the Sorbian town of Bautzen in Upper Lusatia, Germany

[AntiUmah]

serbians

[elamite66]

Thanks POWROTTATY for the information, I'm assuming you're Sorbian and do you live in Upper Lusatia? Also how did the Sorbs fair under the Third Reich? In any case thanks again for the information

[shrub32]

@elamite66

My paternal grand father came from Cottbus, I know a bit about Sorbs or Wends as some call them.

Sorbs were enlisted in the Wehmacht, Ive also read Hitler saw Sorbians as Germans who spoke a Slavic language and were not persecuted like Polish were.

[elamite66]

@shrub32 thanks again for the information I've read that the Poles in West Prussia and the north in general were treated better than those in upper Silesia and generally in the south east This may have been the result of different policies under different gaulieters or possibly because those in the north tended to be fairer than those in the south I don't know I know near the end of the war there were conscripts who could barely speak German but were fluent in Polish

[aleksandarzezelj]

@shrub32

Lusatian Sorbs are Serbs!! They have been assimilated by the Germans. Lot of Serbian tribes were assimilated in today's Germany, and they all think they are Germans. Michael Ballack (famous "german" football player) is Lusation Serb as well.

[HaaraaldEriksson]

@aleksandarzezelj

wtf? Thats not true, mate. We Sorbians are no assimilated Serbs! And Ballack isn't one of us.

[aleksandarzezelj]

@HaaraaldEriksson

Most slavic tribes were assimilated by the germans. Luzicki Srbi, you are only who survived, and today you are who you are. We are brothers!! SLAVA RODU!

[aleksandarzezelj]

@HaaraaldEriksson

I've heard that Ballack is Sorb, maybe it's wrong.

[POWROTTATY]

Budziszyn

[elamite66]

@POWROTTATY is that the Sorbian name for Bautzen? Being From New York I don't know a lot about the Sorbs, how did they make out under the Third Reich and is there a political party for Sorbian independence or autonomy? Is Sorbian taught in the schools in areas with large Sorbian communities? How close is Sorbian to Polish? Are the two languages mutually intelligable as are Dutch and Low German? I would be very interested in any thing you could tell me and greatly appreciative

[elamite66]

@POWROTTATY One more question did the position of the Sorbs improve when East Germany was united with the German Federal Republic?

[POWROTTATY]

@elamite66

@elamite66

Budziszyn is Polish name, but in Sorbian is closely the same.

I read that something like 800years ago a "royal" men (german) invited Sorabian princes (there were around 20) and after the diner the german killed them all.

That was on Polish website about Sorbs. When I'd find it back, I'd send you.

Sorbs were always persecuted (near 1 000years), because of their origins like Poles under partitions of Poland.

Persecution of theirs origins, religion, language & culture.

[POWROTTATY]

@elamite66

When I look at Sorbian language, that's very similar to Polish & Czech.

Similarity is near that : Sorbian = Polish + Czech.

When I look at Sorbian, I think sometimes that is wrote in Polish : reading Sorbian is very easy, if you know Polish you can read & understanding Sorbian at 90% (because that's very close but still a bit different).

If you want more informations about Sorbs, look at : domowina & domowina(dot)sorben(dot)com!

[POWROTTATY]

@elamite66

Sorbs fight for their independance (autonomy as state), for their culture & identity!

Is their situation better than 20years ago?

In some way, that's a bit better : name of streets are in two languages.

But, the perenity of Sorbs as a People is compromited : there is ONLY 60 000 Sorbs!

For me, that's sadly near extinction : another Slavic tribe could disappear after 1 000years of fight.

[fwbz]

@POWROTTATY You are not right. In GDR time there were also street names in two languages and some institutions have been established in this time. For example there have never been a national Sorbian theater or a Sorbian museum before GDR time. -And whats that nonsense about "fighting for their independance" - elamite66 is of course assuming wrong - and you are never a Sorbian. Of course their might be some young men "fighting", but by far the most not - and I have many Sorbian colleges.

[elamite66]

@fwbz I was not assuming anything only asking I assume you meant Sorbian Collegues not Sorbian Colleges but since you brought it up are there any Sorbian Colleges?

[HaaraaldEriksson]

@elamite66

No there are no Sorbian colleges. We are indeed a SMALL minority. :)