Delving into History: A Journey of Ten Siblings to Their Forebears' Homeland

Eighty years ago, the expulsion of three million Sudeten Germans was a seismic event in European history. This year, the Hampel family, descendants of those displaced, embarked on a poignant journey to reconnect with their roots in northern Bohemia.

The Hampel siblings - Wolfgang, Josef, Maria, and several others - hail from various towns in Bavaria. Wolfgang resides in Miesbach, Josef in Elbach, and Maria in Hausham. Two of the siblings also have roots in Warngau.

The idea for the trip was conceived at a family celebration, a desire to learn more about the homeland of their ancestors. The journey was a confrontation with their history, a chance to understand what it meant to be a Sudeten German.

The Hampels started their journey in Trautendorf, the village where their father was born in 1927. Wolfgang felt a sense of welcome in the Czech Republic, praising the Czechs for their help and hospitality. However, the family's property in Trautenbach, expropriated by the Czech state, was a stark reminder of the past.

The Hampel family had to leave their property on September 21, 1945. After their displacement, they found a new home in Wall. The landscape of the Upper Land, reminiscent of the Giant Mountains in the Sudetenland, made them feel at home.

Wolfgang emphasises that the expulsion of the Sudeten Germans was a consequence of World War II, a conflict that Germany aggressively started. He wrote a travel report to document the family history for his grandchildren, noting that Germans and Czechs live in good neighbourhoods today.

The Hampel siblings were able to view their father's birth entry in the birth register, which included extensive information. The search results do not provide information about the name of the city or village where the Hampel family lived before 1945.

Ten siblings of the Hampel family live in different locations within the Miesbach district. One sister moved to Berlin, and one to Ebersberg. Despite the distances, the shared journey has brought them closer, deepening their understanding of their heritage.

The Hampel family's story serves as a poignant reminder of the past, but also a testament to the enduring bonds of family and the power of understanding history. As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Sudeten German expulsion, their journey offers a powerful lesson in reconciliation and the importance of learning from the past.