As Sudetenland became foundet on 29th of October in 1918 as an own province of the decaying austro-hungarian monarchy (similar the Province of German Bohemia), were adoped as flag the colours of the Frankfurt National Assembly, the black-red-golden tricolour. That should symbolize the affiliation of Sudetenland to German Austria. The winners of the First World War decided that Sudetenland is a part of Czechoslovakia on 4th of March in 1919. In sorrow above that the lower golden stripe of the flag was replaced by a second black stripe. In this way, the flag usually shows three horizontal stripes in black, red, and black, but in a 1:2:1 ratio.
The coat of arms of the Sudeten-Germans was created after the expulsion out of Czechoslovakia in the year 1950. The Reichsgau (district) Sudetenland indeed had an own coat of arms since 1940. But before there existed no common symbol of the Germans in Bohemia and Morava. The coat of arms of the Sudeten-Germans shows a red-black clefted shield, in the left red half the eagle of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation who stands for the history of the Sudeten-Germans. In the right black half the cross of the Order of the Teutonic Knights. It stands for the colonisation of the german east and remembers that this order had in Komotau its bigest Ballei (district). Over eagle and cross is placed a chest shield which shows in the upper part the flag of Sudetenland and below the grating out of the coat of arms of the Free and Imperial Town of Eger.
The Sudetenland – the area of settlement of the Germans – belonged directly to the German Empire, the area of settlement of the Czech was as "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia" subordinated unter German supremacy.
History of Bohemia to 1918 (click here→ Bohemia)
History of Moravia to 1918 (click here→ Moravia)
History of Austrian Silesia to 1918 (click here→ Austrian Silesia)
29th of October 1918 · establishment of the Province of Sudetenland by merger of the by Germans inhabited areas Austrian Silesia, Sudeten Silesia, Teschen Silesia, North Moravia and Northeast Bohemia – in the northwest of Bohemia formation of the Province of German Bohemia
22th November 1918 · Sudetenland decides its affiliation to German Austria
4th of March 1919 · the winners of the First World War decide that Sudetenland and German Bohemia are a part of Czechoslovakia, Teschen Silesia becomes separated between Poland and Czechoslovakia
29th of September 1938 · Czechoslovakia cedes Sudetenland to the German Empire
2nd of October 1938 · Poland occupys and annexes the Teschener Land
10th of October 1938 · formation of the Reichsgau Sudetenland by merger of Sudetenland and German Bohemia, 125.000 Czech reject the German citizenship, become compensated and become settled in Bohemia
9th of May 1945 · restoration of Czechoslovakia, takeover by ex-president Beneš
1945–1947 · murder of 400 000 Sudeten-Germans, expropriation and expulsion of ca. 2,1 millions Sudeten-Germans
1953 · forced citizenship for 200 000 in Sudetenland remained Sudeten-Germans
The name Sudetenland has its roots in the Sudeten Mountains. They are the northeastern border of the Bohemian Basin between the Zittau Bay and the Moravian Gate. The Sudeten Mountains probably have its name because of the wild boars that lived here a few thousand years ago. The syllable "su" is of Indop-European origin and means "wild boar". The in Bohemia and Moravia living Germans had never been a cultural unity. Only by the pressure of the Czech nationalism results a casual merger. The denomination "Sudeten" for all German inhabitants of Bohemia and Moravia came into being after the First World War.
