“Aussig? Where’s Aussig?” I often hear that. Right here we stand before the Aussiger Denkmal. It is a memorial for Aussig. Aussig is now known as Ústí nad Labem. It is a city in the Czech Republic.
This Aussiger Denkmal marks a place of memory. Munich took over the patronage for Aussig’s former citizens in 1952. The Aussiger Denkmal was erected in 1970. It marked 25 years since the expulsion of the Sudeten Germans.
Look closely at the Aussiger Denkmal. The stone reads “This place is named after the former Sudeten German city of Aussig.” Munich took over patronage of the town’s former citizens. The Hilfsverein Aussig erected this Aussiger Denkmal. It was built to mark 25 years of expulsion.
The Aussiger Denkmal is made of shell limestone. It stands on Aussiger Platz. This square was named in 1953. The Aussiger Denkmal itself is a pillar. It measures 0.64 by 0.44 by 2.40 meters.
Aussig sits on the Elbe River in northern Bohemia. It is a hub for industry and transportation. Aussig is about 48 km southeast of Dresden. It lies 140 meters above sea level. The old town is on the Elbe’s left bank. It is at the Bílina River’s mouth. The Erzgebirge foothills are to the north. The Bohemian Uplands stretch south.
The Aussiger Denkmal reminds us of Aussig’s history. The city’s name comes from the Old Czech word “ústí.” It means “mouth.” This refers to the Bílina flowing into the Elbe. The Latin name for the city was Usk super Albium.
The Aussiger Denkmal stands as a testament. It honors a community displaced but not forgotten. It links Munich to Aussig. It acknowledges a shared past. The Aussiger Denkmal invites reflection. It reminds us of the importance of remembrance.