Stefan Stippler (Ed.): „Hostau – Heimat zwischen Böhmerwald und Egerland“. 752 pages, language: German, hardcover, EUR 79,00 (ISBN: 978-3-8442-0241-0), published 2011 by epubli, Berlin.
The reprint of the almanac of Hostau was overdue for many years. This present fourth edition wants to be a guideline for successive generations to negotiate one’s way in the provenance of their ancestors. The German-Bohemian Jurisdiction of Hostau (Hostouň) with a total area of around 52,000 acres was the biggest of three jurisdictions in the District of Bischofteinitz (Horšovský Týn). It was a borderland on the upper course of the Radbusa river in a very wooden highland, which was interspaced by meadows of an altitude of 2,000 feet and even higher. In this book you will find a historical survey, a clear street-map and a list of all killed and missing people of both world wars of each single settlement in this county. In addition there are also pictures, episodes of village life, children’s games, dialect, ancient customs, songs, recipes, legends, humor, tales and poems to find. Finally, there is a chapter portraying the pastors, teachers and other celebrities of this homeland county. After essays about the country and its people, settlements und a historical survey of the deanery, the second chapter of the book deals with the City of Hostau and its parish. The third chapter is about the other eight parishes: Eisendorf (Zelezná), Heiligenkreuz (Újezd Svatého Kříže), Melmitz (Mělnice), Muttersdorf (Mutěnín), Plöß (Pleš), Schüttarschen (Štítary), Sirb (Srby) und Weissensulz (Bělá nad Radbuzou). The fourth chapter describes folklore, the expulsion and finally the first reunions after the WWII. The expulsion was not meant to be an end for the lively communities of the whole county. Furthermore the ending chapter of this book proves that.
“I had a look at the book »Bezirk Hostau - Heimat zwischen Böhmerwald und Egerland« by great sympathy. In general, I value the precise work you have done. You describe all details of the old homeland. This is an invaluable contribution not only to history, furthermore it helps the younger generation to understand where its family originates from and where its ancestors had performed remarkable good deeds. Cordially, I thank you for your great work. Additionally, I hope the book will reach a large number of countrymen.”
Dr. Otto of Habsburg (1912-2011)
Anniversary publication remembering 20 years of adoption of the City of Dillingen on the Danube to the Hometown of Hostau in the Bohemian Forest, hardcover, 240 pages, 107 images, bilingual edition (German and Czech), EUR 29,00 (ISBN: 9783899597783), published 2008 by Andere Verlag, Uelvesbüll.
Hostau, a small Bohemian town between the Egerland and the Bohemian Forest, is the topic of this bilingual publication (German and Czech). This present thesis at the University of Salzburg (School of Catholic Theology) analyses the different chronicles and reports of each particular pastor in the years from 1836 to 1938.
Uncovering unknown facts in the history of the parish of Hostau was the main reason to work on this topic in order to make them available to a larger public.
The present thesis will help to continue the reconciliation between Czechs and Sudeten-Germans. Same old traditions should be recognized. From there further connections might be possible perhaps even more. There must be a communication and cooperation between former and current inhabitants of Hostau. In order to achieve good results in these it is important to include the church to all projects as the church unites all people of good will.
"This thesis can be put into a bigger European context. The profound development of historic sources in the archives makes a contribution to conciliation among the nations. It helps to regain lost identities. Additionally it supports the effort to put this region back to the center of Europe, where its historic place is, and which is no longer divided neither by an iron curtain nor a different currency."
Prof. Dr. Dietmar W. Winkler, Paris-Lodron-University Salzburg
"This thesis offers a plastic illustration of ecclesiastical and society life in the specific region."
Doc. dr. Rudolf Kučera, Johannes-Evangelist-Purkyně-University Aussig
"This thesis does not only sample the self-assurance of the former inhabitants of the concerned area. It also supports the search for identity of the affected Czech towns and villages nowadays."
Prof. Dr. Albert-Peter Rethmann, Charles University Prague
"The present survey portrays the commitment of the former people to faith and church and gives desirable pulses to enrich the parochial life in Hostau at present."
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Oberröder, Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
