Collective Mourning

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• I. The Village
• II. The Mutual Celebration
• III. The Ruin as a Memorial for Many
• IV. Mutually Remembered History
• V. The Continued Existence of the Community
• VI. The Leaving of the Village
• VII. The Reality Shock of 1990
• VIII. Mutual Mourning
• IX. Report about the conference

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study examines the collective memory of the village of Maiersgrün/Vysokà in the Czech Republic, focusing on how the past is remembered in relation to the expulsion of its inhabitants and the village's subsequent fate. It explores the construction of memory after 1990 and its current forms. The study utilizes a case study approach to trace the history of German suffering and memory up to the present day.

• Collective memory and its formation in the context of displacement and loss.
• The role of physical space (the ruined church) in shaping and preserving memory.
• The interplay of German and Czech perspectives in shared remembrance.
• The evolution of mourning, reconciliation, and forgiveness within the community.
• The enduring impact of the Benes decree and its consequences.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter I: The Village introduces the village of Maiersgrün/Vysokà and its history, particularly focusing on the impact of World War II and the subsequent expulsion of its German inhabitants in 1946 under the Benes decree. The chapter establishes the two main questions guiding the study: how the past is remembered and how memory was constructed after 1990.

Chapter II: The Mutual Celebration describes a golden wedding anniversary celebration held in the ruins of the village, showcasing a joint commemoration between former inhabitants and current Czech residents. It highlights the unique nature of this event and the collaborative effort in preserving the village's ruined church as a memorial site.

Chapter III: The Ruin as a Memorial for Many details how the ruined church has become a place of remembrance, mourning, and celebration for both former residents and the local Czech population. It emphasizes the religious aspect of these commemorations and the collaborative efforts in preserving the ruin as a shared memorial.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Collective memory, expulsion, Sudeten Germans, Benes decree, post-war trauma, reconciliation, shared memory, memorialization, ruin, Vysokà, Maiersgrün, Czech Republic, Germany.