The 2000^th Anniversary of Hermann’s Victory

Hermann Memorial in the Teutonic Forest

    It has been two thousand years since Hermann led the Germans to victory in the Teutoberger Wald, or Teutonic forest.  Hermann the Cherusker commanded six thousand Germanics to do battle against eighteen thousand elite warriors of Rome.  He prepared a defeat of total annihilation against his enemy.  This had the effect of halting Rome’s expansion into Germany so that our ancestors could live according to their own way in freedom.  Without this stroke for freedom it is certain that there would not be Germanics today.

            How did the battle come about?  Rome stuck its’ meddling hands in all corners throughout the wide world.  Rome wished to provide itself more territory by conquest in Germanic lands in which to do commerce and secure profitable business.  Many folks sent their young men to be used by the Romans as soldiers and gave Rome dominion over their lands.  Other folks let themselves be subjected to a foreign system of justice, art, culture and language so that they were formed and molded according to the Roman will.  The Germanic folks set themselves in opposition to occupation.  Would they remain Germans or would they submit to Roman domination?  Hermann served for many years in the Roman army and returned to his homeland.  Probably he did not want anything more.  He wanted to return to his roots and own kind.  What he found were agents of Rome.  In dismay he set himself to oppose Roman influence.  He traveled from tribe to tribe and gathered allies.  Hermann mustered courage to counter invasion by his force of personality.  He led his forces with foresight and vision to victorious battle against an overwhelming adversary. 

            It has been reported that Hermann led his troops to a river across from the opponents in order to engage in battle.  On the other side stood his brother with the Romans; who wished to make his voice known as one who stood against the resistance.  Hermann’s brother argued that the culturally advanced Romans were run well and a good arrangement could be gotten with them.  When his brother asked Hermann why he instead wished to do battle against Rome, Hermann gave the answer that even today is decisive: “I fight against the Romans because they have grabbed to eliminate the most vital gods of the Germanics.”  With that he meant that they wished to change the folkish soul and collective ways of the Germanics so that soon we would be divested of our own nature.

            Let us today set ourselves in Hermann’s place and go back after many years of living abroad to our homeland of Silesia in the German Reich.  What would happen to us?  Silesia is almost totally unknown to the youth and many adults.  The name of the homeland has almost totally been eliminated from our lives.  For example, the Lower Saxon oversight board has denigrated the word Silesia to nonexistence as a result of the Saxon Circle of Reform.  In schools the eastern territories are hardly mentioned or only brought up as a skirting discussion of language.  It is almost impossible to raise a memorial or museum solely dedicated to the expelled Germanics.  In the divided city of Gorlitz it is officially seen as unwelcome to raise the Silesian flag lest perhaps the Polish neighbors might be offended by it.  It has come to pass that ever more foreign words have been forced into the German language so that one can hardly understand them.  Instead of folk songs, English “songs” are played and sung.  English sayings “beautify” the clothes, magazines and plaques.  “Thanksgiving” and “Halloween” are celebrated instead of Erntedank and Fasching.  Vacations are not used to visit one’s own homeland, but rather every other people’s foreign lands.  This leads to the case that many know Africa or Turkey better than their homeland.  This list could go on at length.  I wish to limit myself to a few examples.

Hermann takes leave of his wife Thusnelda

            However, what can we use as an example of Hermann coming back to his home?  Firstly, we must be totally clear and of one voice to place duty to our homeland first.  One can not be a servant to two masters.  We must dedicate ourselves with force in word and deed to our duty.  We can do thusly by word- insofar as we take every opportunity to bring Silesia to discussion with our family, with friends, in sport clubs, at discussion circles, or anywhere that such an opening may occur.  Thereby Silesia will come to mind as called and interest therein will be awoken.  The deed stands by attending every exiled group’s and their youth organization’s meetings in order to strengthen them and give them purpose of meaning.  We must dedicate ourselves to culture and tradition in order that they live and continue.  The word and its’ following deed with their subsequent consequences are today our sword and shield.  The allies are all Germans and friends from other nations who understand the importance of keeping Silesian culture especially and also German culture to be known generally and be prepared to set forward to advance it.  In this it is important that one sees in every duty, whether word or deed, to set forth for the homeland.  Only together are we strong and can we move events.  Thereby the words of Albert Matthais are a continual reminder:  “You should believe in Germany’s future, on your folk’s existence.  Let this belief not be robbed from you despite whatever may occur.”  Act as though the destiny of the Germanics and our responsibility hung on you and your acts alone.  Only if we undertake this solution will there be Silesian and German culture still in two thousand years.  And another thought is at my side looking back at the great need and turn of destiny this year- that we can only achieve this together.

               written by   Fabian Rimbach                                    translated by Duncan Edmister

                                 Schlesische Jugend

                                 Postfach 1224

                                 36422 Bad Salzungen

                                 GERMANY