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For other uses, see Sorbs (disambiguation).
Sorbs
Serby
Total population

about 40,000 Upper Sorbs and 20,000 Lower Sorbs.

Regions with significant populations
Flag of Germany Germany 60,000
Languages
Sorbian (Upper Sorbian, Lower Sorbian), German
Religions
Lutheranism, Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Serbs, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks

Sorbs (Upper Sorbian Serbja, Lower Sorbian Serby; also Wends, Lusatian Sorbs), Slavonic nation settled in Lusatia, a region on the territory of Germany and Poland. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Sorbian languages are classified under the Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Serbs ( Serbian: Срби Srbi) are a South Slavic people living in the Balkans and Central Europe, mainly in Serbia, The Polish people, or Poles, (Polacy) are a Western Slavic Ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. Czechs (Češi ˈt͡ʃɛʃɪ archaic Čechové) are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic } The Slovaks or Slovakians are a western Slavic People that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland

Sorbs are divided into: Upper Sorbs speaking Upper Sorbian (about 30,000 people) and Lower Sorbs speaking Lower Sorbian (about 20,000 people). Some of them using in-between dialects- a mixture of these two Sorbian languages.

Contents

Toponyms

The national flag of Lusatian Sorbs
The national flag of Lusatian Sorbs

The name of the nation is probably connected with the Polish word “stepson” (Polish: pasierb) and originally meant tribesman (the one who sucked milk of the same mother). Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. The question of kinship of Balkan Serbs and Lusatian Sorbs is not accidental. According to one of the hypotheses, in the 5th century, after leaving their proto-Slavonic homeland, common ancestors of all Serbs and Sorbs divided into two groups. Serbs ( Serbian: Срби Srbi) are a South Slavic people living in the Balkans and Central Europe, mainly in Serbia, One of the groups (the ancestors of the Serbs), known as the White Serbs, reached the Balkans through the Carpathian Mountains under the leadership of the Unknown Archont, whilst the others settled in the middle part of the Elbe and become 'Sorbs'. The White Serbs (Бели Срби Beli Srbi) were a Slavic tribe which lived in White Serbia in northern Europe The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians (Carpaţi Czech, Polish and Slovak: Karpaty; Ukrainian: Карпати The Unknown Archont ( Serbian: Непознати кнез Nepoznati knez) is a conventional name given by historians to the Serbian leader The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. The story depicted in Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos' De Administrando Imperio tells that a brother of the Archont had remained in what is today Lusatia with a part of the Serb people. De Administrando Imperio is the commonly used Latin title of a scholarly work written in Greek, by the 10th-century Byzantine emperor It is possible that the name Serb developed in both of these two groups separately. The name Lusatia (German: Lausitz), originally meaning marshy ground probably derives from the Slavic word ług (grove, young forest), at the same time indicating that the regions surroundings were rich in forest. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of

An attempt of localizing West Slavic tribes by the Bavarian Geographer (A.D. 845), Serbians according to Herrmann and Łowmański (number 50 on the map)
An attempt of localizing West Slavic tribes by the Bavarian Geographer (A. The Bavarian Geographer (Geographus Bavarus is a conventional name given by Jan Potocki in 1796 to the author of an anonymous Medieval D. 845), Serbians according to Herrmann and Łowmański (number 50 on the map)

Tribal division

Having settled by the Elbe, Spree and Neisse in the 6th century, Sorbian tribes divided into two main groups, which have taken their names from the characteristics of the area where they had settled. The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. Sorbs living on the swampy broads of the Lower Spree have taken their name from the word marsh. The Spree (ʃpʁeː Sprowja Sprjewja Spréva is a River in Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin, Germany and in Ústecký The Milceni (ancestors of Upper Sorbs) settled on fertile soil around Upper Spree, the name derives from the word měl’ (loess soil). The Milceni or Milzeni (Milčané Milzener Milczanie were a West Slavic Tribe in Upper Lusatia. The Spree (ʃpʁeː Sprowja Sprjewja Spréva is a River in Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin, Germany and in Ústecký Both groups were separated from each other by a wide and uninhabited forest range. The rest of the tribes settled themselves between the Elbe and Saale. The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. The Saale, also known as the Saxon Saale (Sächsische Saale and Thuringian Saale (Thüringische Saale is a River in Germany and a left-bank


History of the Sorbs

National costume of Lusatian Sorbs as traditionally worn in the northern part of Lusatia
National costume of Lusatian Sorbs as traditionally worn in the northern part of Lusatia
Small region where the Sorbs still live in Germany, the area that used to be much larger in the past
Small region where the Sorbs still live in Germany, the area that used to be much larger in the past
The close-up map of area inhabited by Sorbians
The close-up map of area inhabited by Sorbians

During the 6th century A. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. D. Sorbs arrived in the area extending between the rivers in the East: the Bober (Czech: Bobr, Polish: Bóbr), Kwisa and Oder (Polish: Odra) to rivers in the West: the Saale and Elbe. Bóbr (Bobr Bober) is a River which runs through the north of the Czech Republic and the southwest of Poland, a tributary of the Oder River The Oder (known in Czech and Polish as Odra) is a River in Central Europe. The Saale, also known as the Saxon Saale (Sächsische Saale and Thuringian Saale (Thüringische Saale is a River in Germany and a left-bank The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. In the North, the area of their settlement reached Berlin. In 631 A. D. , for the first time, the Fredegar’s Chronicle described them as Surbi. Annales Regni Francym mentions that in 806 A. D. , Miliduch (the Serbian King) fought against the Francs and was killed. In 932 Henry I conquered Lusatia and Milsko. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of In 933 Lusatia was again conquered by Gero II – the Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark, who in 939 cunningly murdered 30 Sorbian princes during the feast. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Gero II (c 975 &ndash 1 September 1015 at Krossen) was the eldest son of Thietmar Margrave of Meissen, and Schwanehilde (Suanhild daughter Ostmark is a German term meaning either Eastern march when applied to territories or Eastern Mark when applied to currencies As a result, there were many Sorbian uprisings against the Germans. From this early period there remained only a reconstructed castle- Raddusch in Lower Lusatia. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of During the reign of Boleslaw I of Poland (Polish: Bolesław Chrobry) in 1002-1018 A. D. , three Polish-German wars were waged which caused Lusatia to come from one ruler to another. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of In 1018, on the strength of peace in Bautzen, Lusatia became a part of Poland; however, before 1031 it was returned to Germany. Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. From 11th to 15th century, in Lusatian development of agriculture and intensification of colonization took place by Frankish, Flemish and Saxon settlers. In 1327 first prohibitions of using Sorbian in Altenburg, Zwickau and Leipzig appeared. This article is about the city in Thuringia, Germany. For other uses see Altenburg (disambiguation. Zwickau (ˈtsvɪkaʊ̯ Cvikov is a city in Germany, in the Bundesland Sachsen (Saxony situated in a valley at the foot of the Erzgebirge This sort of fix restores section edit linkpoints to where they belong Between 1376 - 1635 Lusatia again became a part of an Empire, in the rule of the Bohemian Luxembourgs (a component part of Saint Waclav’s Crown. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of At the beginning of 16th century the whole Sorbian tribes’ area, with the exception of Lusatia, underwent Germanization. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation From 1635 Lusatia became a feudality of Saxon electorates. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The Thirty Years War and epidemic of the Black Death led Lusatia to terrible devastation: almost half of Sorbs died. The Black Death, or the Black Plague, was one of the deadliest Pandemics in human history widely thought to have been caused by a bacterium named Yersinia Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of This led to further German colonization and Germanization. Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation In 1667 the Prince of Brandenburg- Frederick Wilhelm ordered the immediate destruction of all Sorbian printed materials and banned saying masses in this language. Brandenburg ( Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of the sixteen states of Germany. At the same time the Evangelical Church supported printing Sorbian religious literature as a means of fighting with the Counterreformation. EKD redirects here For the Basque political party see Democracia Cristiana Vasca. The Counter-Reformation (also Catholic Reformation denotes the period of Catholic revival from the pontificate of Pope Pius IV in 1560 to the close of the In 1706 Sorbian Seminary, the main quarter of educating Sorbian Catholic priests, was founded in Prague. Year 1706 ( MDCCVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Prague (ˈprɑːg Praha (ˈpraɦa see also other names) is the Capital and Largest city of the Czech Republic. Evangelical students of theology formed Sorbian College of Ministers. Evangelism is the Christian practice of proselytisation. The intention of most evangelism is to effect Eternal salvation to those who do not follow the

The Congress of Vienna in 1815 gave part of Upper Lusatia to Saxony, but most of Lusatia to Prussia. The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of the major powers of Europe, chaired by the Austrian statesman Clemens Wenzel von Metternich Year 1815 ( MDCCCXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state More and more bans limiting the use of Sorbian languages appeared until 1835 in Saxony and Prussia; emigration of the Sorbs mainly to Texas (to place called Serbin) and Australia increased. The Sorbian languages are classified under the Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. In 1848, 5000 Sorbs signed the petition to the Saxon Government, in which they demanded equality of the Sorbian language with the German one in churches, courts, schools and Government departments. Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap From 1871 the whole territory/terrain of Lusatia became a part of united Germany and was divided into three parts: Silesia, Prussia and Saxony. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany.

From 1871 the industrialization of the region and German immigration began; official Germanization intensified. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation Although the Weimar Republic guaranteed constitutional minority rights, it did not practice it. The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933

The Third Reich spread ruthless terror against the Sorbs. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Heinrich Himmler devised a plan to displace the Slovians from Lusatia to Poland. Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945 was a Nazi German politician and head of the Schutzstaffel (SS. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The Nazi Government in Germany caused the Sorbian nation heavy casualties. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. It has been estimated that between 1933-1945 about 20,000 Lusatians were killed. Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Furthermore, the fascist propaganda stated that the Sorbians were a German tribe and their national poet Handrij Zejler was German as well. Young Sorbians were enrolled in the Wehrmacht and sent to the front. Wehrmacht (literally "defense force" was the name of the unified Armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945 Many young Sorbian activists were sent to concentration camps. For instance, father Jan Čyž was a prisoner in the Dachau concentration camp, publicist Marja Grólmusec was killed in the Ravensbrück concentration camp and Alojs Andricki was murdered with an injection of phenol. Dachau was a Nazi German Concentration camp, and the first one opened in Germany located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions Factory near the Ravensbrück (ʁaːvənsˈbʁʏk was a notorious women's Concentration camp during in World War II, located in northern Germany 90 km north of Berlin Entangled lives of the Sorbs during World War II are exemplified by life story of Mina Witkojc, Mĕrčin Nowak-Njechorński or Jan Skala. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

First Lusatian cities were captured in April 1945, when the Red Army with the Polish Second Army crossed the river Queis (pol:Kwisa). Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya The Polish Second Army ( Polish: Druga Armia Wojska Polskiego, 2 Defeating Nazi Germany changed the Sorbs’ situation considerably: those to the east of Neisse and Oder were expelled or assimilated by Poland. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The regions in East Germany (the German Democratic Republic) faced a large influx of expelled Germans and heavy industrialisation, which both forced Germanization. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the Forced migration and Ethnic cleansing of German nationals ( Reichsdeutsche) and ethnic Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation The East German authorities tried to counteract this development by creating a broad range of Sorbian institutions. The Sorbs were officially recognized as an ethnic minority, more than 100 Sorbian schools and several academic institutions were founded, the Domowina and its associated societies were reestablished and a Sorbian theatre was created. Owing to the repression of the church and forced collectivization, however, these efforts were severely affected and consequently over time the number of people speaking Sorbian languages decreased by half.

Sorbian Slovians caused the communistic government of the GDR (the German Democratic Republic) plenty of trouble, mainly because of the high levels of religiousness and resistance to the nationalizing of agriculture. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state During the campaign of compulsory collectivization, a great deal of unprecedented incidents were reported. Thus, throughout the Uprising of 1953 in East Germany in Lusatia, violent clashes with militia were reported. The Uprising of 1953 in East Germany took place in June 1953 A strike by Berlin construction workers on June 16 Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of An open uprising took place in three upper communes of Błot.

After another unification of Germany, on October 3rd 1990, Lusatians made efforts for creating an autonomous administrative unit, however Helmut Kohl’s government did not agree to it. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (born 3 April 1930 is a German conservative politician and statesman After 1989 the Sorbian movement revived, however it still does encounter many obstacles. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Although Germany supports national minorities, Sorbs’ aspirations are not sufficiently fulfilled. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Postulates of uniting Lusatia into one country were not taken into consideration. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Upper Lusatia still belongs to Saxony and Lower Lusatia to Brandenburg. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Brandenburg ( Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of the sixteen states of Germany. Liquidations of Sorbian schools even on the area mostly populated by Sorbs still happen, under the pretence of financial difficulties or demolition of whole villages to create quarries of lignite.

Today (2008) Sorbian institutions serving 60,000 Sorb people receive less money for preservation of their culture in face of Germanisation then one German theater's yearly budget in Berlin<[1], an annual state grant of 15. 6 million Euro by the Federal and the Saxon government [2] Faced with growing threat of cultural extincton the Domowina issued a memorandum in March 2008. [3] and called for "help and protection against the growing threat of their cultural extinction, since an ongoing conflict between the German government, Saxony and Brandenburg about the financial distribution of help blocks the financing of almost all Sorbian institutions". The memorandum also demands a reorganisation of competence by ceding responsibility from the Länder to the federal government and an expanded legal status. Germany (Deutschland is a Federal Republic consisting of sixteen States, known in German as Länder (singular The call has been issued to all governments and heads of state of the European Union[4]. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Besides the memorandum Sorbs also called on Poland and Polish President Lech Kaczynski for protection and to represent them in talks with German state as unlike for example Danes have no state to help them against German authorities, as Jan Nuck stated "I think if Angela Merkel speaks about German minority rights in Poland to Lech Kaczynski, then Polish President should demand the same about us". Nuck also said that the rights of Sorb people are not respected in German "Federal government and land government don't respect them(rights)"[4] Further appeal has been made to Polish Embassy in Berlin starting with "Help us. Do something for us. Our culture is dying. We are dying out. Slavs should help each other". Jan Nuck says it is difficult to judge if the situation comes from indifference of officials or if it is a concentrated effort aiming against existence of Sorb national identity in Germany[5].

On May 28, 2008, the Sorbian politician Stanislaw Tillich, member of the governing Christian Democrats, was elected as Minister President of the State of Saxony. Stanislaw Tillich ( Sorbian: Stanisław Tilich; b 10 April 1959 in Neudörfel (Nowa Wjeska near Kamenz) is a German politician The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands) is the largest Political party in Germany. The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany.

Bautzen: German-Sorbian folk theatre
Bautzen: German-Sorbian folk theatre

Language and culture

Main article: Sorbian languages

The oldest known relic of Sorbian literature originated in about 1530 - Bautzen townsmen’ oath. Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a The Sorbian languages are classified under the Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a In 1548 Mikołaj Jakubica – Lower Sorbian vicar, from the village called Lubanice, wrote the first unprinted translation of the New Testament into Lower Sorbian.

In 1574 the first Sorbian book was printed: Albin Mollers’ songbook. In 1688 Jurij Kawštyn Swětlik translated the Bible for Catholic Sorbs. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". In 1706-1709 the New Testament was printed in the Upper Sorbian translation was done by Michał Frencel and in Lower Sorbian by Jan Bogumił Fabricius. Year 1706 ( MDCCVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1709 ( MDCCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

In 1709 for the short period of time, there was the first printed Sorbian newspaper. Year 1709 ( MDCCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year In 1767 Jurij Mjeń publishes the first secular Sorbian book. Year 1767 ( MDCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Between 1841 and 1843, Jan Arnošt Smoler and Leopold Haupt published two-volume collection of Wendish folk-songs in Upper and Lower Lusatia. For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of

From 1842, the first Sorbian publishing companies started to appear: the poet Handrij Zejler set up a weekly magazine, the precursor of today’s Serbian News. Year 1842 ( MDCCCXLII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common In 1845 in Bautzen the first festival of Sorbian songs took place. Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a

Stamps from the GDR period
Stamps from the GDR period

In 1875, Jakub Bart-Čišinski- the poet and classicist of Upper Sorbian literature and Karol Arnošt Muka created a movement of young Sorbians influencing Lusatian art, science and literature for the following 50 years. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Similar movement in Lower Lusatia was organized around the most prominent Lower Lusatian poets Mato Kósyka and Bogumił Šwjela. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of

In 1904, mainly thanks to the Sorbs’ contribution, the most important Sorbian cultural centre (the Sorbian House) was built in Bautzen. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a In 1912, the social and cultural organization of Lusatian Sorbs was created, the Domowina Institution - the union of Sorbian organizations. Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Domowina is a political independent league of the Sorbian and Wendish people and Umbrella organization of Sorbian societies in Lower and Upper Lusatia, In 1919 it had 180,000 members. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In 1920 Jan Skala set up a Sorbian party and in 1925 in Berlin, Skala started Kulturwille- the newspaper for the protection of national minorities in Germany. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. In 1920 the Sokol Movement was founded (youth movement and gymnastic organization). Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar The Sokol movement (from the Czech word for Falcon) is a Czech and Slavic Youth movement and Gymnastics From 1933 the Nazi party started to repress the Sorbs. Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German At that time the Nazi also dissolved the Sokol Movement and began to combat every sign of Sorbian culture. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German The Sokol movement (from the Czech word for Falcon) is a Czech and Slavic Youth movement and Gymnastics In 1937 activities of the Domowina Institution and other organizations were banned as anti-national. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Domowina is a political independent league of the Sorbian and Wendish people and Umbrella organization of Sorbian societies in Lower and Upper Lusatia, Sorbian clergymen and teachers were forcedly deported from Lusatia; The Third Reich confiscated the Sorbian House, other buildings and crops. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers

On May 10th, in Crostwitz, after The Red Army’s invasion, the Domowina Institution renewed its activity. Crostwitz ( Sorbian: Chrósćicy) is a municipality in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya Domowina is a political independent league of the Sorbian and Wendish people and Umbrella organization of Sorbian societies in Lower and Upper Lusatia, In 1948 Landtag of Saxony passed an Act guaranteeing protection to Sorbian Lusatians; in 1949 Brandenburg resolved a similar law. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A Landtag ( Diet) is a representative assembly or Parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. Brandenburg ( Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of the sixteen states of Germany. In the times of the GDR, Sorbian organizations were financially supported by the country, but at the same time the authorities encouraged Germanization of Sorbian youth as a means of incorporating them into the system of “building Socialism”. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Sorbian language and culture could only be publicly presented as long as they promoted Socialistic ideology. Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution

For over 1000 years the Sorbs were able to maintain and even develop their national culture, despite of escalating Germanization and Polonization, mainly due to the high level of religiousness, cultivating their tradition and strong families (until now a Sorbian family often has 5 children). Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation Polonization (polonizacja is the acquisition or imposition

In the middle of the 20th century, the revival of the Central European nations included some Sorbs, who became strong enough to twice attempt to regain their independence. Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and After World War II, the Lusatian National Committee in Prague claimed the right to self-govern and separate from Germany and create a Lusatian Free State or be attached to Czechoslovakia. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The majority of the Sorbs was organized in the Domowina though and did not intend to split from Germany. Claims asserted by Lusatian National movement were postulates of joining Lusatia to Poland or Czechoslovakia. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Between 1945 – 1947 they postulated about ten memorials to the UN, the USA, the USSR, Great Britain, France, Poland and Czechoslovakia, however, it did not bring any results. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. On April 30th 1946, the Lusatian National Committee also postulated a proper petition to the Polish Government, signed by Paweł Cyż – the minister and an official Sorbian delegate in Poland. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. There was also a project of proclaiming a Lusatian Free State, whose Prime Minister was supposed to be a Polish archaeologist of Lusatian origin- Wojciech Kóčka. The most radical postulates in this area were expressed by the Lusatian youth organization- Narodny Partyzan Łužica.

Bilingual names of streets in Cottbus
Bilingual names of streets in Cottbus

Similarly, in Czechoslovakia, where before the Potsdam Conference in Prague, 300. Cottbus ( Lower Sorbian: Chóśebuz) is a City in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around 125 km southeast of Berlin on the Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, Germany, from July 16, Prague (ˈprɑːg Praha (ˈpraɦa see also other names) is the Capital and Largest city of the Czech Republic. 000 people manifested for the independence of Lusatia. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The endeavours to separate Lusatia from Germany did not succeed because of the individual and geopolitical interests. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. After 1918, David Lloyd George did not intend to impoverish Germany and Stalin, after World War II, desired to conquer the whole of Germany. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common David Lloyd George 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor OM, PC (17 January 1863 &ndash 26 March 1945 was a British Statesman and the only Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Joseph Stalin ( ნამდვილი გვარი ჯუღაშვილი|Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili; March 5 1953 was General Secretary of the Communist Party World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

The statistics might prove the progression of Germanization among Sorbs: by the end of the 19th century, about 150,000 people spoke Sorbian languages. Germanisation (also spelled Germanization) is either the spread of the German language, people and culture either by force or Assimilation In 1920 almost all Sorbs mastered Sorbian and German at the same degree. The last Sorb who very slightly knew German died in Műschen village in 1954. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Nowadays, in 2004, the number of people using Sorbian languages has been estimated to no more than 50,000.

Regions of Lusatia

There are 3 main regions of Lusatia that differ in the language, religion and customs. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of

Region of Catholic Lusatia

The flag of Upper Lusatia
The flag of Upper Lusatia

Catholic Lusatia encompasses 85 towns in the districts of Bautzen, Kamenz and Hoyerswerda. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a Kamenz ( Sorbian Kamjenc) is a Lusatian town in eastern Saxony, Germany, with a population of 18243 and is part of the Bautzen Hoyerswerda ( Upper Sorbian Wojerecy, Lower Sorbian Wórjejce, Czech Hojeřice) is a town in the German This is where the Upper Sorbian Language, customs and tradition are still being cultivated. In some of the places (e. g. Radibor/ Radwor, Crostwitz/Chrósćicy, and Rosenthal /Róžant) Sorbs are the majority of the population, basically only in this region one can still hear children speaking Sorbian. For the town in Poland see Racibórz. Radibor ( Sorbian: Radwor) is a municipality in Saxony in Germany Crostwitz ( Sorbian: Chrósćicy) is a municipality in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany.

On Sundays, during holidays and weddings people wear women’s (and men’s) regional costumes (children and young people wear it as well) rich in decoration, embroidery and encrusted with pearls.

There are many traditions cultivated, such as: Bird Wedding (25th of January), Easter Cavalcade of Riders, Witch Burning (30th April), Maik, singing on Saint Martin’s Day (Nicolay), celebration of Saint Barbara’s Day and Saint Nicolas’ Day. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year.

Region of Hoyerswerda (Wojerecy) and Schleife (Slepo)

In this region (the area from Hoyerswerda to Schleife) the dialect with characteristic features of both Upper and Lower Sorbian is still in use. Hoyerswerda ( Upper Sorbian Wojerecy, Lower Sorbian Wórjejce, Czech Hojeřice) is a town in the German Schleife (ˈʃlaɪfə Uppersorbian Slepo, is a municipality of 3000 in northern Görlitz district northeast Saxony, Germany This is a Protestant region, highly devastated by the brown coal mining industry, sparsely populated and to a great extend Germanized (Sorbian is only used by few people over 60 years old).

The region can be distinguished by many Slavic wooden architecture monuments (churches, houses), regional costumes’ diversity (mainly worn by older women) with white knitted and black cross-like embroidery and the tradition of playing bagpipes. Bagpipes are a class of Musical instrument, Aerophones using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag In several villages residents cultivate traditions such as: expelling of winter, Maik, Easter and Great Friday singing, celebrating dźěćetko (disguised child or young girl giving Christmas presents)

Region of Lower Lusatia

The Flag of Lower Lusatia
The Flag of Lower Lusatia

There are 60 towns from the area of Cottbus belonging to this region, where most of the older people (over 60), but few young people and children, can speak the Lower Sorbian language, often with many borrowings from the German language (when talking to young people, they generally use German). Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" Cottbus ( Lower Sorbian: Chóśebuz) is a City in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around 125 km southeast of Berlin on the In the regione some primary schools still teach bilingual, and in Cottbus there is an important gymnasium who still have Lower Sorbian as the main language of education. This is a Protestant region, again highly devastated by the brown coal mining industry. The biggest tourist attraction of the region (and in the whole Lusatia) are the marshlands, with many Spreewald/Błóta canals, picturesque broads of the Spree. Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of See also Spreewald (ship. The Spreewald ( German for " Spree forest" in Lower Sorbian: Błota The Spree (ʃpʁeː Sprowja Sprjewja Spréva is a River in Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin, Germany and in Ústecký

Regional costumes are colourful and characteristic (worn mainly by older but on holydays by young woman as well). A big, rich in golden embroidering headscarf lapa is a part of regional costume that differs in every village.

In some villages following traditions are cultivated: Shrovetide, Maik, Easter bonfires, Roosters catching/hunting. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. In Jänschwalde (Sorbian: Janšojcach) so called Janšojki bog (disguised young girl) gives Christmas presents.

Lusatian anthem

Main article: Lusatian anthem

in Lower Sorbian

Rědna Łužyca

Rědna Łužyca,
spšawna, pśijazna,
mojich serbskich woścow kraj,
mojich glucnych myslow raj,
swěte su mě twoje strony. 

Cas ty pśichodny,
zakwiś radostny!
Och, gab muže stanuli,
za swoj narod źěłali,
godne nimjer wobspomnjeśa!

in Upper Sorbian

Rjana Łužica

Rjana Łužica,
sprawna přećelna,
mojich serbskich wótcow kraj,
mojich zbóžnych sonow raj,
swjate su mi twoje hona!

Časo přichodny,
zakćěj radostny!
Ow, zo bychu z twojeho
klina wušli mužojo,
hódni wěčnoh wopomnjeća!

The Sorbs and Poland

One of the pioneers of the cooperation between the two nations was Polish historian Wilhelm Bogusławski who lived in the 19th century and wrote the first book on Polish-Sorbian history Rys dziejów serbołużyckich (Polish title), it was published in Saint Petersburg in 1861. Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The book was expanded and published again in cooperation with Michał Hórnik in 1884 in Bautzen, under a new title Historije serbskeho naroda. Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a Alfons Parczewski was another friend of Sorbs, who from 1875 was involved in Sorbs' rights protection, participating in Sorbian meetings in Bautzen. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Bautzen ( pronounced, until 1868: Budissin; Upper Sorbian: Budyšin; Lower Sorbian: Budyšyn) is a It was thanks to him, among others, that Józef Ignacy Kraszewski founded a scholarship for Sorbian students. Józef Ignacy Kraszewski ( Warsaw, July 28, 1812 – March 19, 1887, Geneva) was a Polish novelist An association of friends of Sorbian Nation was established at the University of Warsaw in 1936 (Polish full name: Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Narodu Serbo-Łużyckiego). University of Warsaw (Uniwersytet Warszawski is the largest University in Poland, ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement as the second best Polish Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It gathered people not only from the university. Its president was Professor Stanisław Słoński, and the deputy president was Julia Wieleżyńska. The association was a legal entity. There were 3 individual organizations devoted to Sorbian matters. Prołuż founded in Krotoszyn, expanded to all Poland (3000 members). It was biggest noncommunist organization that dealt with foreign affairs. This youth organization was created during the soviet occupation and its motto was “Polish guard over Lusatia” (pl. Nad Łużycami polska straż). Its highest activity was in Greater Poland (Polish: Wielkopolska, a district of western Poland). Greater Poland or Great Poland, Polish Wielkopolska (Großpolen Latin: Polonia Maior) is a historical region of west-central Poland After the creation of East Germany, Prołuż was dissolved, and its president historian from Poznań Alojzy Stanisław Matyniak was arrested. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. ^ "Serbowie liczą na pomoc Polski" Rzeczpospolita 25 March 2008
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ [3]
  5. ^ "Serbowie liczą na pomoc Polski" Rzeczpospolita 25 March 2008

External links

At about a population of 60000 (30000 of which speak Sorbian the Sorbs are the smallest Slavic-speakinggroup in Europe Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The Sorbian languages are classified under the Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. The Milceni or Milzeni (Milčané Milzener Milczanie were a West Slavic Tribe in Upper Lusatia.

Dictionary

sorbs

-noun

  1. Plural form of sorb.

Sorbs

-noun

  1. Plural form of Sorb.
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