Pomník zastřelených Němců

The Monument to the Shot Germans (Pomník zastřelených Němců) is a modest memorial in the cemetery of St. Otýlie in České Budějovice, dedicated to German civilians killed in the city and its surroundings during the first weeks after the end of the Second World War. It is one of several understated memorial sites in the Czech border region that recall a dark and long-unspoken episode of the immediate postwar period.

How to get there?

The monument stands within the grounds of the St. Otýlie cemetery, the main cemetery of České Budějovice, located on Pražská třída, one of the city's principal streets leading toward Prague. The cemetery is within walking distance of the historic centre, and the area is also served by local tram and bus stops, making it easy to reach without a car. Visitors arriving by car will find parking near the main cemetery entrance.

What does the monument commemorate?

The memorial relates to events of May and June 1945, when, amid the chaos and desire for retribution that followed the collapse of the German occupation, acts of violence against the German-speaking population took place across Czechoslovakia. According to historical accounts, in České Budějovice and its vicinity Czech gendarmes shot and buried approximately twenty-four people of German origin in unmarked graves within the cemetery grounds. For decades, these victims had no marked burial site and no form of public commemoration.

The monument itself was not erected until 1995, and its unveiling on 20 May of that year followed a contentious public debate. The question of reckoning with postwar violence against Sudeten Germans remained a sensitive subject in Czech society for a long time, provoking strong feelings among both residents and local authorities. The solution eventually chosen was conciliatory in tone: a plain stone memorial bearing a German-language inscription dedicated to those who died a violent death after the war had ended.

The inscription states, in essence, that the anonymous mass graves of German civilians at this site and elsewhere are meant to remind the living of human dignity and to encourage reconciliation between peoples. This formulation — one that avoids assigning blame while explicitly calling for remembrance and reconciliation — reflected a broader effort in the 1990s to find common ground between Czech and German perspectives on this difficult shared history.

The monument itself is unassuming and does not draw large numbers of visitors, but for anyone interested in twentieth-century Central European history it marks an important, if often overlooked, point on the map of memorial sites connected to the so-called wild expulsions of the German population after 1945. The St. Otýlie cemetery in which it stands is itself a place of considerable historical significance, home to the graves of numerous figures linked to the city's history as well as other wartime memorials, including one dedicated to victims of the Heydrich reprisals and to political prisoners.

When to visit?

The cemetery is open year-round during the standard hours typical of municipal cemeteries in the Czech Republic, generally from early morning until evening, with shorter hours in winter. Visitors are advised to plan a visit outside the busiest period around All Souls' Day, when the cemetery sees the highest footfall. The site is better suited to a quiet, reflective visit than to conventional sightseeing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who does the Monument to the Shot Germans commemorate? It commemorates around twenty-four German civilians who were shot and buried in unmarked graves in České Budějovice and its surroundings shortly after the end of the Second World War.

Where exactly is the monument located? It stands within the St. Otýlie cemetery on Pražská třída in České Budějovice.

When was it built and unveiled? The monument was unveiled on 20 May 1995, following a heated public debate that preceded its construction.

What message does the inscription convey? Written in German, the inscription describes the anonymous mass graves of German civilians as a reminder of human dignity and a call for reconciliation.