For the twenty-first time, we will follow in the footsteps of more than twenty thousand Brno residents who, 80 years ago, were driven towards the Austrian border. While able-bodied men were forced to remain in the city for compulsory labour, women, children and the elderly were herded into the procession. At least 1,700 of them succumbed to the hardships along the way and in the days and weeks that followed.
Eleven years ago, in connection with this pilgrimage, Brno city councillors adopted the Declaration of Reconciliation and Common Future, which became a historic milestone in Czech society’s coming to terms with this chapter of our history.
Since 2015, we have symbolically walked in the opposite direction to the historical march – from the mass grave in Pohořelice back to the Augustinian garden in Old Brno. This year’s Pilgrimage will once again offer a unique experience and opportunities for meaningful encounters. Families of witnesses, as well as public figures from the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria, will take part. Organisations active in Czech-German and Czech-Austrian relations will present themselves at information stands and contribute to the accompanying programme.
Information for participants will be provided in Czech and German.
Free admission.
The event has been organised in cooperation with the Ackermann-Gemeinde, with the support of the Czech-German Future Fund.
Event programme:
8:00 – Brno, Mendlovo Square | departure of the first buses with participants
8:30 – Brno, Mendlovo Square | departure of additional buses
9:00 – Pohořelice | opening address (Dr. P. Martin Leitgöb, Provincial of the Redemptorists Vienna–Munich), commemoration of the victims, setting out on the journey
11:30 – Ledce
13:30–14:00 – Rajhrad | information stand with water and refreshments at the Masarykova–Štefánikova junction
16:00 – Modřice | water and information stand in front of the Municipal Hall
16:30 – Gymnázium Brno, Vídeňská | stand with water and refreshments (the march is expected to arrive at approximately 17:45)
17:30 – Brno | ceremonial closing of the event at the Gathering of the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft (BVV)
Participants may join or leave the procession at any point thanks to special shuttle bus services operating continuously along the route.
