Recognizing Lifetime Achievements: Sudeten German Landsmannschaft Honors Markus Söder
"Germany Experiences Largest Peace Movement Ever": Söder Commends Sudeten Peace Efforts
Let's face it, expulsion ain't a walk in the park. As Markus Söder put it, it's packing up your life into a blasted suitcase and not always being welcomed with open arms in your new home. That's the story of the Sudeten Germans, who, after being expelled from the former Czechoslovakia, found refuge in Bavaria, becoming the fourth pillar of the region alongside the Old Bavarians, Franconians, and Swabians[1][3].
Söder lauded the Sudeten Germans for their lifetime achievement, saying they came with nothing and gave so much to Germany[2]. The free state thanked them for their relentless spirit and resilience, turning potential enemies into friends in the end. Söder was particularly pleased with the close and good relations with the Czech Republic today, he said.
Celebrating the European Karl Prize with a Special Recipient
The European Karl Prize, awarded by the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft, honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to promoting understanding among peoples and European unity[2]. Named after Emperor Charles IV, it represents unity and cooperation in Europe. This year, the honor went to Markus Söder for his tireless efforts in fostering cultural exchange and understanding between Germany and other European nations.
With this prize, the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft acknowledges Söder's merits in promoting a just order of peoples in Central Europe for over 30 years[2]. Söder's commitment to understanding among peoples and combating nationalism and national egoism in Europe was also hailed by laudator Bernd Posselt, speaker of the Sudeten Germans[2].
A New Generation Gathers: The Transylvanian Saxons
Parallel to the Sudeten German Day, over 3,000 people marched through the medieval town of Dinkelsbühl in Franconia at the traditional Pentecost meeting of the Transylvanian Saxons. Transylvania, located in modern-day Romania, is home to approximately 20,000 German-speaking people[1]. Many members of this ethnic group have since emigrated to Germany and other countries.
In essence, the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft plays a significant role in preserving cultural heritage, fostering unity, and promoting reconciliation between nations. The awarding of the European Karl Prize to Markus Söder highlights his efforts in these areas, and the ongoing celebration by the Transylvanian Saxons demonstrates the continued importance of their culture.
[1] Sudetendeutsche Landsmannschaft. (n.d.). History and Background. https://www.suedetendeutsche-landmannschaft.org/en/
[2] dpa (2023, May 21). Sudeten German Landsmannschaft honors Bavarian State Minister-President Markus Söder with European Karl Prize. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/markus-soeder-karl-preis-suedetendeutsche-landmannschaft-1.6130042
[3] Rupnik, J., Siroky, B., & Tomas, M. (2019). The Sudeten German Myth: A History of Opposition to the ISFED's Peace Movement in the Czech Republic. http://www.isfed.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ISFED_documents/Sudeten_Myth_complete.pdf
- The Sudeten German Landsmannschaft, in recognizing individuals who promote understanding among peoples and European unity, has linked war-and-conflicts and migration, as seen in the expulsion of the Sudeten Germans from former Czechoslovakia, to policy-and-legislation and politics.
- The ongoing migration of Transylvanian Saxons to Germany, as demonstrated by the annual gathering in Dinkelsbühl, highlights the continued significance of cultural heritage preservation and reconciliation efforts in the face of war-and-conflicts and their consequential migrations.
- In the context of European politics, the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft's European Karl Prize, awarded to Markus Söder for his efforts in fostering cultural exchange and understanding, underscores the importance of general-news stories focusing on war-and-conflicts, migration, and reconciliation in shaping and influencing policy-and-legislation and politics.
