24 Facts About Herbert Czaja

Herbert Czaja was a German Christian democratic politician.

Herbert Czaja served as a member of the city council of Stuttgart from 1947 to 1953, as a member of the Bundestag from 1953 to 1990, was a long-time member of the Central Committee of German Catholics from 1948, and was President of the Federation of Expellees from 1970 to 1994.

Herbert Czaja was awarded the Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1984.

Herbert Czaja was born in Teschen in Austria-Hungary to a bilingual family of Polish, Czech and German origin.

Herbert Czaja's father Albert Czaja was a respected notary who was fluent in Polish, German and Czech; his mother was Louise nee Smekal.

Herbert Czaja became a Polish citizen at age four when his hometown became part of the Second Polish Republic.

Herbert Czaja studied German studies, history, and philosophy in Vienna and Krakow.

From October 1940 to March 1941 Herbert Czaja worked as a secondary school teacher in Zakopane and then from March 1941 to May 1942 in Przemysl.

Herbert Czaja continued to be involved in anti-Nazi activities, but fearing prosecution for treason and upon the advice of a friend, he volunteered for the Wehrmacht in 1942 to get away from Silesia, serving until he was severely wounded in early 1945.

When Herbert Czaja returned to Cieszyn, his parents' home had been destroyed, communists had taken control over Poland and the situation of ethnic Germans in Silesia was dire.

Under the circumstances of ethnic persecution of the group he felt most attached to and a communist dictatorship now in place in Poland, Herbert Czaja was unwilling to declare Polish nationality.

Shortly after in 1946, Herbert Czaja was expelled by the Polish People's Republic authorities during the expulsion of Germans after World War II.

Herbert Czaja settled in Stuttgart, where he immediately became involved in politics for the Christian Democratic Union and its youth wing, the Junge Union.

Herbert Czaja was a member of the city council of Stuttgart from 1947 to 1953.

Herbert Czaja co-founded the Union of Expellees in the CDU and chaired the branch in Northern Wurttemberg.

Herbert Czaja was a central member of the Ackermann Community, a Catholic organisation promoting ties between Germans and Czechs.

Herbert Czaja served as a member of the Bundestag, the Parliament of West Germany, from 1953 to 1990.

Herbert Czaja served as spokesman of the Landsmannschaft der Oberschlesier from 1969 and was president of the Federation of Expellees from 1970 to 1994.

Herbert Czaja proposed to establish out of Western Poland an autonomous zone under international administration.

Herbert Czaja explicitly called for a Centre against Expulsions in Berlin to be established by Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic in a joint effort to promote peace and reconciliation.

Herbert Czaja died in Stuttgart in 1997, survived by a wife and ten children.

Herbert Czaja was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1968.

Herbert Czaja was awarded the Commander's Cross of the same order in 1973 and the Knight Commander's Cross in 1984.

Herbert Czaja was awarded the Medal of Merit of Baden-Wurttemberg in 1988.