Dear Eric,

The sentence you have quoted from my essay is accurate, the Wends did protest
their separation from the Kingdom of Hungary.

As to your other questions concerning their history, I do not feel qualified
to answer, other than to say that I have met people who considered themselves
to be Hungarians od Wend origin. In order to assist you, I am posting your
letter on two Hungary-lists on the Internet, hoping that you will receive
useful and authoritative information.

Best regards: Bela Liptak
---------------------
Forwarded message:
From:	 (Erik S. Nowery)
To:	
Date: 96-06-26 12:37:48 EDT

Dear Prof. Liptak,

Re: Your Essay on "The Future of Central Eruope" (posted to the Internet 
on Sun. 15 Oct 1995 and Sat., 9 Mar 1966)

An article recently appeared in a local newspaper, THE MORNING CALL, of 
Allentown, Pa, 18105, on June 20, 1996 regarding a Windish (Wendish) 
community in Bethlehem, Pa. The article maintains that the name derives 
from Hungarian and that these poeple are actually Slovenian. It claims 
that these Wends (?) wsere in Hungary (Vas) since about the 6th century 
and that they were united with "other" Slovenes sometime between the 
Counter-Reformatin and the Treaty of Versailles. The city of Bethlehem 
has recently established a sister city relationship with the 
northeastern Slovenian town of Murska Sobota, and the Widish prodical 
children of Bethlehem are now joining a city-wide Slovenian day 
celebration.

(1) I know that the Wends are actually a West Slavic people who have 
historically occupied areas in Pomerania, Silesia, and Lusatia, and that 
the Wends (Sorbs) are now primarily located in Lusatia. I also know that 
Wendish is a West Slavic language (Vanedi) akin to Polish, Czech, and 
Slovak - and not a South Slavic language (Sklaveni) as is Slovenian.

(2) Of course, the Slavic peoples migrated far and wide and mingled 
extensively with other Slavic tribes and with the peoples of other 
nations, and, of course, it is possible that a group of Wends could have 
migrated to and settled in southern Hungary (and Caranthia) anytime from 
the 6th century A.D. through the 1800s.

(3) In the 3rd paragraph on page 3 of your essay, you state, "When the 
WENDS and Slovenes of the Murakoz protested their separation from 
Hungary ...."

(4) I am left with the following questions regarding these Wends to 
which you probably know the answers.

	(a) Who are these Wends to whom you refer? (b) Are they a small 
group that migrated to Hungary? (c) Did they migrate directly to Hungary 
or was it via Austria, Slovakia, or Prussia? (d) Did they migrate via 
the Carpathian Mountains or via the Danube? (e) Were they then 
assimilated with the Slovenes or did they maintain a separate and 
distinct cultural entity, and if, so, did they continue to identify 
themselves as Wends? (f) How numerous was this group of Wends, and did 
the entire group eventually end up in Slovenia (or are some of these 
Wends still in Hungary)?

I would appreciate it very much if you would be so king to enlighten me 
a little on this matter. Thank you very much for any 
information/clarification that you can provide.


Sincerely,

George A. Nowery