Letter to the editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung (The Southern German Newspaper) referring to the article "defiant words during the heritage day conference", issue from the 13/09/2010

It is commendable that Erika Steinbach´s statement did not remain uncommented. Germany instigated the war. Whoever makes statements concerning this that can be misconstrued must expect criticism. It is a sad state of affairs however that Erika Steinbach can only draw attention to the issue of expulsion by provocation as it is a taboo topic. Who in Europe is interested by the fact that another mass grave was found in Tanndorf, Jedlovea, a Bohemian village in  the “Adlergebirge” (a mountain range in Czechia). There was a brief report on the 04.09.2010 in the European magazine of the ARD. In spite of the clear execution marks in the 283 skulls, that anyone who was interested could see in the open coffins, the Czech press reported a few hours later that the bones were from a 200 year-old grave site. Our European partner Czechia, whose admission in the EU could not go fast enough for some people, should not be allowed to publish such a statement without extensive lab documentation. My grandfather and approx. 500 other Germans were victims of a massacre near the village of Tann after the end of the WWII. Mrs. Steinbach brings up a painful subject and has made it her responsibility to make the voice of the many traumatised persons heard. These victims became an integral part of Germany after the war. They integrated without difficulty and without complaints. Hence, defiant words are necessary. Maybe her perseverance will contribute to the fact that the young Czech intellectuals will start to explore their past. “To kill the Czech way” is a film by the brave Czech director David Vondracek. It can be seen on TV:    17.09.2010 in 3sat at 17:45 and on 18.09.2010 in Phoenix at 21:45.

Birgit Krone, Ass.jur, Stuttgart

Veröffentlicht am 22.09.2010