Free Republic of Schwarzenberg
Freie Republik Schwarzenberg
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Map of the localities in the Saxon part of the Ore Mountains reliably unoccupied from May 8, to June 24, 1945
[1]
Unoccupied locality
Presumably unoccupied locality
Occupied locality, for orientation
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Capital
| Uncertain
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Historical era
| World War II
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| May 8 1945
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? Soviet occupation
| June 24 1945
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The
Free Republic of Schwarzenberg
(
German
:
Freie Republik Schwarzenberg
) is a term applied to portions of western
Saxony
that were
briefly not occupied by the Allies
after the
surrender
of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945. These districts of Saxony were thus self-governing for several weeks before occupation under the Soviet Union.
After the surrender of Nazi Germany, the Saxony districts of
Schwarzenberg
,
Stollberg
, and
Aue
in the
Ore Mountains
were left unoccupied by Allies for unknown reasons. This led to
anti-fascist
groups
[
specify
]
forming local governments in those towns and villages, ending with the area's occupation by
Soviet troops
on June 24, 1945.
There has been speculation as to why neither
American
nor
Soviet
troops immediately occupied the area. One explanation is that the Soviets and Americans agreed to halt on the banks of the
Mulde river
. Because there are several rivers with this name, and the Schwarzenberg area lies between them, there may have been some misunderstanding over the agreed boundaries. Another possible explanation is that the
Allies
simply overlooked the area until the lack of
occupation
was noticed.
Government and organisation
[
edit
]
The authority of the newly generated anti-fascist councils was still subject to democratic structures, though they were never intended to build a
nation-state
. The councils dealt with
humanitarian
issues since the unoccupied county of Schwarzenberg was not supported by any military force at the time. Issues the council dealt with included the maintenance of law and order, as well as dealing with scattered
German soldiers
fleeing west to avoid Soviet imprisonment.
After the Soviet occupation in June 1945, the councils were dismissed. However, their work was appreciated by the Soviets, and some councilmen kept their positions in similar Soviet-initiated councils for several years even after the
German Democratic Republic
was founded in 1949.
Popular culture
[
edit
]
The name "Free Republic of Schwarzenberg" is derived from the 1984 novel
Schwarzenberg
by
Stefan Heym
. As the novel is based on actual events, the name has become a convenient descriptor, although the book is primarily a work of fiction rather than a historical record.
The Haus Schwarzenberg structure in
Berlin
is named after the Free Republic of Schwarzenberg. The place contains street art, galleries, shops, and a center named after diarist and
Holocaust
victim
Anne Frank
.
[2]
References
[
edit
]