now. I see that Wroclaw was Polish city since Polish Kings called Piast, later the city was invaded by Germans and ruled by them form 15 century for over 400 years. Thanks God that finally returned to fatherland after WW2 with Russians help, but they took other Polish cities in return for help (Lwow etc.). In 17 cetury the whole Poland also was not existent for more then 100 years as was partitioned by Germans and Russians, but 40mln of Poles existed just as slaves. They could not kill all of us - too much, no atom bomb that time.
You cannot say that Wroclaw is German city because was ruled or inhabited by Germans for 400 years, as well you cannot say that no such country like Poland because was ceased from existence for 100 years by Germans and Russians. Those suckers ceased my country stolen all treasury and used Polish people as slaves to have good life style.
I am one of the top world programmers and ethical hackers as proved it in international contests, currently I use my skills to protect the Irish/UK banking sector from those non-ethical ones. They requested for me form Poland to come because they do not have here any skilled IT guys - they are too lazy to learn, their universities are good in newspapers – marketing only.
Every day I am more and more confident that currently IT could be more danger in hands of some brilliant guys than whole nuclear power of the US. I will not hesitate if my fatherland would be in danger once again, so bear it on mind before try again. This time you cannot win, so calm down and lets live in peace or give me a reason your choice. Cheers Spooky Pole" | spooky
Ireland
Aug.05.2007
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "I would like to mention that I only speak and write English.Thank you." | Caroline D McCasland
United States
Aug.03.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I found the article to be very interesting. My mother who was born in 1924 in Bad Reinerz passed away in June of this year and left me with many unanswered questions. I have been confused about the exact location of her birth. She mentioned in her papers for her funeral arrangements that she was born in Grunewald Silesia. I then recently found her naturalazation papers to become an American citizens to say she was born in Bad Reinerz,Bezirk Breslau/Silesia. I am so confused about this region. Can anyone help me clear this up? She always told everyone she was Czech. She used her mother's maiden name of Kreisel because her mother and father were not married. Her siblings (she was the youngest) used their father's name Exner. After she was born, her stepfather Max Exner, remained with her mother and my mother knew only him as her father. I don't know the whole story as mother didn't like to speak of it to much. There was much sadness in her childhood for many reason I may never know. She was raised by her older siblings after her mother was killed when kicked in the stomach by a horse when my mother was 2yrs so she probably didn't know the whole story herself. As far as WWII, mother told me she and her family were made to leave by the Russians and made to go to a Russian prison and separated from her family until my American father found them and reunited the family. She never mentioned the Polish peoples involvement. As a matter of fact, her best friend in the states was Polish and has a numbered tattoo on her arm from her imprisonment. I don't believe my mother knew to much about the politics of her homeland and only did her best to survive. I am only just researching to find out about the whole region and its history so I can better understand what it was like for her. She showed no hatred towards anyone for any of it. She never spoke ill of the Russians either. I'm sure people of many countries were hurt. I am grateful that she wasn't a Nazi though. If anyone can help me with the surnames I mentioned before, or any other history of the places mentioned, I would be very grateful. Thank you and peace to all." | Caroline D McCasland
United States
Aug.03.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "i found this article rather odd....and one sided.....silesia is poland.....not germany....even if the germans managed to colonize it for such a long time....if they thought so highly about wroclaw....why did they allow it to be obliterated during the war...even after berlin had fallen....poor wroclaw...unloved and abandoned during WW11 by its german colonists.....lovingly embraced,ressurected and restored by the polish nation....we can ALL be thankful..including all those german tourists mentioned in this article, that it was returned to the poles because if the successors to the nazis had received it after the war, it would have never seen its former glory like so many german cities destroyed in the war " | ken carney
United States
Jul.29.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "i found this article very interesting but most interesting were the comments. I'm Polish and I was born in Wroclaw after IIWW. I feel quite touched when someone writes that poles took stolen homes of germans.. my grandfather comes from eastern part of poland which today is a part of ukraina, poland lost large part of the country at the east after 2WW. he was forced to move out from his home and he has been brought to house in the outskirts of wroclaw. some houses were indeed in good condition, but most of them were ruined. he had to rebuild it with its own hands forgeting his home near Lwow...
even worse was in wroclaw city, many efforts were taken to rebuild the city from total ruins. and when someone writes here that soon the history will go round and i will be back to germans hands, proper hands. after this comment i got impression that, poor germans had so much suffer becouse of 2WW...it makes sad and angry. wroclaw has a very rich history. germans for sure for many centuries make this city prosperous. however, it is also truth that it was poles that create it, and it was already important city when it changed its owners. czech have also resided in the city. the complex history of wroclaw shouldnt be in my opinion a reason to make an arguments because of this what happened. let us just hope that there will be no war in our europe.." | Karol
Poland
Jul.18.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "My father's mother family are from Breslau, surname was Kostyrok. They had a farm just outside of the city, it was a school farm. However because of the War the family fled to Munich, which I was born there." | Andreas
Australia
Jul.03.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Marcin,
I have family from Lower Silesia (Neurode), a small mining town near the czech border, all of them were expelled from their home town in 1946 by the Poles. Before the end of WWII there were no Poles whatsoever living in their town nore hardly anywhere in Lower Silesia. The situation was different only in parts Higher Silesia and Eastern parts of Easter Prussian, where sometimes parts of the population was Polish. Don't read those notorious communist history books no more, please.." | Torsten
Germany
Jul.01.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "excellent, open minded and earnest account of the recent history. This must be the modern Poland away from the propaganda of the past, which I remmeber.
good job!!" | Alec Bialski
Canada
Jun.19.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Schade der Geshichte Breslau,
Say Grzeh my mother in comes from the country around Breslau, surname is Podeschwa Polish in fact but they were all thrown out of their houses by the Russians and Poles, because they spoke German, they also spoke Polish ( past tense )now they Live in Hamburg so it was not 100% slavic in the countryside, these people lived hand in hand for years, before the Nazi's and would have after if it were not for the Russians" | Simon
Australia
Jun.12.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I wish to someday visit historical Wroclaw and search my ancestory. Any relations or leads to Gottfried Gottlieb Kruger (b. 1818) of Breslau let me know." | Doug
Canada
May.28.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Manfred,
Bichofswalde of course still exists, nowadays it's called Biskupin (almost exact tranlation of german name). It hasn't been destroyed as much as other parts of Wroclaw. How to get there? Ask your hotel's reception to provide you with cab. alternatively ride by tram? Ride 2, 10 in Biskupin direction... Good Luck and enjoy your visit in Wroclaw :)" | Marcin
Poland
May.21.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I was born in Breslau-Bischofswalde in 1932. I would like to know if Bischofswalde still exists and what it is called now. How does one get there from downtown Breslau?? " | Manfred Muehmel
United States
May.18.2007
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "To Elliot. Hey man you dont know polish history and so your "polish" wife so why you wrote down this crapy things. This is bull shit. Western lands were "germnanised" by the Germans throuhg the centeries and many german people dont know that the have polish(slavic) origin because of their german names. Germans were only in cities(only big ones), at countrside lived 100% slavic people) Get to know the history of these lands " | Grzeh
Poland
May.01.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I was born in Breslau. There is a Fiedlerstr.It was near Sternstr. which was close to the Botanical Gardens. " | Edith Ludford
United States
Apr.20.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "My 3rd Great Grandfather, Christian Krone, was married at Oels in 1798 and died at Breslau 26 Dec 1825. Would love to know if his grave can be found?" | James Malone
United States
Apr.07.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Some of my relatives who made their money in the sugar trade built the Liebichshohe. Good to see a picture of it, I'd like to come and visit someday. : )" | Markus Liebich
United Kingdom
Mar.11.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Hallo
I am looking for infomation I am born in Breslau and all my birthrecords are lost.I wonder if you could give me a Address or anything to contact.everything was lost while we were trying to go West 1946.I have still a Sister missing,never new my father married my Mother 1933 in Breslau.My Father's Name was Richard Bleiel was born 1900.My Mothers name was Auguste Olenjik born in Opeln.
maby thombody can help.
thank you Mrs Sigrid Marsh " | Mrs Sigrid Marsh
United Kingdom
Mar.10.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This is not a review but a question concerning a street in wroclaw, Poland.
I am a librarian at a university in the United States and a professor is looking for a street in Wroclaw originally Breslau that has been named after the conductor Arthur Fiedler before 1945. Thank you Colette Macin" | colette Macin
United States
Feb.16.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Very interesting comments and information. I've tried to get information about my father's family roots, but have come up empty handed. He (Werner Schuschke) was born in Breslau in July 1927 to Richard Schuschke and Emma Strauss. He was in the Kriegsmarine during WWII and came to Canada, then the US in 1952. His family was pushed from Breslau during the war and settled in Leonberg for the remainder of the war, where they were re-united. All records were lost about any family ancestry as far as I know. Does anyone have any links for information about genealogy in Breslau?? Any help would be greatly appreciated." | Kurt Schuschke
United States
Jan.31.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Marcin, you might want to get your dates right before criticizing anyone (that's September 1, 1939). To make a long argument longer, those who argue about historical justice have the luxury of hindsight to refer to. Of course, WWII will always be debated, and its outcomes, whether as a result of Yalta or Potsdam, will affect all of Europe for centuries to come." | Anna
United States
Jan.24.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hi Peggy. We've recently added a link at the bottom of the page, which I hope will prove useful in your search. Regards, the Wroclaw Life team." | Wroclaw Life Team
Poland
Jan.23.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hey Elliot dude. Just try to remember who started that second world war before you come on here and start saying all this stuff about how Poles are living in stolen homes and on stolen lands. Who attacked who at Westerplatte on the morning of September 1 1945? I guess European history books haven't reached Australia yet. The bottom line is Poland was invaded by the nazis and anything that followed was a direct result of that action. Go blame Hitler for losing szczecin to Poland before you blame the Poles for living on former German lands. " | Marcin
United States
Jan.22.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I really enjoyed reading and studying all your wonderful information on Breslau, as it was the ancestral place of my German relatives. My grandfather was born near Breslau at Strehlen around 1865. His name was Karl Gustav Plaetschke. His father was Ernst Plaetschke and his mother was Dorothea Geppert. The family moved to Breslau in 1872. He attended the University of Breslau. His sister was named Anna, born Oct 16, 1852 in Kampen. She married a postmaster name Steinwendt. Their children were: Kurt *1888 and Irmgard. I would like to know if you have any knowledge of the name Plaetschke or the other names I mentioned who might have lived in Breslau. The Plaetschke family went back many years in the Breslau area.
I look forward to hearing from you. " | Peggy Longmire
United States
Jan.12.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| |