German Language Areas of Europe 1910 vs 2010

The map above shows what starting and losing two world wars did to the distribution of the German language throughout Europe between 1910 and 2010.

Today there are an estimated 95 million German native speakers worldwide, most living in the DACH countries of Germany (D for Deutschland), Austria (A for Austria, in German “Österreich”) and Switzerland (CH for Confoederatio Helvetica, in German “(die) Schweiz”).

Of these Germany has by far the most speakers at 69.5 million, followed by Austria 7 million and Switzerland 5 million.

In 1900, there were an estimated 52 million German Speakers in the German Empire, and a further 12 million living in Austria-Hungary.

Germany lost territory in both WW1 and WW2 (see this map), which accounts for the loss in distribution.

The resettlement of Germans after World War II, commonly referred to as the expulsion of Germans or forced migration, involved the mass displacement of ethnic Germans from various countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

This was one of the largest forced migrations in human history, and it occurred in the aftermath of Nazi Germany’s defeat.

Here are some key aspects of this process:

1. Origins of the Resettlement

The resettlement was largely a result of the geopolitical changes that took place after the war. The Potsdam Agreement, signed in August 1945 by the Allies (the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom), played a major role in reshaping the borders of Europe, leading to significant territorial changes:

Germany’s loss of territory: Germany lost about a quarter of its pre-war territory, particularly areas in the east that were given to Poland and the Soviet Union (modern-day Russia).

Shifting borders: Areas that had been part of Germany, such as Silesia, Pomerania, and East Prussia, were now part of Poland or the Soviet Union, and ethnic Germans living in these areas were expelled.

2. Expulsion of Germans

Map by Sir Martin Gilbert

Between 12 to 14 million ethnic Germans were forcibly expelled from countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, and others.

These expulsions were often brutal, with many suffering violence, loss of property, and death due to harsh conditions during the forced migration.

• In Poland, Germans were expelled from areas like Silesia and Pomerania, which were transferred to Polish control.
• In Czechoslovakia, the so-called Benes Decrees legalized the expulsion of Germans from the Sudetenland, which had been annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938.
• In Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, ethnic Germans were similarly forced out, often seen as collaborators with the Nazi regime.

The expulsions were justified by the Allies and new post-war governments as necessary to ensure future peace, preventing any resurgence of German claims on these regions.

3. Conditions During the Expulsions

The expulsions were conducted under harsh conditions:

• Many people were forced to leave their homes with little notice, often taking only what they could carry.
• The expulsion involved forced marches, overcrowded trains, or even ships. Starvation, disease, and violence took a heavy toll.
• It is estimated that between 500,000 and 2 million people died during or as a result of the expulsion process.

4. Impact on Germany

The displaced Germans mostly resettled in the western and eastern parts of the new Germany, which was divided into occupation zones by the Allies (leading to the creation of West and East Germany in 1949).

West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany) took in the majority of these refugees. Integrating millions of displaced people into a war-torn country was a major social and economic challenge. Housing, employment, and resources were scarce.

Despite the hardships, West Germany’s post-war economic recovery, known as the Wirtschaftswunder or “economic miracle,” gradually helped to integrate these displaced populations.

5. Political and Moral Legacy

The expulsions remain controversial, especially in Germany and the countries from which the Germans were expelled. Some argue that the expulsions were a form of ethnic cleansing, while others see them as justified, given the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during the war.

In recent decades, Germany has sought reconciliation with its neighbors over this painful chapter, but debates over the expulsion’s legacy persist in some parts of Europe, particularly in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Finally here’s a map showing the two on top of each other:

Map found on reddit