VISITING AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE APRIL 2009 Die Donauschwaben Germans From Hungary By
Carolyn Schott Forwarded by Dennis Bauer and Alex Leeb
The following article is written by Carolyn Schott, author of the Bessarbian
- Newsletter (GRHS). Carolyn, travelled to Sindelfingen, Germany, to research
about the German immigrated to the Austrian- Hungarian empire, settling in
regions that are today Yugoslavia, Romania
and Hungary. Many of the Germans that settled in the Batschka area as well
as the Banat area, and moved on the German colonies around Odessa in the
early 1800's. I'm sure, some you will find the article interesting. http://www.grhs.org/rig/bess/newsletters/bessarabian/bess6-1.pdf Die
Donauschwaben Germans
from Hungary By Carolyn Schott
My
ancestors seem to have wandered just about every path you can take on their way
to Bessarabia. One of my most challenging families to research has been my
g-g-g-grandparents, Mathäus and Philippina (Bitz) Klein, who came from Hungary
to Freudental, Odessa. (Their granddaughter, Philippina Klein, eventually ends
up in Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia.)
In the late 1700’s, many Germans immigrated to the Austrian-Hungarian empire,
settling in regions that are today Yugoslavia, Romania, and Hungary. (See
article by Gayla Gray on page 4 of this issue for a more detailed history http://www.grhs.org/rig/bess/newsletters/bessarabian/bess6-1.pdf
.)
Many of the Germans that settled in the Batschka area (west of the Tisza River
and east of the Danube), as well as the Banat area (east of the Tisza River and
north of the Danube) moved on to the German colonies around Odessa in the early
1800’s.
I traveled to Germany last fall and wanted to visit an organization that I’d
heard of near Stuttgart that had an extensive library and specialized in the “Donauschwaben,”
as these immigrants are called. I met a friend, who had agreed to be my guide
into Donauschwaben research, at the Haus der Donauschwaben located in
Sindelfingen. Sindelfingen is a suburb of Stuttgart known more for its auto
industry connections than its tourist attractions. (The desk clerk at my hotel
said to me “ You’re on vacation in Sindelfingen? Why?”)
The Haus der Donauschwaben is the headquarters for the Arbeitskreis donauschwäbischer
Familienforscher (AKdFF) or Working Group for Danube- Swabians Family Research.
It contains a museum – and a library where I found an absolute treasure trove
of information!
They have an extensive collection of books on the individual villages in
Hungary, with maps, village histories, census lists and other lists of
settlers’ names. An example – for the town I was focused on, Verbas/Batschka,
I found a book Die Auswanderung nach Neu- Werbass in der Batschka
1784- 1786 by Dr. Gerhard Hein which included “Jacob Bitz, born
1774, married Catharina N. He immigrated 1807 from Neu-Verbas to Freudental,
Russia.” Another book in the library, Werbass 1785 – 1975, shows
“Bitz, Jakob, House #108, place of origin Wiesloch/Kreis Heidelberg, died
1797, 57 years old. His son, Jakob 1808 to Russia.”
Since Jacob Bitz (the son) shows up in the Freudental 1812census in house #47,
just next door to my g-g-g-grandparents, I think it’s reasonable to believe
that my Philippina (Bitz) Klein is most likely from the same Bitz family – and
I have the probable name of her father and my connection back to Germany!
(Although further research is obviously needed in Wiesloch, Germany to prove
these assumptions.)
My Kleins are a bit more difficult since Klein is such a common name. Still,
with the books I found in the AKdFF library plus some contacts from the AKdFF
listserv, I’ve discovered possible origins for this family in both Germany and
another part of Hungary. Although I have more work to do, at least now I have
some clues to follow!
Another incredibly valuable resource being published by AKdFF is the Stefan
Stader series Sammelwerk donauschwäbischer Kolonisten. It is a
compilation, from many different sources, of German immigrants to Hungary, their
origin in Germany, family members, etc. The first two volumes, A-D and E-G, are
available from the Family History Library on microfilm 1224548. Volumes 3 and 4,
H-Kap and Kar-L, can be purchased from AKdFF. (I was quoted €40 + €7 for
postage to purchase Volume 4.) Presumably these books will also be available on
FHL microfilm some time in the future.
AKdFF has membership options both in Europe and North America. A North American
membership is $30 U.S. per year and includes receiving the quarterly
publication, Donauschwäbische Forschungsblätter by email, in English.
(There is currently a backlog of these translations which is being caught up.)
AKdFF also publishes the AKdFF-Handbuch, which is similar to the GRHS Stammbaum,
as it lists the families and villages each member is researching. (The Handbook
is currently out of print, but a new edition will be published in the coming
year.) By cross-referencing Klein and Verbas, I was able to identify several
AKdFF members to contact for possible Klein family information.
AKdFF also supports a German language listserv for sharing Donauschwaben
information. It is a closed list, available only to members.
If you’ve got ancestors who came from Hungary, and have the chance to be in
the Stuttgart area, I highly recommend a visit to the Haus der Donauschwaben.
It’s best to call and make an appointment in advance as their library is only
open on specific days (primarily Thursdays) and hours for research.
For more information, visit their web page at: http://www.genealogy.net/gene/vereine/akdFF/akdff-en.htm
By
Carolyn Schott Friends Gayla Gray and Carolyn Schott along the Crimean coastline, co-editors of GRHS Heritage Review. Bessarabian Coat of Arms Germans from Russia
Heritage Society Lead
Editor: Carolyn Schott 13702
Densmore Avenue North Seattle,
WA 98133
Heimatmuseum der
Deutschen aus Bessarabien Florianstrasse
17 D-70188
Stuttgart GERMANY
Except From: 2008 International Convention Germans from Russia July 28-August 3 Casper Wyoming http://germansfromrussia-casper.blogspot.com/search/label/Schott%20%28Carolyn%29
The co-editors of the GRHS Heritage Review, both from Washington state, are teaming up again to tell the story of when and why our German ancestors left Germany for Hungary, sharing insight into where they settled and why they left Hungary for Russia.
Carolyn Schott of Seattle and Gayla Gray of Spokane will also share photographs from a German village in Hungary and provide tips for persons doing research in Hungary. It’s all part of their Hungary to Russia workshop slated for 3:30 p.m., Saturday, August 2nd during the 2008 joint AHSGR/GRHS international convention in Casper. The Parkway Plaza Hotel is the convention headquarters. Hungary to Russia will be in Adrian's Room at the Parkway. Carolyn Schott was about 11 years old when she began serious research in genealogy. As an adult, she’s had the good fortune to visit her ancestral German-Hungarian village, as well as most of her ancestral villages in Ukraine. She is Village Coordinator for Gnadenfeld, Bessarabia; Area Coordinator for Logan & LaMoure counties in North Dakota; member of the VRP/Clearinghouse Committee; and member of the GRHS Publications Committee. Carolyn also serves on the GRHS Board of Directors and has written a book based on her research, The Schott Family of Hoffnungstal, Bessarabia.
Gayla
Ohlhauser Gray is also an active member of the GRHS Board of
Directors and serves on the Web/Server and Village Research
Project/Clearinghouse committees. She is Village Coordinator for Alexanderhilf,
Freudental, Josefstal, Mariental, and Neu Freudental in the Odessa area, as well
as Hutterdorf, Huttertal, Neu Huttertal, and Johannesruh in the Taurien area.
Gayla is also GRHS Village Coordinator Team Leader. She is Area Coordinator for
Emmons County, North Dakota and Campbell County, South Dakota. She is also the
spokesperson and webmaster for the Grossliebental District Odessa Regional
Interest Group and creates and manages many of the GRHS research webpages.
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