Comments for Swabian Trek http://www.swabiantrek.com in quest of the promised land Wed, 08 May 2013 07:29:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on Pantschowa (Pancevo) in the Banat by Robert Pomes http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=516&cpage=1#comment-41603 Robert Pomes Wed, 08 May 2013 07:29:23 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=516#comment-41603 Thanks for the article! My grandfather, Karl Dorner, was shot on the 16th Oktober 1944. My grandmother, Irene Dorner (born Spiller) were taken with her two children to Brestowatz - Besni Fok and back to Brestowatz, finally Rudolfsgnad. And the full programme: Forced labour until 1954. Rudolfsgnad is closed but alive. Thanks for the article!

My grandfather, Karl Dorner, was shot on the 16th Oktober 1944. My grandmother, Irene Dorner (born Spiller) were taken with her two children to Brestowatz – Besni Fok and back to Brestowatz, finally Rudolfsgnad. And the full programme: Forced labour until 1954.

Rudolfsgnad is closed but alive.

]]> Comment on Werbass, Vrbas, Verbász in the Batschka by Frederick Dregischan http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=495&cpage=1#comment-40570 Frederick Dregischan Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:40:15 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=495#comment-40570 Greetings, I have not yet purchased this book, but I do look forward to doing so. My family is from beautiful little Neu Werbass since the 1700s. I would like to walk the same roads and eat the same foods as my Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, his Father and his Forefathers. My blood, bones and spirit are there. My best, Frederick Greetings,
I have not yet purchased this book, but I do look forward to doing so. My family is from beautiful little Neu Werbass since the 1700s. I would like to walk the same roads and eat the same foods as my Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, his Father and his Forefathers. My blood, bones and spirit are there.

My best,
Frederick

]]> Comment on Mágocs a Market Town in Baranya County by Sandra Hoffman Tubbs http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=425&cpage=1#comment-40017 Sandra Hoffman Tubbs Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:26:39 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=425#comment-40017 Thanks so much for the great translation of this part of Franz Teufel's book. Our families go back to the settling of Baranya Magocs back when it was re-inhabited in the 1730s and 1740s. Can't say exactly when, since handmade paper, charcoal ink, and goose quill "pens" don't make for easy reading of very old documents. Translating Hungary and German into English is not an easy task. I truly appeciate it. Thanks so much for the great translation of this part of Franz Teufel’s book. Our families go back to the settling of Baranya Magocs back when it was re-inhabited in the 1730s and 1740s. Can’t say exactly when, since handmade paper, charcoal ink, and goose quill “pens” don’t make for easy reading of very old documents. Translating Hungary and German into English is not an easy task. I truly appeciate it.

]]> Comment on Hodschag a Market Town in the Batschka by Heike Sichterman http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=501&cpage=1#comment-39997 Heike Sichterman Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:00:04 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=501#comment-39997 My family was personally afflicted by the massaker. Most of my father's family(last name Stegili) perished and he was an orphan at he age of 12. Only due to his uncle who fled in time, did he later get to Germany. My father never talked about it. All we know we know from this uncle. I am living in America right now teaching German and I am telling his story to everyone who wants to hear it. My family was personally afflicted by the massaker. Most of my father’s family(last name Stegili) perished and he was an orphan at he age of 12. Only due to his uncle who fled in time, did he later get to Germany. My father never talked about it. All we know we know from this uncle. I am living in America right now teaching German and I am telling his story to everyone who wants to hear it.

]]> Comment on Deportation to Slave Labour in Russia by Rose Mary Keller Hughes http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=148&cpage=1#comment-33347 Rose Mary Keller Hughes Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:03:22 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=148#comment-33347 Thank you for making this available on the Internet. As you know, Henry, you translated two stories of slave labor captivity for me. It was real and it was horrendous. My cousins who were part of slave labor in the Soviet coal mines today are happy despite their five years in the camp. When asked why they weren't bitter they replied that their being "schlepped" they could be happy--if they were bitter, then their captors would have won. Thank you for making this available on the Internet. As you know, Henry, you translated two stories of slave labor captivity for me. It was real and it was horrendous. My cousins who were part of slave labor in the Soviet coal mines today are happy despite their five years in the camp. When asked why they weren’t bitter they replied that their being “schlepped” they could be happy–if they were bitter, then their captors would have won.

]]> Comment on Pantschowa (Pancevo) in the Banat by Peter Klein http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=516&cpage=1#comment-31619 Peter Klein Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:14:05 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=516#comment-31619 My fathers family was from Bawanischte (Bavaniste). Most of his family was killed in the killings that took place in the partisan reprisal sweeps or died in the knicanin death camp. My family name is Klein and one younger brother of my father and a few cousins who were young children survived and eventually made it to Germany. My father only survived because he was one of the lucky ones that the British did not hand back over to Tito's partisans. All we can do now for our relatives is to pray for them and make sure that they are never forgotten. My fathers family was from Bawanischte (Bavaniste). Most of his family was killed in the killings that took place in the partisan reprisal sweeps or died in the knicanin death camp. My family name is Klein and one younger brother of my father and a few cousins who were young children survived and eventually made it to Germany. My father only survived because he was one of the lucky ones that the British did not hand back over to Tito’s partisans.

All we can do now for our relatives is to pray for them and make sure that they are never forgotten.

]]> Comment on About the Author by Peter Klein http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=2&cpage=1#comment-31616 Peter Klein Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:03:38 +0000 #comment-31616 Dear Mr Fisher; I have been trying to research the history of my fathers family. From the oral history that he gave us as we were growing up, I have been able to piece together quite a bit of the family story. My fathers family was from Bawanischte (Bavaniste), a neighbour village to Mramorak. They were raised as Lutherans and were very religious, to the point that my grandfather was reportedly jailed as a conciencious objector for refusing to serve in the army. I was very interested to read your story regarding the influx of Lutherans into the Mramorak area. We were told by my father that he believed they were originally from the Schwartzwald, but based on what I just read perhaps that is not true. I was very saddened by reading about what happened to the german peoples of Mramorak and the surrounding villages. My father was in a British POW camp when he ran into someone he knew from Bawanischte. That person told him that most of his family had been killed. Fortunately, his younger brother, who was only 9 or 10, was not killed and eventually got out to Germany. After the war the were able to reunite and my father heard the grisly details of what had happened. By the way, I think it is important to state that what you say about the ethnic Germans in that area is accurate. My father said that only a few of the Volksdeutche were rabid Hitlerites, while most had no love or time for him or German war efforts. He always said that if it were not for the threats of being declared an enemy of the Reich, almost nobody would have joined the Prinz Eugen SS division. That division was never a "volunteer" division by any stretch. I am actually planning to visit Vojvodina/Serbia later this year. One of my goals is to discover the land tract numbers for my fathers family farm, reportedly pretty large, so that I can then trach the family back via the records of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Is this something that you were able to do in your research? I would love to hear back from you on any thoughts you may have on how I can make my search more productive. Thank you for your time and consideration. Peter Klein Newark, Delaware, USA Dear Mr Fisher; I have been trying to research the history of my fathers family. From the oral history that he gave us as we were growing up, I have been able to piece together quite a bit of the family story. My fathers family was from Bawanischte (Bavaniste), a neighbour village to Mramorak. They were raised as Lutherans and were very religious, to the point that my grandfather was reportedly jailed as a conciencious objector for refusing to serve in the army.

I was very interested to read your story regarding the influx of Lutherans into the Mramorak area. We were told by my father that he believed they were originally from the Schwartzwald, but based on what I just read perhaps that is not true. I was very saddened by reading about what happened to the german peoples of Mramorak and the surrounding villages. My father was in a British POW camp when he ran into someone he knew from Bawanischte. That person told him that most of his family had been killed. Fortunately, his younger brother, who was only 9 or 10, was not killed and eventually got out to Germany. After the war the were able to reunite and my father heard the grisly details of what had happened.

By the way, I think it is important to state that what you say about the ethnic Germans in that area is accurate. My father said that only a few of the Volksdeutche were rabid Hitlerites, while most had no love or time for him or German war efforts. He always said that if it were not for the threats of being declared an enemy of the Reich, almost nobody would have joined the Prinz Eugen SS division. That division was never a “volunteer” division by any stretch.

I am actually planning to visit Vojvodina/Serbia later this year. One of my goals is to discover the land tract numbers for my fathers family farm, reportedly pretty large, so that I can then trach the family back via the records of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Is this something that you were able to do in your research?

I would love to hear back from you on any thoughts you may have on how I can make my search more productive. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Peter Klein
Newark, Delaware, USA

]]> Comment on Siwatz in the Batschka by Jimmy L. Gockel http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=440&cpage=1#comment-28243 Jimmy L. Gockel Sat, 19 Jan 2013 08:28:03 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=440#comment-28243 My Mother, Gisela and her Foster parents Phillipp and Elisabeth Huber lived in Alt-Siwatz. Phillipp owned a large vineyard and Elisabeth was a mid-wife for the citizens of the town. They fled in Oct 1944 along with towns people when word came of the Russian advancement. They traveled by horse-wagons through Hungary, which where strafed by aircraft and they settled in Manhausen Austria near the Concentration Camps as they knew would be safe from bombings. After the Liberation, American troops turned over parts to the Russians. Later all ethnic Germans where ordered to leave Austria and they started to head back home to Siwatz. While in Hungary they learned that Russian Army was putting towns people in Concentration Camps so stayed in Hungary. aboyt a year later they where told to leave and fled to Karlruche, Germany settled in Durlach. My Mother met my Father who was stationed in Karlsruche in the Army and they married in 1956 coming to America. I have a book from my Mother entitled Siwatz ein donauschwabisches dorf in der Batschka along with some maps of the town. My Mother, who was adopted at 12, lost contact with her Brother Alexander Militz in 1941 and believe may still be alive. I've been trying for years to locate him with no success, believe he may be in Germany. My Mother has Cancer and only has a short time remaining so any help would be most appreciated. My Mother, Gisela and her Foster parents Phillipp and Elisabeth Huber
lived in Alt-Siwatz. Phillipp owned a large vineyard and Elisabeth was a mid-wife for the citizens of the town.
They fled in Oct 1944 along with towns people when word came of the Russian advancement. They traveled by horse-wagons
through Hungary, which where strafed by aircraft and they settled in Manhausen Austria near the Concentration Camps as they knew would be safe from bombings.
After the Liberation, American troops turned over parts to the Russians.
Later all ethnic Germans where ordered to leave Austria and they started to head back home to Siwatz. While in Hungary
they learned that Russian Army was putting towns people in Concentration Camps so stayed in Hungary. aboyt a year later they where told to leave and fled to Karlruche, Germany settled in Durlach.
My Mother met my Father who was stationed in Karlsruche in the Army and they married in 1956 coming to America.
I have a book from my Mother entitled Siwatz ein donauschwabisches dorf in der
Batschka along with some maps of the town.
My Mother, who was adopted at 12, lost contact with her Brother Alexander Militz in 1941 and believe may still be alive.
I’ve been trying for years to locate him with no success, believe he may be in Germany. My Mother has Cancer and only has a short time remaining so any help would be most appreciated.

]]> Comment on Mramorak in the Banat by Pete Harich http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=498&cpage=1#comment-27674 Pete Harich Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:03:45 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=498#comment-27674 "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Acts 7:60 “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Acts 7:60

]]> Comment on Pantschowa (Pancevo) in the Banat by Mergel http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=516&cpage=1#comment-23901 Mergel Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:45:34 +0000 http://www.swabiantrek.com/?page_id=516#comment-23901 Great! My family is from Pancevo and they can write a book about all that happened after SWW. We still live in Pancevo. My grandfather is 72 and the most of his relatives died in concentracion camp in Knicanin (Rudolfsgnad) or they are abroad. Hello, Elizabet, has your mother ever heard anything about family Mergel from Pancevo? Great! My family is from Pancevo and they can write a book about all that happened after SWW. We still live in Pancevo. My grandfather is 72 and the most of his relatives died in concentracion camp in Knicanin (Rudolfsgnad) or they are abroad.

Hello, Elizabet, has your mother ever heard anything about family Mergel from Pancevo?

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