You will enjoy the book and history. It is true as Ashdean indicates that some nobles had the good sense to escape before the Russians swept over the land. Many however remained with their property, friends, and communities. Few men were around, even nobles. Only women and children and elderly. the noblemen were the main core of Hitler's armed services in a large way; the German theory of troop strength being to put the best men and most affluent up front, first. By 1945, a overwhelming percent of men 15-65 were simply nowhere to be seen other than in battle.
Hence, the escape was left generally up to women which exacerbated the problem because there was always hope their men would be back to get them or protect them. even if they thought differently, it was the question of where to go and where to be found. So, unfortuntately, many stayed and endured the severe rath of the soviet onslaught.
Many refuguees made it to Dresden which was a huge refugee destination, aided in large part by the Wettins and other Bavarian nobles. However, the refugees who made it as far as Dresden met with death by incineration in February 1945 during the British and American phosphorus bombing raids.
