Hrvati u Birnau

The book "Croats in Birnau" by Vladimir Vlado Ereš, published in 1994, documents the largest pilgrimage of Croats in Germany, with a focus on the regional pilgrimage of Croats from the Archdiocese of Freiburg. The work describes the spiritual and cultural significance of the pilgrimage to the shrine in Birnau on Lake Constance, where Croatian emigrants gather to preserve their faith, identity and unity.

Ereš, as a priest and long-time pastor of Croatian communities in the diaspora, provides a detailed account of the organization of the pilgrimage, its history and the role of the Croatian Catholic Mission in its maintenance. The book emphasizes how this gathering strengthens the bonds of Croats in the diaspora, especially in the context of the challenges of assimilation and political turmoil in Croatia during the 1990s. In addition to descriptions of religious rituals, it also includes personal stories of the participants, emphasizing togetherness and solidarity.

The book is written in Croatian, with parts in German, and serves as a valuable historical and sociological record of the Croatian community in Germany.