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Witness History: The expulsion of the Sudeten Germans

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The expulsion of the Sudeten Germans

24/06/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The expulsion of the Sudeten Germans

Sudeten Germans were expelled by the Czechoslovak government after World War Two

Around three million German speakers were expelled from Czechoslovakia following Germany’s defeat in World War Two. Helmut, who was a child at the time tells his story.

At the end of World War Two, the Czechoslovak government expelled up to three million German speakers, known as the Sudeten Germans. 

They were accused of being loyal to Nazi Germany and collaborating in war crimes.  

By 1946 the expulsions were in full swing, and Helmut Scholz, who was a six-years-old at the time, was caught up in the turmoil. 

Helmut tells Phil Jones about the traumatic train journey, in a cattle truck, from his home in Czechoslovakia to Germany.


(Photo: Helmut Scholz: Credit: Helmut Scholz)

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