Charles V and the Habsburg Legacy Habsburg-Valois Wars AP European History.
The Bukovina Society of the...
8
1 Board of Directors Martha McClelland, President Hays, Kansas O.M. Windholz, Vice President Hays, Kansas Shirley Kuppetz, Secretary Ellis, Kansas Guy Windholz, Treasurer Hays, Kansas Gilbert Augustine Ellis, Kansas Irmgard Hein Ellingson Decorah, Iowa Eileen Goetz Hays, Kansas The Bukovina Society of the Americas NEWSLETTER Publisher: O.M. Windholz Editorial Committee: [email protected] Irmgard Ellingson Rebecca Hageman Steve Parke Vol. 24, No. 4 December, 2014 P.O. Box 81, Ellis, KS 67637 USA Rebecca Hageman Wichita, Kansas Arthur Honas Ellis, Kansas Norma Lang Ellis, Kansas Steve Park Pueblo West, CO Darrell Seibel Hays, Kansas SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS • Members of the Bukovina Society met for the annual business meeting on October 10, 2014 at the Oktoberfest in Hays, Kansas. Elected to new terms on the board were: Marcy McClelland, Steve Parke and Art Honas. • Our deepest sympathies are extended to Larry Menestrina, long time Bukovina Society member as well as a former member of our International Board, at the death of his wife Nataliya in Wichita, Kansas, on Oct. 30, 2014. The funeral service was held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Wichita on Sat. Nov. 8. The Nataliya Menestrina Memorial Fund has been at the Cessna Employees Credit Union, 4 Cessna Blvd, Wichita, KS 67215, to aid the family with funeral expenses and other challenges. • Father Myron Flax, O.F.M. Cap., was recently recognized for 50 years of service in the Order of Capuchin Franciscans. He was born September 30, 1928 in Ransom, Ness County, Kansas to Godfrey and Catherine (Weber) Flax. Ransom was home to a Bohemian German Catholic colony that settled there when land became more scarce and expensive in Ellis and Trego Counties. Fr. Myron served for 38 years in the Capuchin missions in Papua, New Guinea in outlying areas of the South Pacific island nation. He was the first Westerner to enter the Gambe area and formed new parishes there, later becoming administrator of the Mendi Diocese Cathedral. He continued ministry upon his return to the United States and has now retired to the friary of the Basilica of St. Francis in Victoria, Kansas. • Luzian Geier of the Bukowina Institut in Augsburg wrote that his uncle, Paul Michalski, died in Lima, New York, on August 22, 2014. He was born in New York and returned with his parents to Ostra and Stulpikani, Bukovina. He was part of the 1941 Umsiedlung (resettlement) to Graz, Austria, and was regarded as a protector of his people during the Umsiedlung and World War II. He returned to the United States in 1957. The Bukovina Society extends its sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Paul Michalski. • Members of the Frank and Leona Neuburger family made a June-July 2014 trip to the Ellis, Kansas, area to visit the family’s homestead. The group consisted of International Board Michael Augustin Leonberg, Germany Joe Erbert Secretary Emeritus, Ellis, KS Ayrton Gonçalves Celestino, Ph. D. Curitiba, Brazil Laura Hanowski Regina, SK,Canada Ortfried Kotzian, Ph. D. Augsburg, Germany Edward Al Lang Sycamore, Illinois Paul Massier Las Vegas, Nevada Van Massirer Crawford, Texas Douglas Reckmann Portland, Oregon Kurt Rein, Ph. D. Baldham, Germany Membership Dues: Lifetime $150.00 Annual $15.00 Web Site: www.bukovinasociety.org
Transcript of The Bukovina Society of the...
1
Board of DirectorsMartha McClelland, President Hays, KansasO.M. Windholz, Vice President Hays, KansasShirley Kuppetz, Secretary Ellis, KansasGuy Windholz, Treasurer Hays, KansasGilbert Augustine Ellis, KansasIrmgard Hein Ellingson Decorah, IowaEileen Goetz Hays, Kansas
The Bukovina Societyof the Americas
NEWSLETTERPublisher: O.M. Windholz Editorial Committee: [email protected] Irmgard Ellingson Rebecca Hageman Steve Parke
Vol. 24, No. 4 December, 2014P.O. Box 81, Ellis, KS 67637 USARebecca Hageman Wichita, KansasArthur Honas Ellis, KansasNorma Lang Ellis, KansasSteve Park Pueblo West, CODarrell Seibel Hays, Kansas
SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS
• MembersoftheBukovinaSocietymetfortheannualbusinessmeetingonOctober10,2014attheOktoberfestinHays,Kansas.Electedtonewtermsontheboardwere:MarcyMcClelland,SteveParkeandArtHonas.
• OurdeepestsympathiesareextendedtoLarryMenestrina,longtimeBukovinaSocietymemberaswellasaformermemberofourInternationalBoard,atthedeathofhiswifeNataliyainWichita,Kansas,onOct.30,2014.ThefuneralservicewasheldatSt.JudeCatholicChurchinWichitaonSat.Nov.8.TheNataliyaMenestrinaMemorialFundhasbeenattheCessnaEmployeesCreditUnion,4CessnaBlvd,
Wichita,KS67215,toaidthefamilywithfuneralexpensesandotherchallenges.
• FatherMyronFlax,O.F.M.Cap.,wasrecentlyrecognizedfor50yearsofserviceintheOrderofCapuchinFranciscans.HewasbornSeptember30,1928inRansom,NessCounty,KansastoGodfreyandCatherine(Weber)Flax.RansomwashometoaBohemianGermanCatholiccolonythatsettledtherewhenlandbecamemorescarceandexpensiveinEllisandTregoCounties.Fr.Myronservedfor38yearsintheCapuchinmissionsinPapua,NewGuineainoutlyingareasoftheSouthPacificislandnation.HewasthefirstWesternertoentertheGambeareaandformednewparishesthere,laterbecomingadministratoroftheMendiDioceseCathedral.HecontinuedministryuponhisreturntotheUnitedStatesandhasnowretiredtothefriaryoftheBasilicaofSt.FrancisinVictoria,Kansas.
• LuzianGeieroftheBukowina InstitutinAugsburgwrotethathisuncle,PaulMichalski,diedinLima,NewYork,onAugust22,2014.HewasborninNewYorkandreturnedwithhisparentstoOstraandStulpikani,Bukovina.Hewaspartofthe1941Umsiedlung(resettlement)toGraz,Austria,andwasregardedasaprotectorofhispeopleduringtheUmsiedlungandWorldWarII.HereturnedtotheUnitedStatesin1957.TheBukovinaSocietyextendsitssinceresympathiestothefamilyandfriendsofPaulMichalski.
• MembersoftheFrankandLeonaNeuburgerfamilymadeaJune-July2014triptotheEllis,Kansas,areatovisitthefamily’shomestead.Thegroupconsistedof
International BoardMichael Augustin Leonberg, GermanyJoe Erbert Secretary Emeritus, Ellis, KSAyrton Gonçalves Celestino, Ph. D. Curitiba, BrazilLaura Hanowski Regina, SK,CanadaOrtfried Kotzian, Ph. D. Augsburg, GermanyEdward Al Lang Sycamore, Illinois
Paul Massier Las Vegas, NevadaVan Massirer Crawford, TexasDouglas Reckmann Portland, OregonKurt Rein, Ph. D. Baldham, Germany
Membership Dues:Lifetime $150.00
Annual $15.00
Web Site: www.bukovinasociety.org
2
WayneandMaryNeuburger,hisbrotherandsister-in-lawKenandMaryNeuburger,theirmotherLeona(thewidowofFrankNeuburger),theirauntIdaanduncleJulius,andcousinsNorma,Dorothy,andKenneth.ThefamilyhadlivedintheEllisareauntil1953,whentheymovedtoSalem,Oregon.The2014tripmadeitpossibleforLeona,bornonafarmoutsideofHaysonJune30,1915,toreturntoherbirthplaceonher99thbirthday.WayneandKenwerealsoabletovisitwithEllisareaacquaintancesincludingBukovinaSocietyboardmembersArtHonasandJoeErbert.TheBukovinaSocietywishestoacknowledgetheNeuburgers’visittoEllisandtoextendbelatedbirthdaygreetingstoLeona!
THE LAST EMPERORWORLD WAR I: A CENTURY AGO
Itisnowacenturysincethe1914outbreakofWorldWarI.ThenBukovinawasstillpartoftheHabsburg[Austrian[EmpireandFrancisJosephhadreignedasEmperorofAustriaandKingofHungaryfor66years.Theoldemperordiedin1916andwassucceededbyCharlesI,whoreignedfrom1916until1918,whenhe“renouncedparticipation”instateaffairsbutdidnotabdicate.Hespenttheremainingyearsofhislifeattemptingtorestorethemonarchyuntilhisdeathin1922.CharleswasthelastruleroftheAustro-HungarianEmpire,thelastEmperorofAustria,thelastKingofHungary,anthelastmonarchoftheHouseofHabsburg-Lorraine.
Charles and Zita on their wedding day,October 21, 1911
“Iamanofficerwithallmybodyandsoul,”hetoldhiswifeupontheoutbreakofWorldWarI,“butIdonotseehowanyonewhoseeshisdearestrelationsleavingforthefrontcanlovewar.”-quotedbyJamesandJoannaBogleinA Heart for Europe: The Lives of Emperor Charles and Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary,GracewingPublishing,page54.
THE ORIGINS OF THE BUKOVINA GERMANS
Irmgard Hein Ellingson
AreyouresearchingyourBukovinaancestors?Well,youarelucky!Somuchoftheregion’shistory-andthatincludessettlementhistoryaswellasfamilyhistories-haslongbeenknownandpublished,therebyfacilitatingourongoinggenealogicalandotherstudies.
BukovinaislocatedontheoutereasterncurveoftheCarpathianMountains.Thisruralareaof10,422squarekilometerswasannexedbytheHabsburg[Austrian]Empirein1785.ItquicklybecamemultinationalasPoles,Ukrainians,Romanians,Jews,Germans,Serbs,Croatians,Slovaks,Hungarians,ArmeniansandotherscamethereinresponsetotheHabsburgreligioustolerationpolicyandtheircolonizationprograms.Withinabouttenyears,theregion’spopulationhadmorethandoubledandwithinacentury,ithadmultipliedtentimes.Theregion’s1880censusdatareportedthattwelvepercentofthetotalpopulationwasJewishwiththeremainderbeingUkrainian(42%),Romanian(33%),German(19%),andPolish(3%),withsmallernumbersofHungarians,Slovaks,andothers.ThesepercentagesremainedfairlyconsistentupuntilWorldWarI.
AsfortheGermans,theycametoBukovinafromvariousplacesinEurope(note:“Germany”wasnotformeduntil1871).Thefollowinggeneralregionsoforiginhavelongbeenknownandresearched:
-theZips(Spiš)district,fromwhichGermanminerswererecruitedtoworkintheBukovinamines,-thePfalz(thePalatinate)andBaden-Württemberg,fromwhichGermanfarmersemigratedtoGaliciaandthenBukovina-westernBohemia,fromwhichGermanlumberjackswererecruitedfortheBukovinaglassmakingcottageindustry.
Thehand-drawnmapbelow,whichappearsonourSociety’swebsite,showsthewalkingpathfromtheBohemianForesttoBukovina.Itwasoriginallypublishedin“Buchenhain:DieHeimatunsererDeutschböhmen”byJosefNeuburgerandappearsinDr.ValentinReitmajer’sGermanBohemianCookBook,translatedbyDr.SophieA.Welisch.
3
DoyouhaveaquestionabouttheoriginofyourownGermanancestorswhosettledinBukovina?Feelfreetoemailmeaboutitatirmgardellingson@yahoo.com.
THE POST-WORLD WAR II LEGACY
IrmgardHeinEllingson
TheBund der Vertriebenen(BdV),ortheFederationofExpellees,isanon-profitorganizationformedin1957torepresenttheinterestsofethnicGermanswhoeitherfledtheircentralandeasternEuropeanhomesduringWorldWarII,orwereforciblyexpelledafterit.Beforethatdate,theBund der Heimatvertriebenen(LeagueofExpelleesandDeprivedofRights,1950)representedtheinterestsofGermanexpellees,alsocalled“displacedpersons.”
TheBdVisthesinglerepresentativefederationfortheapproximately15millionGermanswhoafterfleeing,beingexpelled,evacuatedoremigrating,foundrefugeintheFederalRepublicofGermany.Theyareorganizedin
21regionalassociations,calledLandsmannschaften,accordingtotheareasoforiginofitsmembers,16stateorganizations(Landesverbände)accordingtotheircurrentresidence,and5associatememberorganizations.
TheBukovinaSocietyoftheAmericasisasisteroftheLandsmannschaften der Buchenlanddeutschen (Bukowina) e.V.Since1989,theBukowina-InstitutatAugsburgUniversityhasservedasahistoricalandculturalcenterforBukovinastudies(seede.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukowina-Institut_an_der_Universität_Augsburg).
Thefollowingdocument,endorsedbyalloftheLandsmannschaften,outlinesthesharedpositionoftheexpellees,includingthosefromBukovina,topositive,
constructiveparticipationinthepost-WorldWarIIworld.Noteinparticularthefirstpoint,withitsspecificrenunciationofrevengeandretaliation.TheBukovinaSocietyaffirmsthesesprinciplesinourongoingpartnershipwiththeLandsmannschaftanditsresearcharm,theBukowina-Institut.
CHARTER OF THE GERMAN EXPELLEES
ConsciousoftheirresponsibilitybeforeGodandmen,consciousoftheiraffiliationtotheWesternChristiancommunity,consciousoftheirGermanorigin,andrealizingthecommontaskofallnationsofEurope,theelectedrepresentativesofmillionsofexpellees,aftercarefuldeliberationandafterhavingsearchedtheirconscience,haveresolvedtomakepublicasolemndeclarationtotheGermanpeopleandtotheentireworld,definingboththedutiesandtherightswhichtheGermanexpelleesconsidertheirbasiclawandanindispensablepreconditionfortheestablishmentofafreeandunitedEurope.
1.We,theexpellees,renounceallthoughtofrevengeandretaliation.Ourresolutionissolemnandsacredinmemoryoftheinfinitesufferingbroughtuponmankind,particularlyduringthepastdecade.
2.WeshallsupportwithallourstrengtheveryendeavordirectedtowardstheestablishmentofaunitedEuropeinwhichthenationsmayliveinfreedomfromfearandcoercion.
3.Weshallcontribute,byhardanduntiringwork,tothereconstructionofGermanyandEurope.
Wehavelostourhomeland.Thehomelessarestrangersonthefaceoftheearth.Godhimselfplacedmenintheirnativeland.Toseparatemanforciblyfromhisnativelandmeanstokillhiminhismind.
Wehavesufferedandexperiencedthisfate.Wethereforefeelcalledupontodemandthattherighttoournativelandberecognizedandrealizedasoneofthebasicrightsofman,grantedtohimbyGod.
However,aslongasthisrighthasnotbeenmaterializedforus,wedonotwanttostandasideunderimposedinactivity,butratherwanttostriveandworkwithallmembersofournationinnew,purifiedformsofbrotherlyandconsideratecooperation.
4
Forthisreasonweclaimanddemand,todayasinthepast:
1.Equalrightsascitizens,notmerelybeforethelawbutalsoineverydaylife;
2.JustandreasonabledistributionoftheburdensofthelastwaramongtheentireGermanpeopleandanhonestapplicationofthisprinciple;
3.ReasonableintegrationofallprofessionalgroupsofexpelleesintothelifeoftheGermanpeople;
4.IncorporationoftheGermanexpelleesintothereconstructionworkforEurope.
Thenationsoftheworldshouldbecomesensitiveoftheirco-responsibilityforthefateoftheexpelleeswhohavesufferedmostfromthehardshipsofourtimes.
ThenationsshouldactinaccordancewiththeirdutiesandtheirconscienceasChristians.
ThenationsmustrealizethatthefateoftheGermanexpellees,justasthatofallrefugees,isaworldproblemthesolutionofwhichcallsforthehighestmoralresponsibilityandforacommitmenttotremendouseffort.
Wethereforecalluponallnationsandmenofgoodwilltojoininthemutualendeavortofindawayoutofguilt,misfortune,suffering,povertyandmiserywhichwillleadusalltoabetterfuture
BUKOVINIANS IN VENEZUELA
ErwinMassier,JosefTalskyandB.C.Grigorowicz,Bukowina – Heimat von Gestern,trans.SophieA.Welisch(Karlsruhe:Arbeitskreis Bukowina Heimatbuch,1956),pp.315-316.
“Inthesummerof1951agroupof150passengersdepartedforsettlementinVenezuela.OrganizingthisventureweretheBukovinapriestKurtBenschfromPoianaMikuliandprelateBüttnerfromtheStudySocietyforSettlementAbroad(Studiengesellschaft für Siedlung im Ausland).Atripviaplanearousedmuchattentionatthattime.DespitethetropicalclimateandlivingconditionsforEuropeansinaarea2000–3000metersabovesealevel,the“Bukovinos”–asthelocalpopulationreferredtotheBukovinaGermans,”haveestablishedamodelsettlementinTurénwithextensivefarmsinaself-containedcommunityrecountedherebyL.Canelon...
UnitedStatesofVenezuelaNationalAgriculturalInstituteCaracas,September11,1950
INM3045ReverendKurtBenschHotelAmbassador
IhavethepleasureofturningtoyouforyourmediationwiththeecclesiasticalaidorganizationonbehalfofGermanrefugeeswhosedelegateyouareandtopresentthefollowingproposaltoyouinthenameoftheNationalAgriculturalInstituteincollaborationwiththeresettlementofagriculturalfamiliesfromBukovina.
Agricultural settlement of Turén:InthissettlementtheInstituteoffersthirtyofthedesignatedfamiliesanequalnumberoflandparcelsandhousesamongthosealreadyexistingthereandtheuseoftheareaafteraproposedvisitduringwhichtheywillhaveseenthehousesandparcelstheyhavebeenoffered.
Selection of the applicants:theselectionoftheapplicantswillbemadebytheVenezuelanImmigrationMissioninGermanyandAustriaonthebasisofsuggestionswhichhavebeenpreparedbytheirorganizations.Thesemustincludethename,age,profession,andcompositionofthefamily.Thisinnowaydisallowsthecandidateswhodesireit,toapplydirectlytotheMissionforimmigrationtothecountry.Thisgroupofthirtyfamilies,whichhasbeenaccepted,willundergoamedicalexamination,whichwilltakeplaceattheMissionorthroughsubmissionoftheinformationrequestedintheaccompanyingform.ThechosenfamiliesmustkeeptherequireddocumentsreceivedfromtheGermanauthoritiesforthetriptoVenezuela.Theexpensesforthemedicalexamination,acquisitionofdocuments,andtransportationofthechosenfamiliestotheairportfromwhichthetripwilltakeplacefallstotheorganization.TheGermanauthoritiesmustoffertheVenezuelanImmigrationMissionallfacilitiestoeasethecarryingoutoftheirtask.TheGermangovernmentobligatesitselftoreadmitthesettlersandfamiliestotheircountryaswellasthosewhomDirectoryoftheInstitutehasbannedfromtheirparcel.
Conveyance:ConveyancefromGermanytoVenezuelashouldprimarilyproceedbyair.Totheextentthatthisisthemeansoftravelbychoice,everypersonhastherighttotakebaggageupto50kg.Intheeventthattheseavoyageshouldbelessexpensive,thismeansoftransportwillbechosen.TheusermustreimbursetheInstitute.Forthispurposetheexpenditurewillbeenteredonhiscreditaccount.
Enrollment:Theimmigrantswillbeenrolledatthe
5
Trompilloreceptioncenter,providedaccommodations,undergoamedicalexamination,andgiventhenecessarypapers.TransportationtotheplacewheretheywillbesettledwillbypaidbytheInstitute.
Mitigation:Withoutpaymentoftollstheimmigrantshavetherighttobringtheirnecessitiesincludingclothing,furnitureforpersonaluse,andtools,whichtheyneedfortheiroccupation;moreover,everyadultmaybringarifleforpurposesofhunting.NoruponentranceintotheterritoryoftheRepublicwilltherebeachargewhetherastaxorassecurity.
Transfer of the land parcels and houses:AsalreadystatedeveryBukovinianfamilywillbesoldalandparcelvaryinginsizebetween25and40hectaresaswellasadwellingwhichisonthelandandequippedwiththenecessaryaccommodations.Thissellingpricemustberepaidwithin25years.ThesettlermustpaytheInstitute3percentinterestperyearonwhatisowneduntilfulfillmentofthecontractualagreement;hecanmakespecialpaymentagainsthisdebt,whichmustbeatleast500bolivars.ThereisanunderstandingthattheInstitutethroughadeclarationoftheDirectorycanreclaimtheparcelfromasettlerandreversethesaleforoneofthefollowingreasons:1) becauseofabandonmentofparcel,2) becauseoflackofdisciplineorunseemlybehaviorof
theuserwhichmakeshimanundesirablecharacterinthecolony,
3) becauseofobviousneglectorlackofabilityofthesettlertomaintainthestructuresorimplementswhichhavebeenentrustedtohimorbelongtothesettlement,
4) proofthattheparcelisnotdirectlybeingworked,5) notfollowingtheworkanddevelopmentplanswhich
areestablishedbythesettlementornotfollowingthetechnicaldirectivesoftheInstitute,
6) groundlessnon-fulfillmentoftheInstitute’sfinancialtermsorneglectoftheincurredfinancialobligations;itisunderstoodthatfailuretomakeonepaymentbythesettlertosatisfythecurrentagreementwillsufficeifitdoesnotconflictwiththeparagraphofarticle132concerningagriculturalstatus,
7) becauseofrepeatednon-fulfillmentofacceptedobligationsbythesettlerasamemberofassociationsorotherorganizations,whichhadbeenagreedtoorapprovedbytheInstituteorbyamemberoftheinstitutionswhichenforcetheexistingagriculturalstatute.
8) Thesettlermustworktheassignedparcelhimselforwithrelativeslivingwithhiminanascendingordescendinglineofkinshipandwithco-lateralrelativesthroughtheseconddegreeofbloodkinship;
hecannotselltheparcelnorleaseitinanylegalform;withtheexceptionofcasesunderahigherjurisdiction,laborbynon-approvedworkersmustbeadequatelyauthenticatedandspecificallyapprovedbytheInstitute.Aslongasthesettlerhasnotterminatedhisresponsibilities,whichbenefittheInstituteunderhiscontract,hecannotencumberhisrightstothelandinanyform.TheInstitutehaswide-reachingmethodsofcontrol,oversightanddirectionoveroftransactionsmadebythesettler.
Thefinaltitleofownership,whichconfirmsthesettler’srightstohisproperty,willbegiventohimaftertheprovisionaltitleofownershipinthenextyearprovidedthatheagreestotheaforesaidobligations.InallpointsnotincludedinthecontractsthedecisionofAgriculturalSocietywilltakeprecedenceinthedistributionoftheparcels.
Credit:Nutrition:Duringthefirstyearanduntilthefirstharvestthesettlersandtheirfamilieswillreceivesufficientprovisions,whichwillbeadvancedtothem;thesettlermustrepaythestipulatedamountwithinadesignatedperiodoftime.
Agricultural cultivation:Forthecultivationofalandparcelthesettlerwillbeextendedcreditforseeds,toolsandfarmequipments,whichmustberepaidbytheborrowerwithintwo-to-threeyearsat5percentinterestperannum.
Medical attention:Duringthefirstyearanduntilthefirstharvestthesettlerandhisfamilywillreceivedoctor’scare,pharmaceuticals,hospitalization,andsurgicalinterventionfreeofcharge
Education:ThechildrenofschoolagewillbeinstructedinthesettlementunderthesameconditionsastheVenezuelans;foradultscoursesinSpanishwillbemadeavailable.
Legal status:AllsettlersinVenezuelaenjoythesamecivilrightswhichVenezuelansaregrantedintheconstitutionandinotherlawsoftheRepublic.
Ifyouareinagreementwiththeseconditions,youmaywishtoexpressyourconsentinwritingsothatVenezuelanImmigrationMissioninGermanycansubmitthenecessarypaperstoexpeditethisproposalassoonaspossible.IusethisopportunitytotellyouthatthatwewillseparatelysubmitanadditionalproposalfromwhichthesettlementofanothergroupofBukovinianfamilieswillbenefit.
6
GodandtheUnionSignature:ArmandoTamayo,Chairman
OfficialStampsUnitedStatesofVenezuelaNationalAgriculturalInstitute
LETTER OF IGNATZ SCHAFFHAUSER TO HIS SON, KARL
WRITTEN ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR I
TranslatedandeditedwithintroductionbySophieA.Welisch
While perusing the memorabilia of my Bukovinan friends and acquaintances, I had the good fortune of coming across a letter written in 1914 by one Ignatz Schaffhauser from Bori, whose son Karl had immigrated to the United States shortly before World War I. In his letter, written in the Gothic type of the Latin alphabet, the author uses the style and vocabulary characteristic of the rural Bukovina-Germans at that time. A copy of this letter is on file in the archives of the Bukovina Society of the Americas.
IgnatzSchaffhauser(1867–1914)wasathirdgenerationdescendantofthecolonistsMathiasSchaffhauserandAnnaSchwarzwhoin1835lefttheirhomelandintheBohemianForestandtookuprootsinwhatwastobecomethevillageofBoriinsouthernBukovina.Givenahighbirthrate,ascarcityofland,andlimitedeconomicopportunitiesbytheturnofcentury,manyBukovinianspursuedtherouteofimmigrationtotheNewWorld.ThosenotwishingtofarmsettledinAmerica’scities,includingNewYork,theportofentryatthattime.Comingfromanagriculturalsociety,boththemenandthewomenlackedskillsreadilytoadapttourbanliving.Fortunatelymanyunskilledlaborjobswereavailableatthattime;othersbitthebulletandlearnedanewtrade.
AmongtheseimmigrantswefindIgnatz’son,Karl(1894-1933),oneofsevenchildren.FourofKarl’ssiblings,Josefa(1892-1977),IgnatzII(1898-1971),Julianne(1903-1997)andEduard(1908-?)alsoembarkedonthelongvoyageacrosstheAtlantic,thefirstthreesettlinginNewYorkintheearly1920s,andEduard,theyoungest,takingupresidenceinCuba.In1926JuliannemarriedtheBukovinian,KarlTanda(1898-1942)inBrooklynandreimmigratedtoBukovina,onlytoreturntotheseshoreswithhertwochildreninthe1950s.Theirgrandson,LarryMenestrina,anengineerwithCessnaAircraftinWichita,
Kansas,isamemberoftheBukovinaSocietyandformerlyservedonitsboard.
Karlwasunemployedandpennilesswhenhewrotetohisfatherinearly1914,buthedidlearnthecraftofbakerandintimeownedandoperatedhisownshopinNewYork.Hisbrother,IgnatzIIalsoworkedasabaker,atradehelearnedintheUnitedStates.
OnJune20,1914,threemonthsafterthelettertohisson,IgnatzdiedinBori,thevillageofhisbirth.HisonlyextantphotographisaffixedtohistombstoneinGurahumora.Hiswife,Maria(neeBrandl)andtwootherchildren,Anna(1890-1953)andMathilda(1905-1955)withtheirfamiliessettledinGermanyin1940.
Ignatz’sletterofMarch13,1914revealsaproudmanlivingindifficulttimes,comfortedbyhistrustinGod,aconcernforhisfamily,andaninvolvementwithhisneighbors,hiscommunityandhischurch.Thetextofletterisasfollows:
Bori,March13.1914
DearsonKarl!
WiththegreatestpleasureIsitdowntowriteyouafewlines.Tobesure,whenyoursisterJosefagavemeyourlettertoread,youcanbelievemethatbecauseIwascrying,Icouldnotimmediatelyreadittoher.Youimploredustogiveupthegrocerystore;sincetheNewYearIhavealreadygivenupthewhiskeyandrum,sinceIgotalargetaxof1080crownsforoneyear.Wherecanthistakeus?Wewillkeepthebeeranddistillerysincewealreadyhavetheinsuranceandsomeonealwayshastobeathome.They[thewhiskeyandrum]wouldhavebroughtusnoincome,evenifwehadkeptthembecausewehavetoeat,becausewehavetobuyeverything,whichweuse,becausethreepoorharvestsfollowedoneafteranother,whichhopefullyyoustillrecall.Weonlyhavethehay.
DearsonKarl.Ihavetotellyouthatmylegisnothealed,thatIhadtosuffergreatpain.Youwritethatyoucannothelpme.ThisIcanbelieve,sinceallthreedoctorsalsocannothelpme.Thethree[doctors]inGurahumoraadvisemetogotothehospitalsinceIhavealreadyspentsomuch.ButIamfearfulofthehospital;perhapstheywillamputatemyleg.Iwouldratherdiewithmychildrenathome.PerhapstheywillprayanOurFatherformeatthecemetery.
Dearson.IwishtotellyouthatGrandmotherisverysick,andyouwillneverseeheragain.Iwillalso
7
tellyouthattheyshotJosefHaas,theforesterfromWoronetz[villageontheoutskirtsofGurahumora].Wealsohavealotofsnowhere.IwishtotellyouthatLeonBrandlisalsoverysickwithpulmonaryproblems.Heusedtovisitmealmosteveryday.NowhecannolongercometomeandIcannotgotohim.Hesendsgreetingsalsoasdoeshissister,TheresiaBrandl,andyoushouldwritetoher.
DearsonKarl.IalsowanttotellyouthatyouwriteyouhavenoworkinAmerica.YoucanimaginehowheavyofheartthatmademefeelbecauseweincurredgreatexpensesforyourtriptoAmerica.Ifyoubelievethatyouwillgetnowork,sowriteme,I’llimmediatelysendyoumoneytoreturnhome.Hereyouwouldhavemuchwork.Onlyyoushouldbehealthy.Ignatz[sonoftheauthorandKarl’sbrother]workswithFerdinandHellinger.Heearns1Guldenand20Kreuzers.Hewouldsurelypayyoumore:1Guldenand50Kreuzers.Inaddition,youcanearnmoneywiththehorses,upto7Florinsperday.Sofigureouthowmuchyouwouldhaveearnedduringthistime.IgnatzistooweaktodrivethehorsesandIcan’tdoit.IgnatzearnsenoughforonesuitofclothesforhimselfbuttheotherchildrenalsoneedthingsasdoMotherandI.IfIgetwell,Idonotevenhaveasuittoweartochurch.Iwouldbeashamed.Andthentherearemydebts.Icannotmakethepaymentsandatbestnoteventheinterest.
Dearson.Youwrotethatyouwouldliketovolunteerforthearmy.ButasfatherIwouldadviseyouthatyoucouldalsohavedonethisinBukovina.Andatleastyouwouldbeathome.Ifyouarenotinterestedinfarming,youcanjointhelocalpoliceforceortheFinanceSecuritywhereyouwouldhaveanevenbetterlife.ButonepointIwillallowmyselftomake:ifyouhavemoneyanddon’twanttosendusany,thenyoucanwellimaginewhatpleasureyouarebringingtoyourparents.IfyouwritealettertoJosefa,webeseechyoutotellhertostopseeingAntonGünthnerbecauseMothercannotstandhim.NowIconcludemyletterwithmanyhappygreetingsfromFatherandMotherandfromourbigEduard.Heisalreadysobigandveryhealthy.
BestregardstoallthepeoplefromBoriandfromGurahumoraincludingWenzelHilgarthandSeidlandFranzHaasanddonotforgettheholyseasonofLentandalsogotoconfessionandtochurch.ThenGodwillnotforgetyou.PraisedbeJesusChrist.
IgnatzSchaffhauser
GERMAN-BOHEMIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY30TH ANNIVERSARY
TheinternationalGerman-BohemianHeritageSocietyheadquarteredinNewUlm,Minnesota,celebratedits30thanniversarywithabanquetonOctober18,2014.Over100membersandguestswerepresent,manywearingtheirhomelandclothing(Tracht).Thedaybeganwitha“CultureCorner”wherefamiliessetupdisplaysofphotos,newspapers,andartifactsfromtheoldcountry,andfromthenewhomelandintheNewUlmarea.TheformalprogrambeganwithawelcomeandpresentationofthenewGBHSwebsite(www.germanbohemianheritagesociety.com)byMollySchweinfurter,President.LouieLindmeyerreadaproclamationfromMayorRobertBeussmandeclaringOctober18thasGerman-Bohemian DayinNewUlm.RobertPaulson,thefounderofBCHS,deliveredhishistoricalrecollectionsofhowitallbeganin1984.GBHS’King(König)DenisWartaledtheassemblyinarousingchorusoftheBöhmerwald Lied,orBohemianForestSong,sungintheoldBohemiandialect.JerryGuldenproposedaheartwarmingtoasttoGerman-Bohemians,past,present,andfuture.DanielHoisington,historianandauthor,presentedapreviewofaforthcomingdocumentaryvideoshowingaccountsofimmigrationfromEuropetoAmericafromthememoriesofdescendantsofthepioneerswhoarrivedhereinthelasthalfofthe19thcentury.Theprogramwasfollowedbyashortbusinessmeetingwithayear-in-reviewreportandelectionofofficers.Theeveningwascappedbytwohoursofsocializing,dancing,andschunkeling(rockingandswayingtogether)tohomeland-stylemusicbyDonnieKlossneronhisconcertina.
AlthoughtheydidnotattendtheGBHS30thanniversaryevents,Mr.andMrs.LeoDorzweilerofCatherine,Kansas,andMr.andMrs.GlennSchmeidlerofHays,Kansas,friendsoftheBukovinaSociety,attendedtheannualOktoberfestinNewUlmconductedOctober3-4and10-11.TheirhostGeorgeGlotzbach,occasionalvisitortoEllisCountyandtheBukovinaSociety,providedadetailedtourofthecommunity.
8
BUKOVINA SOCIETYP.O. Box 81Ellis, KS 67637
