La Bataille de Bautzen 1813

Not surprisingly, ethnic tensions arising out of these population disparities have become endemic in Bautzen. Non-German immigrants have come to Bautzen in growing numbers and there have been a whole series of conflicts between immigrants and German nationals. Bautzen is an old city, having celebrated its 1000th year anniversary in 2002. Though it is primarily a German city, it has a rich history from its small Slavic minority called the Sorbs. Sometimes called the Wends, the Sorbs are a protected ethnic minority and the German state university has a strong department devoted to the study of the Sorbs and their society. Battle of Bautzen 1945 Bautzen was the home of another major battle in 1945. German forces in late April of 1945 were able to launch a successful counterattack with the 4th Panzer Army defeating the 2nd Polish Army, retaking Bautzen and keeping Dresden from the Soviet forces. This German offensive has been described as a victory, and concluded less than two weeks before the fall of Berlin. Despite this victory by the Germans. The end of the war found Bautzen in the Soviet sphere of influence; and Bautzen became part of the German Democratic Republic. During the Third Reich, the Nazis had set-up concentration camps nearby Bautzen. Those camps were used by the Stasi, the East German secret police, to house political prisoners. Once Bautzen became part of the Federal Republic, the political prison was shut down and turned into a museum.

Working the Carp Ponds

La Bataille de Bautzen 1813

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