The West German government in 1958 estimated the ethnic German death toll during the expulsion period to be about 270,000, a figure that has been cited in historical literature since then. Research by a joint German and Czech commission of historians in 1995 found that the previous demographic estimates of 220,000 to 270,000 deaths were overstated and based on faulty information; they concluded that the actual death toll was at least 15,000 persons, and that it could range up to a maximum of 30,000 dead if one assumes that some deaths were not reported.
In 1958, the West German government estimated that about 270,000 ethnic Germans died during the expulsion period. This figure has been cited in historical literature since then. In 1995, a joint German and Czech commission of historians found that previous estimates of between 220,000 to 270,000 deaths were too high; they concluded that the actual death toll was at least 15,000 persons, with a possible maximum of 30,000 dead if some deaths were unreported.