Uprooted: How Breslau Became Wroclaw during the Century of Expulsions

(Paperback)

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With the stroke of a pen at the Potsdam Conference following the Allied victory in 1945, Breslau, the largest German city east of Berlin, became the Polish city of Wroclaw. This work examines the long-term psychological and cultural consequences of forced migration in 20th-century Europe through the experiences of Wroclaw's Polish inhabitants.

Reviews

"As a case study from 'the century of expulsions,' Thurn's monograph significantly contributes to uncovering how and why the complex ethnic patchwork of Europe was remade into ostensibly homogenous nation-states. Richly illustrated, well translated, and available at an affordable price, it will offer valuable insights to scholars and students alike and should prove useful in courses on ethnic cleansing, urban history, memory studies, the Twentieth Century, East Central Europe, and Modem Germany."--Andrew Demshuk, Canadian Journal of History "[C]ritical yet empathetic account ..."--Choice "Thum's thoroughly researched book makes a valuable contribution to an emerging field of study and sheds new light on the complex and sensitive issue of Polish-German relations, and the regional, national and cultural consequences of forced migrations over generations."--Stephanie Rauch, Urban History "Thum displays expert skills--and an engaging prose style--both as a political and social historian and as a practitioner of the cultural history of cities and their architectural landscape... This book offers the most imaginative treatment of the western territories' Polonization now accessible in the English language. Its translation is smooth, and its production with many excellent illustrations does Princeton University Press credit. It is a work that helps to humanize the Polish-German borderlands in the aftermath of their most inhumane era."--William W. Hagen, Journal of Modern History "Thum has written a compelling contribution to our understanding of the culture and politics of communist Poland."--Padraic Kenney, American Historical Review

Author Bio

Gregor Thum is assistant professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh.