SORBS

Sorbs, also known as Lusatian Sorbs or Wends, are a West Slavic ethnic group native to Lusatia, a region in eastern Germany spanning parts of Saxony and Brandenburg. They form one of Germany's recognized national minorities, with tens of thousands identifying as Sorbs, most living in Lusatia. The community sustains two standard Sorbian languages, Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian, which are used in education, media, and local administration in various areas. Upper Sorbian is centered around Bautzen in Saxony, while Lower Sorbian is spoken near Cottbus in Brandenburg.

The Sorbs have inhabited Lusatia since the medieval period and have experienced pressures of assimilation and political suppression at different times, notably under the Nazi regime. After World War II, the socialist state in East Germany promoted Sorbian language and culture, and since German reunification in 1990, protections for Sorbian language rights have continued under national law and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The Sorbs' umbrella organization Domowina coordinates cultural life and advocacy.

Culture remains active with literature, music, traditional crafts, and festivals. Bilingual signage and media, including Sorbian-language publications and broadcasts, support language transmission to younger generations. The Sorbs contribute to the regional identity of Lusatia while maintaining distinct customs and place names in the Sorbian languages.