# Flight and Expulsion of Germans (1945)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1945-flight-and-expulsion-of-germans
Location: Eastern Europe
Categories: main-event

From 1944 to 1950 about 12 to 14 million Germans fled or were expelled from Eastern Europe. Hundreds of thousands died. The refugees had to be integrated in both German states.

## Why it matters
It was one of the largest population movements in history.

Ruler at the time: [Karl Dönitz](https://germany-history.com/rulers/karl-donitz)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–1950)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_and_expulsion_of_Germans_(1944%E2%80%931950))