Newsletter 2007 Vol 2 N7

DVHH, Donauschwaben Villages Helping Hands, a Non-Profit Corporation, announces it will participate in the 2007 Tag der Donauschwaben (Donauschwaben Day), presented jointly by the Landesverband der Donauschwaben, USA and Verband der Donauschwaben, Kanada and hosted by the Mansfield Liederkranz, a German Donauschwaben Club in Mansfield, Ohio. The event will be celebrated on Saturday, September 1 through Sunday, September 2.

A similar event is held in a different city each year, typically hosted by a US or Canadian Donauschwaben Club. This is the first year of attendance by the DVHH, which will host a booth at the event, and will present a “meet the writer” series, including Donauschwaben writers Dennis Bauer, Katherine Flotz, Hans Kopp and Elizabeth Walters.

The mission of the DVHH is to collect and provide historical and genealogical information for the former Danube Swabian (DS) villages situated in the six regions which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918: Banat, Batschka, Slavonia – Syrmia, Swabian Turkey, Hungarian Highlands and Sathmar. Most of the Donauschwaben people were expelled from their ancestral homes in the events following World War II, and many perished in death camps. Donauschwaben survivors are now scattered across the globe, and a high concentration of them live in the U.S. and Canada. The project, now in its fifth year, and incorporated in 2007, has over 100 worldwide Village Coordinators and Contributors, and hosts one of the largest online repositories of information available on the history, heritage and culture of the Donauschwaben people, also known as Danube Swabians.

Featured is a Village Index listing the former Donauschwaben Villages by the German name, as well as Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian, Slav and other regional language name variants, enabling researchers to locate their ancestral villages and then access web pages devoted to those villages and many other resources.

DVHH hosts an active Rootsweb mail list, called Donauschwaben-Villages-L, whose many knowledgeable subscribers are dedicated to helping researchers find their Donauschwaben roots and promote education on this survivor population.

The majority of our members arrived at the Best Western Hotel on Thursday, June 21st. Many families with children arrived early and spent the day at Hershey Park. There was a Golf Tournament scheduled at the Hershey Country Club but I don’t believe any of our members participated. At 8 PM our club attended the "Spaten" Dance Party in the Great American Hall of the Hershey Lodge. Dance music was by the Kapelle Fellas. After the dance, we spent time in our own B.S. Room while the three couples that were to compete in the Einzel Plattler retired early (for them).

On Friday from 8 to 9:30 AM a Hershey Product Character Breakfast took place and some of our small kids attended. The Adult Einzel Competition began at approximately 10 AM. Most of our members were on hand to cheer our three competitors. Food could be purchased for a quick meal throughout the day. Included in our ticket price was Spaten Beer, Franziskaner Weiss Bier, Soda, Ice Tea, Water, and Non-Alcoholic Beer. Cash Bar was available for mixed drinks, etc. The nighttime events – The Spaten Party, the Heimatabend, the Welcome Dance, The Fashion Show, the Festabend Banquet, the Sunday Picnic, and the Farewell Dance were all included in our tickets. Besides the Kapelle Fellas, other bands were Die Lustigen Almdudler, the Tanzelmusi from Edelweiss, Detroit, D’Waidler Musi from the Bayerischenwald, Germany, Holzblaeser from Edelweiss, Detroit, German American Musicians Blaskkapelle from Buffalo, NY, and Die Schlauberger. Informal gatherings were held in the lobbies where there was a bar as well as a soda bar set up. Besides the above as well as the above mentioned competitions there was to be a youth Einzel-plattler Presentation on Sunday. The Gau Library was opened throughout the weekend. A Schafkopf Card Tournament took place. Our friends from the Auerhahn Schuhplattlers hosted a Youth Welcome Room and our youngsters attended. There were many workshops held throughout the weekend. Among them: Volksmusic; Jugend Gesang u. Tanz; Jugend u. Kinder Unterhaltungs Spiele (German Games); Volkstanz; Schuhplattler History; Goassl u. Aper-Schnalzen, (snaps with whips); Flag Care & Etiquette; Button Box Study Group; Volkssinger Study Group; Recorder/Okarina Study Group; and more. It was a great GAUFEST with something for everyone to enjoy. WE CONGRATULATE THE EDELWEISS READING ON A JOB WELL DONE!!!

We were all still reeling from the announcement that Janet and Sasha had won FIRST PLACE in the Einzel-platteln competition, when the five places in the Group Preisplatteln were announced:

(OK! Either we got it or we didn’t make it at all, - BUT THEY DANCED SO WELL!!!)

"FIRST PLACE – Our friends from Oak – (the roar was deafening, the German

At the Gaufest, the children attended all the events with the adults, meeting old friends and making new friends. They especially enjoyed the pool at our hotel. The Gaufest was held at the Hershey Lodge but since over 2400 people attended,

all did not fit into the hotel and three other nearby hotels were used. On Friday evening, they attended the Youth Welcome Room and at 7:30 PM, they were sixth in the program of the Heimatabend (Cultural Evening). Dressed in their red club dirndls and billed as the "Jugendsinggruppe of the United German Hungarians of Oakford, PA", they sang and danced to "Die Tiroler Sind Lustig", "Siebenschritt" and "Muss I’ Denn". When they began singing the last song, many of our club members joined them on the floor, all singing. This evening consisted of a wide variety of music and songs with groups from Los Angeles, Washington DC, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Kutztown and the Bayerischen Wald, Germany. The final group was the "Schnalzergruppe" of Maple Leaf Almrausch, Ottowa, who never fail to keep the crowd in awe, as they snap their whips in rhythmic precision.

On Saturday, our children watched the Group Prize Plattling and later returned to the hotel to relax before the Banquet. Believe it or not, our kids actually dance at the dances and they have a great time. Of coarse, they enjoy roaming around a bit too! The Awards were announced at the Festabend and the excitement of the ceremony affected the children as well as the adults. Most of the adults had been through this when we placed first in 1999 in St. Paul, but the children had not. They were so excited because their teacher, Janet Malofiy and Sasha Malofiy had won first place and also the group had won first place. Janet actually did some cartwheels in her Bavarian Tracht. Sunday, was also an important day for the kids as many of them were to perform in the Jugend Einzel-Platteln Performance. Since our girls outnumber the boys, some boys had to dance more than once. These performances are critiqued but not judged. There is no winner.

The other children in the group who participated in the Heimatabend on Friday night included: Zachary Simon, Sofi Walter, Kyra Malofiy, Sabina Hartman, Joey Coyle, Anika Mahadevan, Tatum Stielow and Krissy Dieterly. The kids as well as most of our club members donned blue tie-dyed shirts as we participated in the Farewell Dance with a "Groovy 70s" theme. The band played lots of 70s music as well as German and American hits and all had a great time.

As shown in Michael Bresser’s comments, Donauschwaben have been immigrating to North America, in particular the United States as early as prior the two World Wars. As further stated it is very difficult to identify them or trace them to their place of origin. A classical example is my great-great-uncle Josef Ergh who came from Batschsentiwan to the United States in 1905 and his family that followed him here in 1907, as well as his sisters who came here in 1909. They are listed in the ships manifest that took them across the ocean, archived in the records of Ellis Island, as coming from a town in Hungary which is spelled differently three times. If we did not know that they were relatives coming from the same town and did not know the various different spellings of the town’s name which existed, we could not have been able to determine that they were indeed members of the same family. Once here in Cleveland, my great-great-uncle opened a barbershop in a Hungarian neighborhood on Buckeye Road. He spoke perfect Hungarian and therefore, one would not know that he was a Donauschwabe except for us, our family. While he remained in Cleveland with his family his sisters returned to Batschsentiwan. One interesting note is and all of us Donauschwaben should be proud of the fact, that his barbershop was dismantled the day he retired and reassembled in the Cleveland Auto and Aviation Museum where it can be seen today.

We also learned that the German-Hungarian emigrants arriving from Hungary organized themselves into various interest groups and clubs with names like “Die Deutsch-Ungarn” and “The Banater”. There they were active fostering their culture and traditions, as well as language, mostly in songs. Very little is known however, about their businesses and daily lives although we know of many businesses whose founders were of German extraction, and several of them indeed were Donauschwaben, like in Cleveland the Blasius brothers from Obrowatz, Stefan Fischler from Futok and Johann Gerber of Batschsentiwan.

What brought them together after WWII were their strong inherited characters, the desire and need of the Donauschwaben to socialize with other fellow Donauschwaben, who experienced the horrors of the Second World War and the expulsion from their homes by the communist governments in their home countries, homes their ancestors had built during the previous 250 years. The Donauschwaben now uprooted by the hundreds of thousands, their homes destroyed, the survivors left homeless and penniless. But not only that, they were also deeply scarred by their mistreatments starvation and deceases, the suffering from the loss of family members and some of them were often now left all alone in a strange new world they have come to, to seek new opportunities, new homes, new life’s and live in peace.

Shortly after their arrival in the United States and Canada, and after they had made new friends and acquaintances, the urge to form new club communities where they could speak their language did grow ever stronger. They organized themselves in many interest groups, however their primary goal was to maintain and foster their inherited culture and customs they brought from their homeland. In most cases, it was the only thing they had left from their home country to hold onto besides their families and friends.

First, many of them were organizations to aid other Donauschwaben with social problems, like housing, employment and give them support to build new life’s and new homes. One of their foremost concerns was their children. Bringing them together was accomplished by organizing dance groups, choruses, as well as with a variety of sports clubs, mainly soccer (football). These soccer clubs attracted young men who in turn attracted the young women; they became very popular and enjoyed a large following.

For the Donauschwaben the Sunday afternoons became a place to socialize and unwind among friends. German language interest groups were organized followed by German language schools to teach the children German and German history. The result of the programs required many hours of work, dedication and patience by many volunteers. Their efforts brought rewards, although, the programs originally intended were for our children, it attracted also their parents and grandparents. It was the parents and grandparents attracted by the activities, who became a viable support group for other functions of the Donauschwaben Societies. It was a win, win situation from the start from which everyone involved benefited and thus, became the springboards and the cornerstones for the Donauschwaben Societies of today in North America.

The need to establish contacts with groups from other cities and to establish a national Organization developed soon after their arrival. From this need the head organization “The Society of Donauschwaben of North America” was founded in 1957. The sport of soccer was among one of the first inter city contacts bringing young people together for that purpose, and establishing friendships across the states. Society meetings hammered out other types of functions, such dancing, and singing, as well as social and political interest groups giving them directions and goals to follow.

Many of the Donauschwaben had the desire to meet with relatives in other cities and the need to visit them grew ever stronger. It did not take long before arrangements, in the sixties, were made to hold an annual “Donauschwaben Day”. During such times memorial services were held for the victims of death camps, chorus performances, youth dance performances, as well as inter city youth dance competitions, among other functions. But most important, meeting with long lost relatives and friends from their old home towns and the socializing of young adults, who would eventually be asked to carry on the tradition of our culture.

More than 60 years have passed since our expulsion that brought the end of the Donauschwaben in their home country, as we knew it then. As we look today at the accomplishment of the “Last Generation of Donauschwaben” born in their home country. In the free world they live in today, one can only admire them for their never fading believe in themselves and the persistence to leave the fruits of their labor for the generations to come.

How could they achieve the wealth they have achieved in such a short span of time one has to question? The answer lies in the strong inherited character they acquired as survivors. By being used living all their lives on foreign soil, and being exposed to the many political changes and the pressures existing there and from their work ethics handed down from generation to generation. The schools systems they created back home, where young women were taught to knit, sew, cook, and bake, as well as good housekeeping and childcare from early on in life. While the same time, their oncoming men were taught not only how to hold a hammer and nail, but also the necessities the young men needed to know, how to raise farm animals and farm products and process them. This valuable education continued in the environment of a good home under the supervision of their parents and grandparents.

The post WW I changes they were exposed to, like the closing of their schools forcing them to go to Austria and Germany to study. The post WW II changes they were exposed to, like the deportation of many to Russia, the expulsion from their homes in Hungary, the expulsion from their homes in Romania and deportation to the Baragan Steppe, the expulsion from their homes in Yugoslavia and incarceration into death camps, as well as forced labor camps. All of these factors helped them to become determined, useful, productive and prosperous citizens in the New World the live in today.

Is it understandable that the survivors of the Donauschwaben, who were dealt the lowest hand in the stack of cards of politics, who landed at the shores of equal opportunity in North America, would rebound under this environment of their new gained freedom!

We are the last generation, expelled from our homes our forefathers had built and have survived the insurmountable odds placed in our lives. We, whose forefathers had amassed a wealth in riches and culture, and who inherited this wealth and riches, came to the United States with only a suitcase, which held all of what was left of our possessions. We came to the United States and Canada, strange lands we did not know. We came here with new hopes to establish new roots. Some of us came here deeply depressed for we had lost our homes but also a mother, a father or both. Some had lost a brothers or sisters some came alone after losing every one of their family members.

We, the last Generation came here to work again with our bare hands and with the sweat of our brows to establish a new life and a new home, as our forefathers did in the land of the Donauschwaben. This however, was by no means an easy task as one might want to believe; it was a difficult uphill struggle for all of us. We had to find housing mostly in poor neighborhoods because of the lack of money. More often then not we were exploited at the work place, because of the language barrier or the lack of education which had suffered greatly, especially by those of us born in the thirties, who lost anywhere from two to six valuable school years. We had now to go to evening schools not only to learn to speak English but also take academic classes to further our education. However, it took perhaps not more than five years after our arrival and we were proud owners of a car and even had a house to our name.

We may not have made a giant industrial impact in this country, but have never the less made a distinct economical impact in the local communities where we live today. Today, we the Donauschwaben not only take working places in this country but also are in a position to give thousands of jobs to the American people in our factories, our construction businesses, our tool shops and farms. Most of our children have obtained higher education and are professionals, doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, and entertainers and as such have much to offer. Thus they have contributed to the common good and welfare of this country, even though our descendants may no longer speak German, the language of their forefathers. They still recognize themselves as Donauschwaben, members of the youngest of the “German Volksgroups”, to foster and maintain the heritage and culture of their ancestors in their community centers, we the “Last generation” have built for them.

Despite the successful lives, many of the Donauschwaben enjoy today, none of them have forgotten who they are. They have not only been able to establish themselves financially but also as great supporters of the Donauschwaben heritage and the culture in North America. It would take pages and pages to write about their unselfish contributions of their many hours of dedication and labors of love. There are thousands of names connected with the many achievements. We need to thank them all what they have accomplished to uphold the traditions and memory of our ancestors by erecting monuments in their names. Pause at their monuments they have erected at their Donauschwaben Centers and Homes and spend a minute in silent prayer in remembrance of their suffering, survival and resurgence; they have earned it.

THREE THINGS

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back -
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person -
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose-
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable -
1. Love
2. Family &Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain -
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person -
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant -
Father - Son - Holy Spirit

I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today;
to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way.
God's love is always with you, God's promises are true.
And when you give God all your cares,
you know God will see you through.

LORD, BLESS OUR DOOR THAT OPENS WIDE,

TO WELCOME THOSE WHO STEP INSIDE.

AND BLESS OUR HOUSE, DEAR LORD ABOVE,

THAT WE MAY SHARE THY JOY AND LOVE.

TOUCH OUR WINDOWS WITH THY LIGHT,

AND MAY OUR HEARTS SHINE JUST AS BRIGHT.

GRANT US PEACE AND SWEET ACCORD,

AND MAKE OUR HOUSE, THY HOME, DEAR LORD.

MARGE

    With the influx of the Danube Swabians after the Second World War into the United States, a major resettlement of this German, ethnic minority from Yugoslavia, Romania and Hungary had taken place. Special laws had been enacted in the U.S. Congress, spearheaded by Senators Langer and Dirksen, for these refugees and displaced persons, to permit them to leave war-torn Europe in order to make a new home for themselves.
    The majority of those entering the United States after World War II were sponsored by NCWC, a Catholic War Relieve Organization, as well as by German American Organizations, such as the American Aid Society of German Descendants and relatives of those wishing to enter. All of the immigrants had to be in good health and moral standing, have a job offer and a place to live.
The political climate in the early fifties was not the most favorable one for German immigrants. Having been defeated in the War, the immigrants were often looked upon as the enemy and treated in a prejudicial manner.
    However, the desire to succeed in the new homeland and the opportunities to work and make up the loss of all their worldly possession, was so strong, that they overcame most adversities over the years. They vowed to become productive citizens of these United States, obeying its laws and enjoying its freedoms. Many young men had to join the U.S. Army, even though they were not citizens and serve in Korea or Viet Nam.
    The older immigrants went to night school to learn English.
    Those that had a trade, established themselves as fine craftsmen and many opened their own businesses after a few years. The younger ones were sent to schools and universities. There was a great desire to learn and much emphasis was placed on higher education. Today, two and three generations later, the sons and daughters of the immigrants are in leading positions in universities, they have become successful engineers, doctors and lawyers, educators and artists.
    The assimilation into mainstream American did not take long. The immigrants bought houses and settled near their work and school. They integrated into the society and proved to be exemplary citizens, interacting with their neighbors and coworkers. They also flocked together with their friends who immigrated from their homeland. Thus, clubs and organizations were established to meet their social interests and keep some of the traditions and language, which they brought from their homeland. In this free society, they were able to express their ethnic interests and culture through song, dance and cultural activities.
    The Society of the Danube Swabians of Chicago is one of those organizations. Early on in the fifties, it established a weekend school were the children of the immigrants could keep up their German language and those who did not know any German, had the opportunity to learn. The youth was gathered together in song and dance, reaching out to the community by performing at city festivals, nursing homes and holiday festivals. The earlier immigrants also created a soccer club in which the youth could participate and later expand into an independent organization, serving all youths of the region.
    Senior citizens have a place to gather and be entertained, enjoying the much loved cuisine of the Danube Swabians.
    Participation in food and pantry drives is now a activity throughout the year where less fortunate members of the city are being fed and supported. Needy families in the community are adopted especially during the holiday season and provided with clothing and necessities they cannot afford. Visiting senior citizens in nursing homes, bringing them small tokens of joy and singing and dancing for them are all projects which the different factions of the organization have carried on to reach out to the community and the region they live in.
    By participating in civic festivities, parades and city-sponsored social gatherings, members have had an opportunity to reach out and mingle in friendship and camaraderie.
    Thus, the Community of the Danube Swabians has found a new home in the American way of life and has translated itself into a viable, productive and active member of this great society.

Irish-Americans have St. Patrick’s Day, Mexican-Americans have Cinco de Mayo and Italian-Americans have Columbus Day. Not wanting to be left out, German-Americans will have a retooled and re-energized way to celebrate German-American Day on October 6, 2007 and everyone is invited to participate! There is much to celebrate and this is why!

The 325^th anniversary of the arrival of the first German families to America, after which approximately 8,000,000 inhabitants from German-speaking countries followed, will be celebrated on October 6, 2008. This gives the German-American community the perfect opportunity to showcase 325 years of contributions made by the immigrants and descendents of German-speaking countries to many aspects of American life.

These innumerable contributions to the American mosaic have been well documented. In his 1993 German-American Day Proclamation, President Clinton proclaimed

“All of us can take pride in the accomplishments of German Americans – as soldiers and statesmen, scientists and musicians, artisans and educators. It is fitting that we set aside this special day to remember and celebrate how much German Americans have done to preserve our ideals, enrich our culture, and strengthen our democracy.”

Many still reminisce about the German-American Tricenntenial observance in 1983, when the academic, educational, musical, cultural, historical and business sectors collaborated to offer a rich variety of programs and events commemorating these contributions. The German American Day Celebration Committee will recreate this model, using October 6, 2007 as a dress rehearsal for the 325^th celebration in 2008. Organizations like the University of Pennsylvania, the German-American Chamber of Commerce – Philadelphia, the German Society of Pennsylvania, the German-American Committee of Philadelphia, Historic RittenhouseTown, the American Association of Teachers of German – Philadelphia Chapter, the Immanuel German School, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Netzwerk Philadelphia and the Concordia Trust have already enthusiastically committed to sponsoring events. To this end, a diverse and innovative calendar of events is being planned for the weekend of October 6, 2007 concentrating in Center City Philadelphia, but also including the neighboring counties.

Benjamin Franklin may well have articulated it best when he observed, "America cultivates best what Germany brought forth."

Confirmed and proposed program events for the German-American Day Celebration Weekend 10/5/07 to 10/7/07

Gastgeber: Deutsche Familienverein Akron

Jahreshauptversammlung von dem

Die Ortsgruppenvertreter von den folgenden Ortsgruppen hatten sich am Samstag Nachmittag im gemütlichen Vereinsheim von dem Deutschen Familien-Verein in Akron eingefunden: Chicago: American Aid Society of G. D., Sportklub Grün Weiss, Vereinigung der Donauschwaben; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Mansfield, Milwaukee, New York; Philadelphia, Rochester, Süd-Kalifornien, St. Louis und Trenton. Joseph Geiser, Präsident vom Deutschen Familien Verein begrüsste die Gäste und wünschte einen guten Aufenthalt.

Kurz nach 2:00 Uhr eröffnete Landesverbandpräsident Leo Mayer die Sitzung. Es wurde die donauschwäbische Hymne gesungen und eine Gedenkminute für alle verstorbenen Landsleute eingehalten. Kulturreferentin Hilde Hornung trug das Gedicht “Freundschaft” von Peter Kraemer vor und Barbara Tonhaeuser rezitierte ein passendes Gedicht über die alten Zeiten. Darauf folgte die Bearbeitung der Tagesordnung.

Leo Mayer stellte den Journalisten Nenad Stefanovic, der das Buch “Ein Volk an der Donau” verfasst hat, sowie Professor Zoran Janjetovic, Ph D vom “Institute for recent history of Serbia”, wie auch Professor Dr Zoran Ziletc von der “Gesellschaft für serbisch-deutsche Zusammenarbeit” vor. Präsident Mayer überreichte die Nadel vom Landesverband mit Urkunde an Herr Stefanovic, Herr Janjetovic und Professor Ziletc für ihre Tätigkeit um die Bevölkerung von Serbien über den Genozid an den Donauschwaben aufzuklären. Nach mehr als 60 Jahre werden die Verbrechen, hauptsächlich in den ersten fünf Jahren der Titoregierung, die gegen die deutsche Minderheit in Jugoslavien stattfanden von diesen drei Akademiker dem serbischen Volk vorgewiesen.

Joseph Stein, Präsident der American Aid Society of G. D. übergab eine Spende von $5,000 an den Landesverband aus dem Reingewinn an dem Landestreffen 2006.

Vizepräsident Robert Filippi gab einen kurzen Bericht über den Verlauf der Sitzung vom Weltdachverband die im Oktober 2006 in Speyer stattfand. Der Weltdachverband- Jugendleiter, Stefan Ihas, hat eine Weltkonferenz der donauschwäbischen Kulturleiter und Jugendleiter in Werischwar, Ungarn für 2007 festgelegt. Die Konferenz tagt vom 29. Juni bis zum 8. Juli. Landesverbandjugendleiterin Ingrid Dorr berichtete, dass sich 25. Teilnehmer aus Kanada an diesem Treffen beteiligen und dass 15 Teilnehmer aus der USA für dieses Treffen angemeldet sind. Joseph Stein berichtete dass Herr Ihas ein inhaltsreiches Programm für die Teilnehmer zusammengestellt hat. Ausser “Workshops” für das Einstudieren von Tänzen und Lieder ist ein Ausflug zu einem historischen donauschwäbischen Dorf geplant, sowie eine Stadtbesichtigung von Budapest, und eine Schifffahrt auf der Donau vorgesehen. Am Freitag, den 6. Juli findet der Traditionelle Schwabenball in Werischwar statt. Die Weltdachverbandsitung wird auch in diesem Zeitabschnitt in Werischar stattfinden. Leo Mayer und Robert Filippi werden den Landesverband der USA bei dieser Sitzung vertreten.

Dr. Thornton gab einen sehr ausführlichen Bericht über die Neubearbeitung und Erweiterung der Website von dem Landesverband. Durch diese Überarbeitung wurde ein grösseres Interesse an der Website erzielt. Landesverbandpräsident Leo Mayer ehrte Dr. Thornton mit der Nadel von dem Landesverband für seine unermüdliche Arbeit an der Website.

Der Beitretungsantrag der Danube Cultural Society Inc., of Southeastern Wisconsin als Mitglied beim Landesverband der Donauschwaben in der USA wurde von den Ortsgruppen der mittelwest Region mit vier Stimmen und zwei Gegenstimmen angenommen. Bei der Abstimmung von dem Executive Komitee vom Vorstand von dem Landesberband hatte die Mehrheit dagegen gestimmt.

Der Tag der Donauschwaben der USA und Kanada findet in diesem Jahr in Mansfield, Ohio statt. Annette Doklavic gab einen kurzen Überblick über die Vorbereitungen für dieses Fest die von Präsident Jakob Hunsinger und dem Vorstand vom Mansfield Liederkranz gemacht werden. Wichtig ist es, dass die Ortsgruppen ihre Anmeldungen so bald wie möglich machen.

Tina Leto berichtete über die Website “DVHH.org”; Donauschwaben Village Helping Hand. Diese Website wurde für englisch sprechende Donauschwaben und ihre Nachkommen hergestellt zwecks Information über die Geschichte und die Lebensweise ihrer Vorfahren in der alten Heimat zu verbreiten.

Es folgte die Wahl des Vorstandes vom Landesverband durch das Wahlkomitee unter der Leitung von Joseph Geiser. Die folgenden Amtswalter wurden gewählt. Präsident, Leo Mayer; erster Vizepräsident, Robert Filippi; zweiter Vizepräsident Jakob Hunsinger; Generalsekretärin, Elisabeth M. Miehle; Protokollsekretärin, Helga Blaumueller; Schatzmeisterin, Karin Schwalbe; Landesfrauenleiterin, Maria Abt; Stellvertrer der Frauenleiterin, LaDonna Kleiss; Landesjugendleiterin, Ingrid Dorr, Stellvertreter der Jugend und Korrespondezsekretär der Landesjugendleitung, Margot Bauer; Landeskinderleiterin, Erin Sucher; Kulturreferentin, Hilde Hornung; Stellvertreter der Kulturreferentin, Karoline Lindenmaier; Verbandpresse, Eckhard Blaumueller; Landssportleiter, Michael Talan; Stellvertreter des Landessportleiters, Richard Welker; Archivar, Carsten Grotloh; Sozialamt und Wirtschaft, Martha Konrad Kunkle; Verlagsvermittler-Publishing Liaison, John Michels Ph D; Rechtsberater, Walter Schummer. Joseph Stein legte sein Amt als Präsident von der Region Mittelwest ab. Toni Siladi wurde für dieses Amt gewählt

Nach dem Abschluss der Sitzung wurde eine Verlosung von wertvollen Geschenkkörben zu Gunsten der Stiftung verlost. Der Reingewinn, inklusiv einer Spende von der Ortsgruppe Akron, war $1,000.

Am Sonntag Morgen fand die Sitzung vom der Stiftung von dem Landesverband unter der Leitung von Präsident Mike Wendl statt. Ein wichtiger Punkt in der Tagesordnung war für Mithilfe an der Finanzierung der Unkosten der Jugendleiter und anderer Beteiligten aus den Ortsgruppen in den USA zu sorgen. Die zahlreiche Beteiligung an der Weltkonferenz der Donauschwaben Kultur und Jugendleiter im Juni 2007 in Werischwar, Ungarn wurde als eine wichtige Aufgabe für die Erhaltung der donauschwäbichen Kultur bezeichnet. Der Vorstand beschloss, dass jedem Teilnehmer aus den Ortsgruppen in den USA $500 gestiftet werde und dass eine weitere Spende von $2,000 für die Unterstützung von dem Gastgeber in Werischwar dient.

Es folgte die Wahl der Amtswalter. Präsident Mike Wendl hatte sich nach 10jähriger Amtzeit auf seinen Rücktritt entschlossen und Sekretärin Betty Wendl folgte seinem Beschluss. Joseph Geiser leitete die Wahl mit folgendem Resultat: Der neue Präsident ist Ed Tullius; Joseph Stein bleibt als Vizepräsident; Eddy Palffy bleibt als Schatzmeister und Rosalie Burmeister wurde als Sekretärin erwählt.

Der Gastgeber, Präsident Joseph Geiser und sein Vorstand, hatten alles ausgezeichnet für dieses Wochenende geplant. Freitag Abend fand ein gemütlicher Kameradschaftsabend für die angreisten Gäste statt. Die Frauen vom Verein hatten für das leibliche Wohl aller Besucher gesorgt. Die Gäste wurden am Samstag Mittag mit einem schmackhaften Imbiss empfangen. Am Abend gab es dann Schweinebraten sowie Hühnerfleisch, mit beliebten donauschwäbischen Zulagen. Heimgebackene Torten wurden zum Nachtisch serviert. Am Sonntag Morgen gab es ein warmes Frühstück und nach der Sitzung der Stiftung, wohlgestärkt mit einem Mittagessen von Gulasch und Spätzle, machten sich die Reisenden bei herrlichen Frühlingswetter auf den Heimweg.

Der Mansfield Liederkranz, in Mansfield, Ohio ladet alle Landsleute, Freunde und Gönner zum Tag der Donauschwaben von den Landesverbänden der USA und Kanada am Labor Day Wochenende ein. Wie immer ist am Freitag, den 31. August der Freundschaftsabend und das Programm wird am Sonntag, den 2. September beendet. Weitere Information über Hotelzimmerbestellung und Reisebeteiligung wird durch die Ortsgruppen erteilt. Frühe Anmeldung ist günstig da die Motels in der Nähe von Mansfield bald gebucht werden.

Press Release of Past Labor Day Event

Lake Villa, Illinois – Die American Aid Society of German Descendants hatte alle Landsleute und Freunde zum Landestreffen der Donauschwaben in den USA und Kanada auf ihrem Kultur Zentrum in Lake Villa, Illinois am Labor Day Wochenende vom 1. bis zum 3. September 2006 eingeladen. Unter der Leitung von Präsident Joseph J. Stein und mit Hilfe von seinem tüchtigen Vorstand wurde dieser Anlass gut geplant. Die enge Zusammenarbeit mit dem Chicago Kicker Fussball Klub ermöglichte es die Vorbereitungen für ein so grosses Unternehmen bestens zu bestehen.

Freitag Abend fanden sich die früh angreisten Besucher zu einem angenehmen Kameradschaftsabend ein. Es gab Pizza und erfrischende Getränke zu kaufen. Mitglieder der Gruppe von Los Angeles hatten schon einige Tage in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin verbracht und hatte sich für das Labor Day Wochenende in einem der vielen Motels in Gurnee eingebucht. Ein Bus brachte eine muntere Gruppe vom Kulturverein in St.Louis. Bald darauf folgten Jugendliche und Eltern von anderen entfernten Ortsgruppen mit Bus. Einer der Anwesenden an diesem Abend der mit Auto ankam war der beliebte “Seelsorger der Donauschwaben in Deutschland”. Pater Peter Zillich, ein Donauschwabe, der jetzt in Regensburg zuhause ist, war auf Besuch bei den Donauschwaben in Cleveland. Präsident Robert Filippi fand es angebracht daß Pater Zillich bei dieser Feier mitwirken sollte und er brachte ihn mit der Gruppe der früh Angreisten aus Cleveland.

Die Theke war ein beliebert Sammelplatz für viele der Besucher. Auch an den Tischen sass man in fröhlicher Runde mit Freunden und Bekannten. Für viele der Jugendlichen gab es nach einem Jahr wieder ein freudiges Wiedersehen mit Freunde; ihre Freude schien nicht gelindert zu sein obwohl diese jungen Menschen durch e-mail in ständigem Kontakt sind. Für weitere gute Unterhaltung sorgte ein DJ im Pavillon.

Am Samstag gab es Sonnenschein und einige Wolken, aber der Wettergott meinte es gut mit den Donauschwaben. Ab elf Uhr morgens kam ein ständiger Strom von Autos zum Kultur Zentrum in Lake Villa. Unter der Leitung von Hans Wissmann, und mit Hilfe seiner Mitarbeiter, wurden den Autofahrer Parkplätze angewiesen. Busse konnten ohne Schwierigkeit Passagiere abladen obwohl sich mehr als zwei Tausend Besucher am Samstag und auch am Sonntag auf dem Festgelände einfanden.

Nachdem sich die Vertreter der Ortsgruppen mit ihren Untergruppen trafen, wurden sie von Joseph Stein und seinen Mitarbeitern zum grossen Aufmarsch eingereiht. Die folgenden Vereine aus den USA beteiligten sich am Aufmarsch: Akron; Vereinigung der Donauschwaben-Chicago; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Detroit; Mansfield; Milwaukee; New York; Philadelphia: Vereinigung der Donauschwaben, Vereinigte Deutsch-Ungarn; Süd- Kalifornien; St.Louis; Trenton; Danube Cultural Society, Inc. of Southeastern Wisconsin; American Aid Society of Geman Descendants. Von Kanada beteiligten sich: Kitchner, Tornoto und Windsor. Etwas nach drei Uhr setzte sich der Festzug in Bewegung und zog unter der Bewunderung der Zuschauer auf das Fussballfeld, wo die Milwaukee Jugend Blaskapelle passende Marschmusik spielte. Die amerikanische Hymne und die donauschwäbische Hymne wurden von Ingrid Lisauskas und Kristel Metsig gesungen. Vizepräsident Frank Mueller leitete das Vorprogramm ein und stellte Präsident Joseph Stein vor. Herr Stein begrüßte alle Anwesende, und bedankte sich für den ausgezeichneten Besuch. Herr Stein stellte den Bürgermeister von Lake Villa, Frank Loffredo, vor der auch alle in Lake Villa Willkommen hieß. Landesverbandpräsident Leo Mayer bedankte sich, dass sich so viele Landsleute, Freunde und userer Gönner bei diesem Fest eingefunden hatten. Herr Mayer erinnerte, daß mit guter Zusammenarbeit die Donauschwaben noch lange solche Feste feiern können. Die Grussworte von dem Präsidenten vom Landesverband von Kanada, Andreas Mora waren im gleichen Sinne. Landesverbandfrauenpräsidentin Maria Abt mahnte daß die Teilnehmer das kulturelle Gut der Donauschwaben weiter bewahren sollen. Landesverbandjugendleiterin Ingrid Dorr erinnerte die Jugendlichen daß sie weiter in den Vereinen tätig bleiben sollen damit sie in den nächsten zwangzig Jahren als Amtswalter in ihren Vereinen und bei dem Landesverband mitwirken und das weitere Bestehen der Vereine ermöglichen. Ingrid Dorr überreichte zuletzt Andenken an dieses Fest an alle anwesenden Ortsgruppen, gestiftet von dem Gastgeber.

Darauf führten die Kinder aller Ortsgruppen einen gemeinsamen Tanz auf dem Fussballfeld vor. Ihnen folgten die Jugendgruppen, mit ihrem beeindruckenden Freundschaftstanz. Es war ein Vergnügen den Kindern und den vielen Jugendlichen zusehen wie sie sich im bunten Reigen drehten.

Weiter folgten Tanzvorführungen im Pavillon von den Tanzgruppen, vorgestellt von Elvira Geist. Etwas später fanden Tanzvorführungen im Saal statt, die von Frank Mueller angesagt wurden. Auch die Tanzlustigen kamen auf ihre Rechnung. Im Saal unterhielt die Kapelle “Freudemacher “, und im Pavillon spielte die bekannte Kapelle “Phenix”. Da die Donauschwaben gerne tanzen war das Tanzparkett bald belegt. Die Vorführungen der Tanzgruppen in den Tanzpausen waren bei den Anwesenden beliebt und sie belohnten die Tänzer mit reichlichem Applaus.

Auch am Sonntag war gab es herrliches Wetter. Am Morgen wurde der Gottesdienst im Saal gefeiert. Pater Gerold Langsch, von Milwaukee, und Pater Peter Zillich zelebrierten die Messe und der Deutsche Chor der St. Alphonsus Kirche, unter der Leitung von Dirigent Alfred Schoepko, umrahmte den Gottesdienst mit bekannte deutsche Kirchenlieder.

Marienmädchen, in traditionellen weissen Kleidern, beteiligten sich an der Messe. Pater Langsch ist schon seit vielen Jahren mit den Donauschwaben in Milwaukee befreundet und er ist auch bei den Ortsgruppen in Chicago gut bekannt. Pater Langsch erinnnerte die Anwesenden daß die donauschwäbische Kultur auf christliche Werte und auf die Zusammengehörigkeit der Donauschwaben erbaut ist. Pater Zillich gedachte der verstorbenen Landsleute mit seinem selbst verfassten Text, den er mit eigener Akkordeonbegleitung sang. Für die Kirchengänger war es ein sehr besinnlicher Gottesdienst und eine ergreifende Totenehrung.

Für die Kinder war der gut angelegte Spielplatz auf dem Festglände, mit verschieden Rutschen, Schaukeln und mit zwei “Moon Walks”, ein begehrter Platz. Es gab dort Gemeinschaftsspiele und noch viel mehr.

Ein beliebtes Ziel vieler Erwachsenen war das Heimatmuseum, welches Samstag und Sonntag geöffnet war. Elisabeth Gebavi hat mit viel Einsicht und Gefühl die vielen Gegenstände, die im täglichen Leben der Donauschwaben in der alten Heimat benützt wurden, zur Schau gestellt. Es sind auch Kleidungstücke und viele interessante Handarbeiten und Bilder ausgestellt. Frau Magdalena Ippach verkaufte Bücher von donauschwäbischen Autorn, sowie Bücher über die Geschichte der Donauschwaben, unter anderen auch das neue Kochbuch, “ Was gibts zum Essen?”, zusammengestellt von den Eltern der Kindergruppe der American Aid Society of German Descendants.

Das Küchenpersonal hatte die beliebten donauschwäbischen Spezialitäten auf dem Speisezettel. Joseph Stein ist auch in der Küche zuhause. Unter seiner Leitung wurden für dieses Fest 1000 Pfund Bratwurst und 1,600 Samra zubereitet. Alles wurde gegessen. Weiter wurden 500 Pfund Gulasch, 200 Pfund Schweinebraten, 20 Leberkäse, 400 “Hamburgers”, 300 “Hot Dogs” und 600 Brezen verkauft. Sogar die grosse Auswahl von Kuchen war am späten Sonntag Nachmittag ausverkauft.

Am Sonntag Nachmittag gab es wieder Tanzvorführungen von den Tanzgruppen und nach 3 Uhr unterhielt die Kapelle “Paloma” im Pavillon und die Kapelle “Perlen” im Saal. In den Musikpausen fanden weitere Tanzvorführungen statt und es gab noch weitere Gelegenheiten mit Freunden und Bekannten zu plaudern. Doch der Abend kam, und es wurde Zeit daß sich die Besucher, aus nah und fern, auf den Heimweg machten.

Der Liederkranz von Mansfield, Ohio ladet zum Tag der Donauschwaben von U.S.A. und Kanada am Labor Day Wochenende 2007 ein. Der Mansfield Liederkranz feierte in diesem Jahr sein 100 jähriges Bestehen. Wir hoffen daß sich wieder viele Donauschwaben, jung und alt, zu diesem Fest einfinden und dort mit ihren Landsleuten und Freunden ein schönes Wochenende verbringen.

The latest press release for this event is now on the above page as of: 2 October 2006

Not to long ago in 2003 Jody McKim, a second generation Donauschwäbin, who only in 1999 discovered that her ancestors came from the Banat. She is only one of many Germans whose ancestors came from the former Hungarian Kingdom of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, who are in search of an identity and who are interested in the heritage of their ancestors! This was the motivation to create a website of the Donauschwaben Villages Helping Hands, Non Profit, Inc., known as the DVHH at www.dvhh.org. The all-volunteer staff of the DVHH are contributors, whose prime interest is to help fellow Donauschwaben researchers achieve the goal of finding the origin of their ancestors and to document historical facts of our people, their culture, traditions, social mores, as well as towns, maps, images' and other facts since the settlement of our ancestors. Particularly the History section at www.dvhh.org/society/history is intended to educate, are especially suited for our young generations who do high school and college reports on their heritage.

Tina Leto, the DVHH Membership and Public Relations Committee Chair, was on hand to introduce the organization to the Donauschwaben USA and to learn more about the their Association. Tina also took part in the website committee meeting headed by the Webmaster Dr. Thomas Thornton. Other DVHH volunteers, Dennis Bauer, Ray Martini and Hans Kopp were also on hand to support Tina and answer questions about the DVHH.

All of the DVHH volunteers are people like you and me who have something to share either historic village information, such as a list of settlers for your village or pictures and stories of general interest for the Donauschwaben. Visit www.dvhh.org and browse the pages to familiarize yourself with the information published. Would you like to volunteer or contribute to the DVHH; or if you have any questions, go to “DVHH at a glance” and in the links select “Volunteer to Help” or “Contact Us.”

Pictures 2007 DVHH 079; shows Nenad Stefanović as guest of the Donauschwaben-USA to promote his extraordinary book „A people on the Danube“ Tina Leto, the DVHH Membership and Public Relations Committee Chair, representing the DVHH group and Hans Kopp, the translator of the book „A people on the Danube“ and moral supporter for Tina.

Pictures 2007 DVHH 092; shows Dr. Tom Thornton (right), the webmaster of the Donauschwaben-USA website.

Pictures 2007 DVHH 096; shows Ray Martini, Dennis Bauer and Hans Kopp in support of Tina Leto representing the DVHH group.

At the last years meeting, Ed Grünwald stood before you asking your help to translate “Ein Volk and der Donau” by Nenad Stefanović bringing to you interviews with Donauschwaben intellectuals and Rudolfsgnad death camp survivors never published before with historic chapters written by Professor Zoran Žiletic “The Germans and the second World War” and Goran Nikolic “The Vojvodina Germans” between the wars.

The initial translating was accomplished by Hans Kopp in 5 months and handed over to Ed Grünwald and Dr. John Michel’s for editing and publishing and ultimately for your enjoyment, only one year after our last AGM.

Now at this meeting, Nenad Stefanovic, the author the book and Professor Zoran Žiletic, a contributor to the book were among us to be introduced to you and their newly published book “A people on the Danube”, one of the most important publications about the Donauschwaben by Serbian authors in the English language. The English publication is very unique as it views the drama and the tragedy of our people from a perspective other then the Donauschwaben.

During their 4 day visit in Cleveland and Akron, the author who’s dream it is to write a book about the “Donauschwaben USA” interviewed more then a dozen people from all sorts of life and social standing of the Donauschwaben, who have established a new life in the USA.

Dr. John Michel and the University of South Dakota where pleased and honored to bring these “great friends of the Donauschwaben” and their book to you and is equally proud that our society honored them with the “Goldene Ehren Verdienstnadel” of the Donauschwaben USA.

It is a great pleasure to publish the speech by the author Nenad Stefanović as he presented it during this AGM.

Liebe Donauschwaben in the USA, Mr. President, honered guest, ladies and gentlemen

I am very honored to be with you today on your annual national convention of the Donauschwaben in the United States. It is even a greater pleasure to congratulate you Leo personaly for receiving the „Verdienstkreuz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

I am also greatful to John Michels and his committee members Hans Kopp and Ed Grünwald who made it possible to translate my book „Ein Volk an der Donau“ into the english language under the title of „A people on the Danube“ which is now published in the united States.

I often ask myself if there is a higher cause in such a books, besides the usual pleasureof reading it. Can such a book inspire YOU and the YOUNG generation of the Donauschwaben to read it and the same time initiate new relations between the Donauschwaben of today and our people in a world we are now living in?

I had accepted the often meaningless idea of a books until I questioned what did happen to the Donauschwaben in my country? Where did they disapear too? As I began to search for the truth, I became inspired by their culture, hardworking ethics, industrious adcheavements and their never yealding faith of their past in this country.

It is not the number of copies that are at stake here to set the distribution of my book into motion, but it is the value of the content book telling the truth. It is worth to mention that „A People on the Danube“ had six editions in the Serbian leanguage, three editions in the German leanguage and it is now here in the United States.

But more important is the fact that this book has expanded the understanding of the readers in Serbia, Germany and now it certainly will expand yours here in the United States, as well as Canada and elswhere in the English speaking world.

My first edition of the book was published Serbia in 1996. It was much like a lone voice in the desert. Nothing was known to the Serbian public about the sufferings of Donauswaben in Vojvodina and East Slavonia after the Second World War. The remaining German community in Serbia is small, organized only as the „Donau“ group in Novi Sad. From time to time, the official press accuses the group of not being patriotic to their country and of being connected somehow with foreign powers.

We had no money to promote this book in Serbia. We barely collected enough for the printing. But there was help from a group of people from „The Society for Serbian-German Cooperation“. The most prominent was the voice of Professor Zoran Žiletic, who is now here with us today.

We succeded to organizing sevaral readings and discussions in Beograd, Novi Sad, Sombor, Zrenjanin, Kać. The reactions of the audiences were varied, but were always very emotional in one direction or an other.

Patiance prevails! I knew that one presentation of the book is not enough to change the views of the people who were always mislead abouth the actual truth about the Donauschwaben, you who found a new home in the USA. During those discussions I was often asked about my motives for writing such a book and many the listeners were scaptical and often not satisfied with my explaination. They preferred the past communist theory of conspiracy. My answer was too simple for them, but my answer was always the same.

I had learned that only fifty kilometers from the center of Belgrade there were mass graves where 12,000 or more innocent people found their last resting place which had existed for more than 50 years without any cross or a marker. I could not find peace heart standing by and doing nothing about it.

Of course, as you very well know, you never were permitted to erect monuments on the sites of mass graves of your loved ones, your brothers sister and grandparents who perished in Tito`s death camps.

The Donauschwabens only crime was that they were of Germans descent, whoever they had very little control over their destiny, and yet they became victims of a war and suffered inocently. This I also would tell to my audience.

Then I was lucky one day. There was a promotion for my book in the library in Zrenjanin, previously Gross Betchkerek. The hall was full of people. Among them many Germans who survived the camps and one could see by their tears in their eys they were crying inside silently.

However, there were also several people from the community government the Zrenjanin present at that time, led by the Democratic Party. I asked them if they would be willing to place a monument in Knicanin, the former Rudolfsgnad, a monument on which it will be clearly written that our citizens of German nationality died in camps of starvation and disease during the years 1944 to 1948 and who were buried in mass graves there withouth any markings. They promissed to help and they kept their promise.

Our limited resources were the reason that we could only provide a sign made of thin sheet metal at the grave site on the Telecka mounted on water pipes, made possible only because people from the Belgrade water system, Aleksandar Hajder and Dragomir Lajsic, helped us. The sheets were large enough to write the following text: „Here rest our fellow citizens of German nationality who died from starvation, cold and disease in the camp Knicanin from 1945 to 1946. May they rest in peace. Society for Serbian-German Cooperation, Belgrade 1998.“ On the second sign, posted in Telecka, we changed only the years of the burial: 1946 to 1948.

Placing those signs were the turning point of the changing of the attitude of our people towards the sufferings of Germans in Tito’s Yugoslavia. The signs also helped ease relations between Societies of the Donauswaben and today’s citizens of the Vojvodina towns and villages. The cemetary chapel has been renewed, several new plaques have been placed and some are still in the making.

Summerizing the ice has been broken, as we use to say in Serbia and I sencerly hope that my book; „A people on the Danube“ can and will serve as a small contribution to a change of thinking and the aditute of our and your paople.

Thank you very much for your attention and for allowing me to take valuable time out from your convention and it was a pleasure for me to make your aquantance. Have a succesful meeting.

Pictures 207 DSC 003: Dr. Alexander Lermer, Josef Holzer and Hans Kopp welcome our guests from Belgrade, Nenad Stefanović, Professor Zoran Žiletic.

Pictures 207 DSC 014: Nenad Stefanović, Professor Zoran Žiletic interview Karoline Lindenmaier, longtime administrator, director and teacher of the Donauschwaben German school in Cleveland.

Pictures 207 DSC 087: President Leo Maier presents the „the Golden Ehrennadel“ to Nenad Stefanović, and Professor Zoran Žiletic at the AGD at the “Akroner Familienverein” in Akron.

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