Wroclaw History - A Brief Retrospective

"20,000 Poles still living there (along with the Jews) were politely asked to leave".
hahaha you must be joking! surely! My grandfather, who was a Jewish Dr. of law, was taken to a concentration camp and when released (after 6 months and a heavy fine was paid) suffered a permanent disability due to the beatings by the Nazis in the camp, was given 48 hours to leave Germany! with nothing but a couple of suitcases! The big villa in Karlowiz the office in the main square...all taken over by the poles, with not a penny paid in reparations!

Hi, Yasha, if you look under:
"""http://wroclaw.hydral.com.pl/test.php?ulica=MDEyNjY=&start=120&tend=128""" you may find what you are looking for. There are many photos. Otherwise try a Google Search for "podwale wroclaw". Good luck!

I benefited immensely (flooded with emotion) reading this ‘blog' -especially the historically sensitive and understandably painful commentary -which prompted this reply. My parents immigrated to Wroclaw /Breslau in the late 1950’s (from Lwow/Lviv)and my childhood recollections are spotty but I remember (as if it was a Parent mantra recited in Polish)living on "Podwale #61". At the time there was a German Family living and sharing the multi-dwelling apartment with us. Eventually, they repatriated to Germany… I recall going on many countryside outings and playing with their children in the large interior courtyard (probably communicating in Russian/Ukrainian –or ‘tiny’ German). If any of you should know this address (across the street was the Odra River –where in winter I ice- skated) or can take few pictures of the locale; I would be forever grateful… Yasha (Jack)

Just wanted to see information about the area my Schoengarth family came from.
They left in the 1870's. Don't know who remained, nice to have a little history.
Thanks

Interesting site! My dad, Julius Rocks, was born in Breslau 3/1892, & his family moved to Canada in 1897. My great grandparents were left behind, & I know nothing about them. It would be great to find out more.

It's an excellent article and there are many interesting comments on a city that has embodied most of the positive and negative aspects of the human condition.
Perhaps when people matter more and are simply measured by the content of their character instead of their ethnic or religious identity, national boarders will mean a great deal less and if we are just a bit lucky, this world will know peace.

Fun

Hi everybody.

My Grandfather was called Joseph Deynert or dienert and was born in Breslau in 17-09-1875. He had a sister called Hedwig and a brother that I don't know the name of, but he was a fireman. My Great Grandfather I believe was the head of a fire station and may have been called Joseph also. I believe that his wife or my Great Grand Mother was called Dorothea. The were members of the catholic church but lived in the Jewish quarter. I have found a Joseph Dienert who was a fireman in an old address book who lived at Stockgasse 6 (H11) in 1868. This could possibly be my Great Grandfather. I know that both my Great Grandparents died from cancer and were buried in Breslau. If there are any relations sill living there, or people that can help me trace my ancesters please contact me.

I'm hoping one of your readers can assist. I have a late 17th Century Piano marked Julius Mager, Breslau. It was made prior to the time when serial numbers were entered in piano's or for some other reason the serial number which identifies the maker was left off. It has 6 octives + 5 keys. I'm trying to research who Julius Mager was and any history from this piano. Can anyone assist?

I found this article by accident. I, too, was born in Silesia/Slonsk, though not in Wroclaw. [I don't mind whether it's "Breslau" or "Wroclaw"-- English-speaking countries call "Wien" "Vienna" and "Koeln" "Cologne"--and who cares?) I am now a grateful, proud, and very patriotic Canadian. I found the article interesting, though historically a little murky. Be that as it may, I am appalled at some of the comments.

SLAV: the Poles did not just expel Nazi criminals--my grandfather and other family members were among the expelled, but while they were Germans, they were not Nazis. (I know you will say: "They all claim they were not Nazis," but Silesia actually was very Catholic and had relatively few "native" Nazis!) My mother and I escaped from Silesia a month before the Russians arrived.) I bear no grudge--Germany as a whole had been responsible for the war and its terrible crimes! Besides, through those events, I ended up in my wonderful new country, Canada. Last but not least, such are the happenings of history.

ANTONIO: Poles did NOT kill millions of Germans from those areas! They expelled them, but there were few killings. Those that occurred were probably the sad results of retaliation or were done by sick minds.

MICHAEL AND DANIEL: your way of thinking is exactly what may lead to another terrible war and/or genocide. It is utterly primitve, to put it mildly. Besides, perhaps you both ought to improve your English grammar before exposing your lack of it on public sites again? Daniel: There is no "Forever," except in eternity.

But here I am, throwing stones myself--my apologies! Can't we all live together in peace and harmony? That's what I love about Canada. We have our differences, too, but we make it work.

i live in Cape Town South Africa ,was born in Germany and my fathers family came from Breslau/Wroclaw -my grandfather was an architect(trained in Breslau)(he was taken prisoner by the russians) and also my father who trained in Germany(after esacping with my grandmother)-I am a Interior Designer and I very much believe in Genetic Memory and am hoping to visit this very interesting place so I can learn more about where my father grew up and why I am drawn to ancient historical towns

Paul, the Address again: URZAD STANU CYWILNEGO, ul. WLODKOWIKA 20/22, 50-072 WROCLAW; c/o STANOWISKO DO SPRAW OBSLUGI ARCHIWUM NIEMIECKIEGO, II PIETRO, POKOJ 27

Hallo, Paul, you may like to write to the Registry Office in Wroclaw-Breslau as follows:: Urz¹d Stanu Cywilnego, ul. W³odkowica 20/22,
50-072 Wroc³aw, and address your request to:: Stanowisko do spraw Obs³ugi Archiwum Niemieckiego
( = Archiv der deutschen Standesurkunden)
II piêtro, pokój 27
tel. (0048 71 777-91-53)Whether they speak English I do not know. Apparently one may be able to deal with them in German.
There is also a web site for the Staatsarchiv in Breslau: http://www.ap.wroc.pl/ with the address at ul.Pomorska 2, 50-215 Wroclaw. They appear to have birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates from 1909 onwards.I have copied these details from the internet site www.breslau-wroclaw.de - If you can read German, that internet address may be of use to you. I hope that all this may be of help to you.

Helloe evryone,
Can someone help with access to birth marriage and death records please?
Looking for records relating to:

DEINERT,Joseph,Feuerwehrmann, Stockgasse 6,H.II

I beleive that Stockgasse is now known as Wiezienna.
Any help or advice on how to get access to birth marriage and death records for this person would be very helpful. Please can someone help?

Three things, in my view, are difficult to deny: Wratislavia was originally a Slavic city and part of the first Polish state; Breslau was ethnically a predominantly German city for most of the 700 years until 1945; Wroclaw has been a Polish city since 1945. Poles have restored the city admirably. It was a harsh peace for Germany, but Germany had unleashed a harsh war. As an Australian of Silesian descent I regret Silesia's loss to Germany. However, I believe most German Silesians accept its loss and want nothing more from Poles than a just recognition of the area's German history. I believe this is now happening, in contrast to the nationalist myth-making of the Communist era. Personally, I find the reconciliation between Poles and Germans a beautiful thing in a world where there is too much hate and unforgiveness.

"The above article,with reference to the 1930s, suggests that at that time Wroclaw had been known as "BRESLAU" for only 200 years. This is incorrect. The history of the name "BRESLAU" in all its variations over 700 years is recorded in Paul Hefftner's "URSPRUNG UND BEDEUTUNG DER ORTSNAMEN IM STADTKREIS BRESLAU - Breslau 1909" (www.sbc.org.pl) as follows: ""These are the names for Breslau in early GERMAN documents: 1280 "stat Wratislaw", 1295 "Wrezlaw", 1301 "Wraislaw", 1302 "Bretzla", 1314 and 1334 "stat zu Breslau", 1314 and 1357 "Brezlaw", 1324 "Bretzlav" and "Bretzlau", 1327 "stat czu Wretslaw", 1333 until 1370 on a number of occasions "Breczlaw", 1337 "Wratislauia" (Latin), 1339 "Breslou", 1348 and 1351 "Breslaw" and "cives Wraczlauiensis" (Latin), 1350 "Bresslawe" and "stat zu Presslaw". 1359, 1361, 1363, 1367 "Bresslow", 1359 "Bresslaw", 1360 "Breslow", 1367 "Brezslaw", 1371 "Bresslau" and "Bretzlaw", 1452 until 1620 repeatedly "Breßlaw", 1453 until 1800 invariably "Breßlau", 1555 and 1561 "Presslaw", 1713, 1792, 1801 and from then on exclusively "Breslau"" - A correction of the above article and its "historical summary" is long overdue.

Just repeating the correct address:"breslau-wroclaw.de"

Hallo Peter Sauer, if you can communicate in German (and even if you can't), go to www.breslau-wroclaw.de. I think you will get the answers you are looking for. There are extremely helpful Germans and Poles trying to assist with any queries.

Are there any digital records available on the internet of Breslau where I can research my family.

The "BRESLAUER URKUNDENBUCH" (Digital Library of the University of Zielona Gora) dates the first document in the GERMAN LANGUAGE the 3. August 1280 - Extract as follows: S. 295 ff. ""Wir rathman, scheppfen und burgere gemeine von Wratislaw thuen wissendlich und kunt allen, die diesen brief horen (ge)lesen, das wir durch bete des edelen fursten, hertzoge Heinriches von Glogau, seinen burgeren der stat zu Glogowe gesant haben diesen brief mit beschriebenen rechte, also als man is in unser stat Wratislaw ymmer me halten soll und von alder zeit bisher zu rechte hat gehalten nach weichbildes rechte.……etc…etc…"". Documents prior to 1280 were written in LATIN. Whilst Breslau is called WRATISLAW, it is quite evident that German was its official language prior to 1300.

Just to clarify the origins of Wroclaw as a city. It was created around 800-850 A.D. by Slavic people and the original name was Wrotizla. You can't say it was Polish or Chech as the states didn't exist yet. It was ruled by Silesian Piasts (first royal dynasty of Poland) till 1335 when Casimir the Great traded the Silesia to Chechs for their rights to Polish crown. After mongolian invasions of 13 century German influence is growing due to mass enslavement of Polish population by Tartars. Silesia was simply depopulated. Anyway city was a part of Chech crown till 1526 when it was taken by Habsburgs. The official name was then Vreclav. Under Habsburgs it became Presslau aand was a part of Holy Roman Empire till 1741 when after Silesian Wars Frederic the Great captured the city and renamed it Breslau. That's the date we can talk about Prussian-German real ownership of Wroclaw. But to show the full picture of the situation Wroclaw was a part of Gniezno archbishopry till mid19th century and Polish catholic church was supervising Wroclaw catholic clergy. After 1945 in Yalta it was decided by Chuchill, Roosevelt and Stalin that Polish borders were going to be shifted westwards alltogether with german and polish populations. If anyone want to complain about today situation please contact USA, British and Russian governments respectively.

Was hat das noch zu bedeuten, ob Breslau 200 Hundert Jahre oder 600 J. Deutsch oder Polnisch war, Deutschland hat dieses Teil, wo ich noch geboren wurde als meine Heimat ansehe durch diesen Mörderischen Angriffskrieg verloren.Ich habe Breslau 1979 besucht,war begeistert über die Freundlichkeit mit der ich dort von den Menschen Empfangen wurde. Ich wünsche den Menschen die dieses Gebiet jetzt ihre Heimat nennen alles alles Gute.Möge nie mehr ein 39-45 in Europa geschehen.

Dita: I can only read the English part of that page and it seams an internal legal German problem. It's not the view of any other European nation or of the EU and Strassbourg courts. I can see that there may be powers in Germany which could exploit this legal matter, but for everyone else the game is already over.

As I wrote some time ago:
"Legally, the German-Polish-Border Treaty of 1990 - like the Warsaw Treaty of 1970 - is a treaty of non-aggression, not a treaty of border settlement. If you can read German the following Link may interest you. http://www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/frieden/themen/Befreiung/polen-grenze.html". No permanent settlements can be achieved by historical amnesia.

Here is a part of the "Resolution on the German-Polish Frontier adopted by the German Bundestag on 21 June 1990."
It leaves no room for interpretation about the current border:

"The two sides reaffirm the inviolability of the frontier existing between them now and in the future and undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity without restriction.

The two sides declare that they have no territorial claims whatsoever against each other hand that they will not assert such claims in the future.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is formally called upon to communicate this resolution to the Republic of Poland as the expression of its will."

This history is highly bias and as such is falsified. Firstly, Silesia became a German fief in 1163 (though Polish influence remained until the Mongol Attack), the German settlement of the region starting shortly thereafter, encouraged by the local rulers, just as it had been in Pomerania. As for Breslau, it was re-founded in 1262 (and thereafter the only name used in official documents) after the Mongol Attack. Between 1200 and 1300, Silesia became virtually wholly German in character due to the eastwards shift of Europe (culminating in the conquest and settlement of Siberia by Russia and not excluding the Poles settling in Galicia all the way to the Dniper river and the Ukrainians beyond the Don, although this Polish settlement was reversed save in Galicia and Wilno from 1831-1914 and destroyed following 1945), save the Cieszyn region as well as the duchy of Oswiecim/Auschwitz, the latter absorbed into Poland in 1454/1494. Silesia (always excluding Cieszyn) remained virtually wholly German until the early 15th century, the Hussite Wars decimating much of the population of Upper Silesia which was subsequently settled or re-settled if you wish, by Poles. Thereafter, Upper Silesia remained some 5/8 Polish for nearly 500 years, and Silesia was a German territory from roughly 1300-1945, or 650 years. The same timeframe is true for Pomerania and Prussia, albeit Pomerelia is not included--as it was always Polish. Indeed the majority of Silesia was mainly German from 1250-1945, nearly 700 years.

Robert, I thought the reply, on 30.11.08, of D. Thomas in the Breslau-Wroclaw Forum might have been of help to you.

I tried to get http://www.breslau-wroclaw.de./ but nothing happened, just a blank page. I guess I am not going to find any body with the name Deynert

this is for Lerge thank you for trying to help but I had no luck, Oh well back to the drawing board

The above article, refering to the 1930s, says that Wroclaw had then been "known as Breslau for 200 years". This is misleading in that it suggests that Breslau was "germanic" for approximately 200 years only. However, the "Breslauer Urkundenbuch" to be found in the digital library of the university of Zielona Gora dates the first document in the German language the 3. August 1280 (pg 48) - Extract: 50. Rechtssätze, welche die Breslauer den Glogauern mitgetheilt haben am 3. August 1280.
Abschrift im Liber Niger des glogauer Stadtarchivs, Supplemente S. 295 ff.
""Wir rathman, scheppfen und burgere gemeine von Wratislaw thuen wissendlich und kunt allen, die diesen brief horen (ge)lesen, das wir durch bete des edelen fursten, hertzoge Heinriches von Glogau, seinen burgeren der stat zu Glogowe gesant haben diesen brief mit beschriebenen rechte, also als man is in unser stat Wratislaw ymmer me halten soll und von alder zeit bisher zu rechte hat gehalten nach weichbildes rechte.……etc…etc…"". Documents prior to 1280 were written in Latin.

How can you say in the article that the jews and poles were politely asked to leave by the Nazi's?

Hallo, Christa, as someone also born in Breslau and having had to flee from the Soviet army in 1945 with my mother and brother, I can only confirm your experience. On my first return in 1991 I was warmly received by the present occupants of "our home" where the furniture of my parents was still being stored in the attic room. I have also been back since and have no regrets.

I just happened upon this page and I am glad I did. I too was born in Breslau before the war and left with my parents in Jan. 1945. My grandparents stayed behind and had to leave in 1946 after the polish people moved in. If one understands history, they will grasp that the polish people were victims just the same. My father had the good fortune to visit Breslau for the first time in 1975 and was most warmly recieved by the people, at that time, occupying the our family home on Nelkenweg. He made other visits over the years and I did too in 1992 nad 1993. The same people were still there and I too was welcomed, although my dad was not with me. I have the highest regard the for the polish people who rebuilt our beautiful Breslau. I visited again in 2006 and hpope to make at least one more journey to my hometown, the city I will always love.

Hallo Robert of the previous entry, if you speak German (and even if you do not), have a look at www.breslau-wroclaw.de. You may well find quite a bit of information about your distant family in old address books etc or through the help of knowledgable individuals who may respond to your queries, even if they are in English. Good luck!!!

I am not Polish or German, however I do have a conection to Breslau, now called Wrocklaw. My Grandfather was from there but moved to England at the end of the 1800s. He was not a follower of Hitler, nor were his family. When he moved to England he left his German family behind and made his own family in the UK. His daughter, my mother married a jew and I was a result of that union. My Grandfather's name was Joseph Deynert, a very old German name, and his father was the head of the fire bregade in what was then Breslau. His Brother also worked as a fireman. These were people who lived like anybody else. In fact my Great Grandfather died in Breslau of cancer, as did his wife Dorothea. I don't know what happened to my Great Uncle or my Great Aunt Hedwig, but I am sure they went years ago. What I find sad about some of the comments on here, is that people are still clinging to the past. They are still looking for someone to blame. The only thing I would say is that I am sad that I can not find anything out about my Great Grand Parents, or if I have cousins still in that area. It seems that no records remain prior to 1946 about the people that have lived there. I know that My Great Grand Parents were buried there, but have no idea where.

Correction..correction: Border..Border

Polarring, thanks for your comment and Links. Legally, the German-Polish-Boarder Treaty of 1990 - like the Warsaw Treaty of 1970 - is a treaty of non-agression, not a treaty of boarder settlement. If you can read German the following Link may interest you. http://www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/frieden/themen/Befreiung/polen-grenze.html

Dita, there is the German-Polish Border Treaty from 1990 regulating border disputes between two countries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German-Polish_Border_Treaty_(1990).
It is legally binding and recognized by international community. Polish Provisional Government of National Unity was Soviet puppet and it did not represent Polish nation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Government_of_National_Unity

The following extract from the Potsdam Conference of 1945 clearly leaves the "final delineation of the western frontier of Poland" open until "the peace settlement". There has never been such a settlement. There is therefore no legal reason why "Wroclaw" should not still be considered to be "Breslau" by its former inhabitans.

B. WESTERN FRONTIER OF POLAND.

In conformity with the agreement on Poland reached at the Crimea Conference the three Heads of Government have sought the opinion of the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity in regard to the accession of territory in the north 'end west which Poland should receive. The President of the National Council of Poland and members of the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity have been received at the Conference and have fully presented their views. The three Heads of Government reaffirm their opinion that the final delimitation of the western frontier of Poland should await the peace settlement.

I cannot believe all these people that are saying it is a German City, did you not read the brief history, It was POLISH first Then German, Poles where there first, history does not start in the 17th century People!!!
Anyway its Polish now has been for for the last 65 years, and its going to stay like that
Plus Poles REBUILT the CITY
so there are no German claims to it at all

Antonio, no we did not expel any germans, we expelled Nazi criminals. Sometimes the “human- cultural world” reaps what it sows. Be glad Nazi criminals from Austria got out so easily.

I am going to Wroclaw to meet with my German friend whose family came from Breslau. We are Polish living in United States. I don't need to remind anybody that the past is filled with horrible events. We intend to talk about them in civilized way, asking questions, learning for our children so they can grow without prejudice.

Janusz Pankowski

How many germans have slavic ancesters?

My grandmother was born near here and kicked out of her house in 45 and made to leave all together in 1946. Some people here really hate Germans and Germany, time for you people to stop living in the past or look at your own people first. Today with the European Union Germans are free to move back. As the older people die off the need for compensation will disappear. It's too bad these people who DO NOT bear the guilt of their parents couldn't get something but it is just another page in the large book of human crimes. Can't wait to visit this place in September for the first time! It will always be a German city to me but the Poles are welcome to live there, it's not their faults either.

Wroclaw is still Breslau for the human- cultural world. 1944-1948: poland explused and killed millions of germans from the former easter german territories. In fact, the was no big different between the nazi and the polish.
But sti criminals.

Nazi Germany inflicted grief and pain to the rest of Europe in its war against the world. But we have to be honest and recognize that millions of Germans had to go through terrible suffering, losing their centuries-old heimat. I recommend that you read Guido Knopp beautiful account on the eviction of 15 millions from their lands. After 63 years we can have a quiet debate on our recent history and admit that Breslau was a German City that the terrible events of history turned to Poland, the same events that were turning the Polish city of Lwow to the USSR.

I found this brief history very interesting and helpful.
One small point "it's" should be "its".

Went to Wroclaw May 2007 for a great weekend, beautiful place, people friendly. Have recommended it to many people. Abo

I'm heading over to Wroclaw tomorrow for almost a week. I'm excited to meet the good people of Poland. I sure have found good people everywhere including germany where my ancestors stem from. Let us all remember to love each other and change whatever has been done in the past to good will to each other. Let us remember what has been done in the past, and do our best to change things for the future.

Yea, germans want compensation for being expelled from that part of europe - the only compensation they deserve is a big swift kick up the arse! They're country tried to take the whole of europe, killed millions, and lost - now they want compensation? What is this, the twilight zone??

What a privilege I've had since first visiting Wroclaw in 1989 and many summers since! I've been a witness to incredible historical changes---and have fallen in love with the Poles. They have done a magnificent job of rising from the ashes which were handed to them! It has become a vibrant, lively cultural center which people should definitely visit.

What a privilege I've had since first visiting Wroclaw in 1989 and many summers since! I've been a witness to incredible historical changes---and have fallen in love with the Poles. They have done a magnificent job of rising from the ashes which were handed to them! It has become a vibrant, lively cultural center which people should definitely visit.

Born in the former Breslau, with Silesian roots back to the 17th century and probably before, I am delighted that Wroclaw is a city open to all. My departure, as a child, from the city was as a refugee in 1945. My first return was in 1991 as a visitor who was most warmly received. Even the people in the house of my birth treated me like a friend. I wish Wroclaw well and cannot wait to return to that cosmopolitan and hospitable city of great beauty.

Hey David from Aug 25th posting. My grandparents were also of Jewish descent and lived in Breslau. Have some old pictures. I'd like to go back someday. Any advice?
Bob

Wroclaw, once in the hands of the Polish Kingdom now again and forever the hands of the Polish. Any German that feels they still have claims on my holy land is a dirty racist.

Dan sounds like an idiot!

Dan
are you joking?

I think the comments mentioned above are a little one sided and quite antagornistic, especially the one who seems to think that only Europeans are capable of killing. No state has clean hands in this respect and I don't think it helps anyone to point fingers for past generations.

The history of Wroclaw is very interesting and there is a definate feel that the city is rising from the ashes of the last 60 years. Today, thousands of tourists, including Germans, from all over Europe come here. I think the city has so much going for it with regard to a university city that is extremely well designed. Very easy to walk around by foot.

With regard to the first persons comments about whether it should be given back, the question seems a little naive. Even Germany has agreed that it has no claim to Lower Silesia, so why give a Polish city to Germany?

I am in Wroclaw as we speak visiting the place where my German-Jewish grandfather was born. We just got back from Auschwitz where part of my family perished.

Let all of us remember that Germany has forfeited any claim to any land, including their own, during the last century of bloodshed brought about by the continuing German canard of their "racial superiority."

It was extremely disturbing to see Wroclaw referred to as Breslau all the way to the Polish border. As Churchill stated, the seeds are planted.

What family survived the Holocaust now lives in Denmark, another land filled with bigots, their whipping children are the Muslims they invited to live as basically second class "workers" that the Danes apparently thought would happily submit to the tiny, narrow worldview they hold.

The last half of the second millenium is basically a story of Europeans rampaging around this planet, killing probably close to a billion people with their guns, germs and steel, destroying thousands of cultures, pillaging resources and subjugating whoever was left over.

To the comment regarding the American Indian, please note who was doing the killing/pillaging - it sure wasn't indigenous Americans, it was Europeans doing what they do best - killing.

It is interesting to note that the shift of the borders of Poland west was suggested by Winston Churchill at one of the conferences with Stalin and Roosevelt. Later, he had second thoughts, and said that it might produce the seeds of future wars. On the whole, I prefer the large Poland before the war to the small Poland, (subjugated by Russia) after the war.

Sure Dan, just after USA returns its land to the rightfull owners ie American Indians.

Wroc³aw always polish!!!

Dont you think its time to return the region to its rightful owner ie Germany?