Daniela, You may be disappointed to have actually posted to the list, since that is not what you intended, but I am happy that you broke the ice - even if unintentional. Your post is informative and reads well - AND welcome to the discussion! Eve DVHH mail list co-administrator On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Daniela <danielashowley@aol.com> wrote: > Hi there Barb...I am a new member so I have been a silent reader. Still > trying to get used to how the mailing list works and still reading all the > info on the DVHH website. If I made this reply correctly I am just > responding to you, not the whole group. I am still nervous and hesitant to > message all. It is so comforting to be amongst this group and getting > access to all the literature out there. I was surprised and happy to see > you are in a suburb of Chicago. I also live in a suburb of Chicago. I was > lucky to have grown up hearing many stories about my mom and dad's life in > Banat and Syrmia. I was always very proud of them. My mom was born in > Banat, Sankt Hubert 1927. She and her family did not flee when they had the > chance. She spent 4 years in Rudolfsgnad Concentration Camp. My dad was > born in Srem, in Zemun 1930. In 1941 his family moved to Brandenburg, near > Berlin because things were very dangerous in Zemun. They lived in > Brandenburg until 1944. He was in the Berlin zoo the day the first bombs > fell on Berlin. I thank God the German's had so many bomb shelters. My dad > was one of the lucky ones to make it to the subway shelter that could hold > hundreds of people. Unfortunately, he was in what became the Russian zone, > not the American zone, and the Russians sent my dad and his parents back to > their homeland in Yugoslavia. They were put into concentration camp in > Mitrowitza, and my dad and opa were then sent to work in coal mine in > Verdnic camp by Neusatz. In 1948 my parents met each other in Gakowa, which > is where they were sent when the camps closed to work on big farms, pustas, > My older sister was born in Sombor in 1950. And all 3 of them came to the > USA in 1956, where I was born shortly later. I love my heritage and I love > speaking "Schwowisch". I will never lose it. I am so happy that the > Donauschwaben are all over the world and that we can come together here. > God Bless everyone. > > Daniela > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Barb D <bbd2424@gmail.com> > To: SusanM <soozn_6@yahoo.com>; DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES < > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tue, Apr 22, 2014 1:26 pm > Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe > > > I agree!!!! This has been fun and very informative. I hope it keeps up. I > am > getting the feel for how my grandparents and families lived and died. So > many question to go and I will probably never have the answers to most. I > am > not even sure how to know if we are Donauschwaben or not. > I wish I had some stories to tell but it was my grandparents who lived in > DSM. and they didn't talk a lot about the old country even to their kids > (sometimes with their old country friends) or maybe we weren't paying > enough attention to remember. All I can tell you is I wish I had had the > foresight to ask or listen better. > So keep the info coming please! If there is anything I can do to help let > me > know. I live in a suburb of Chicago, Il. > Thanks so much for all info and help! > Barb D. > > -----Original Message----- > From: SusanM > Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 11:36 AM > To: DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe > > I just wanted to say how much I have appreciated this discussion. It has > been so interesting, and now I want to go back and hunt the archives. I'm > not sure what search terms to use though. Anyway, I wanted to say thanks to > people who have written on this thread. I'm fascinated. > > > Susan M > > On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 2:27 AM, Gaby Curtis-Hayward <gabyh@adam.com.au > > > wrote: > > I am so envious that you all have so much information about your ancestry. > > Sadly, I never went into great depth with my parents and relied mainly on > my > older sister for any information. Unfortunately, a lot of the information > she provided has been incorrect which I discovered after reading documents > she found. > > We have very few photographs and documentation as this was all lost during > and after the war. > > My mother and father met in Linz, DP camp. My father was Hungarian and > mother German. My mother could understand Hungarian but not speak it and my > father could understand German but not speak it. Hence they spoke to each > other in their own language and could understand each other. > > My two sisters were born in Linz and they all immigrated to Australia in > 1949 where 4 more children were born. > > Sadly, we had no relatives who immigrated to Australia. > > It was very interesting in our household because we could all have a > conversation together whilst speaking 3 languages between us. My mother > would speak to my sisters in German and they would reply in German. By now > my mother could speak Hungarian and spoke to my dad In both German and > Hungarian and he replied in Hungarian. She spoke to the rest of us in > English and we would reply in English. It was very amusing to hear my > mother > change languages mid sentence as she addressed each of us. > > When my parents would speak to their friends, my mother would speak in many > more languages. I was able to tell which language she was speaking, > without > understanding what she was saying, and was always very proud of myself when > I guessed it correctly. > > Mother - Gisela Hermann, born Torda, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) in 1921 > > Father - Karl (Karoly) Soti, born Devavanya, Hungary 1920 > > Gaby, Australia > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > On 22 Apr 2014, at 7:10 am, Eve <evebrown@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I agree with you Rose it is very sad about the knowledge of our families > > history. My parents never used the word Donauschwaben when I lived at > home > > that I can recall at all, but they were aware of the name. They did > > however refer to what they spoke as Schwowisch - which silly me did not > > realize it was their German dialect, but thought that meant when they > > spoke > > "Slavisch" - which they did whenever they didn't want us to know what > they > > were saying. We actually thought the Slavisch language was my dad's > first > > tongue, but learned towards the end that he was reverting back to his > > German more and more. My mother doesn't seem able to recall much > Slavisch > > at all anymore. > > > > Eve > > > > > >> On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 3:51 PM, Rose Vetter <rosevetter@gmail.com> > >> wrote: > >> > >> Those of us who have early memories of life in the Donauschwaben > >> settlements will agree that our people never called themselves > >> Donauschwaben. I for one don't remember ever hearing that word back > >> home, > >> or even in the post-war years in Germany, for that matter. We simply > >> called ourselves Schwowe back home; the Serbians called us Švabe. When > >> we > >> arrived in Germany we called ourselves Volksdeutsche, or ethnic Germans. > >> The coining of the term Donauschwaben is attributed to Robert Sieger of > >> Graz, Austria around 1922. But the fact that it is widely used today is > >> mainly due to the efforts of geographer Hermann Rüdiger. > >> > >> It's a sad fact that even today many people in Germany have not heard > >> about > >> the Donauschwaben. > >> > >> Rose > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Syrmia Regional Coordinator > > http://www.dvhh.org/syrmia > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body > of > the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- Syrmia Regional Coordinator http://www.dvhh.org/syrmia

I agree, Maybe we can call it a 'happy accident'....your information was very enlightening. welcome to DVHH Linda Bautz McKenna ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve" <evebrown@gmail.com> To: "Daniela" <danielashowley@aol.com> Cc: <DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 6:18 PM Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe > Daniela, > > You may be disappointed to have actually posted to the list, since that is > not what you intended, but I am happy that you broke the ice - even if > unintentional. Your post is informative and reads well - AND welcome to > the discussion! > > Eve > DVHH mail list co-administrator > > > On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Daniela <danielashowley@aol.com> wrote: > >> Hi there Barb...I am a new member so I have been a silent reader. Still >> trying to get used to how the mailing list works and still reading all >> the >> info on the DVHH website. If I made this reply correctly I am just >> responding to you, not the whole group. I am still nervous and hesitant >> to >> message all. It is so comforting to be amongst this group and getting >> access to all the literature out there. I was surprised and happy to see >> you are in a suburb of Chicago. I also live in a suburb of Chicago. I was >> lucky to have grown up hearing many stories about my mom and dad's life >> in >> Banat and Syrmia. I was always very proud of them. My mom was born in >> Banat, Sankt Hubert 1927. She and her family did not flee when they had >> the >> chance. She spent 4 years in Rudolfsgnad Concentration Camp. My dad was >> born in Srem, in Zemun 1930. In 1941 his family moved to Brandenburg, >> near >> Berlin because things were very dangerous in Zemun. They lived in >> Brandenburg until 1944. He was in the Berlin zoo the day the first bombs >> fell on Berlin. I thank God the German's had so many bomb shelters. My >> dad >> was one of the lucky ones to make it to the subway shelter that could >> hold >> hundreds of people. Unfortunately, he was in what became the Russian >> zone, >> not the American zone, and the Russians sent my dad and his parents back >> to >> their homeland in Yugoslavia. They were put into concentration camp in >> Mitrowitza, and my dad and opa were then sent to work in coal mine in >> Verdnic camp by Neusatz. In 1948 my parents met each other in Gakowa, >> which >> is where they were sent when the camps closed to work on big farms, >> pustas, >> My older sister was born in Sombor in 1950. And all 3 of them came to the >> USA in 1956, where I was born shortly later. I love my heritage and I >> love >> speaking "Schwowisch". I will never lose it. I am so happy that the >> Donauschwaben are all over the world and that we can come together here. >> God Bless everyone. >> >> Daniela >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Barb D <bbd2424@gmail.com> >> To: SusanM <soozn_6@yahoo.com>; DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES < >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Tue, Apr 22, 2014 1:26 pm >> Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe >> >> >> I agree!!!! This has been fun and very informative. I hope it keeps up. I >> am >> getting the feel for how my grandparents and families lived and died. So >> many question to go and I will probably never have the answers to most. I >> am >> not even sure how to know if we are Donauschwaben or not. >> I wish I had some stories to tell but it was my grandparents who lived in >> DSM. and they didn't talk a lot about the old country even to their kids >> (sometimes with their old country friends) or maybe we weren't paying >> enough attention to remember. All I can tell you is I wish I had had the >> foresight to ask or listen better. >> So keep the info coming please! If there is anything I can do to help let >> me >> know. I live in a suburb of Chicago, Il. >> Thanks so much for all info and help! >> Barb D. >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: SusanM >> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 11:36 AM >> To: DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe >> >> I just wanted to say how much I have appreciated this discussion. It has >> been so interesting, and now I want to go back and hunt the archives. I'm >> not sure what search terms to use though. Anyway, I wanted to say thanks >> to >> people who have written on this thread. I'm fascinated. >> >> >> Susan M >> >> On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 2:27 AM, Gaby Curtis-Hayward >> <gabyh@adam.com.au >> > >> wrote: >> >> I am so envious that you all have so much information about your >> ancestry. >> >> Sadly, I never went into great depth with my parents and relied mainly on >> my >> older sister for any information. Unfortunately, a lot of the >> information >> she provided has been incorrect which I discovered after reading >> documents >> she found. >> >> We have very few photographs and documentation as this was all lost >> during >> and after the war. >> >> My mother and father met in Linz, DP camp. My father was Hungarian and >> mother German. My mother could understand Hungarian but not speak it and >> my >> father could understand German but not speak it. Hence they spoke to each >> other in their own language and could understand each other. >> >> My two sisters were born in Linz and they all immigrated to Australia in >> 1949 where 4 more children were born. >> >> Sadly, we had no relatives who immigrated to Australia. >> >> It was very interesting in our household because we could all have a >> conversation together whilst speaking 3 languages between us. My mother >> would speak to my sisters in German and they would reply in German. By >> now >> my mother could speak Hungarian and spoke to my dad In both German and >> Hungarian and he replied in Hungarian. She spoke to the rest of us in >> English and we would reply in English. It was very amusing to hear my >> mother >> change languages mid sentence as she addressed each of us. >> >> When my parents would speak to their friends, my mother would speak in >> many >> more languages. I was able to tell which language she was speaking, >> without >> understanding what she was saying, and was always very proud of myself >> when >> I guessed it correctly. >> >> Mother - Gisela Hermann, born Torda, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) in 1921 >> >> Father - Karl (Karoly) Soti, born Devavanya, Hungary 1920 >> >> Gaby, Australia >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> > On 22 Apr 2014, at 7:10 am, Eve <evebrown@gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> > I agree with you Rose it is very sad about the knowledge of our >> > families >> > history. My parents never used the word Donauschwaben when I lived at >> home >> > that I can recall at all, but they were aware of the name. They did >> > however refer to what they spoke as Schwowisch - which silly me did not >> > realize it was their German dialect, but thought that meant when they >> > spoke >> > "Slavisch" - which they did whenever they didn't want us to know what >> they >> > were saying. We actually thought the Slavisch language was my dad's >> first >> > tongue, but learned towards the end that he was reverting back to his >> > German more and more. My mother doesn't seem able to recall much >> Slavisch >> > at all anymore. >> > >> > Eve >> > >> > >> >> On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 3:51 PM, Rose Vetter <rosevetter@gmail.com> >> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Those of us who have early memories of life in the Donauschwaben >> >> settlements will agree that our people never called themselves >> >> Donauschwaben. I for one don't remember ever hearing that word back >> >> home, >> >> or even in the post-war years in Germany, for that matter. We simply >> >> called ourselves Schwowe back home; the Serbians called us Švabe. >> >> When >> >> we >> >> arrived in Germany we called ourselves Volksdeutsche, or ethnic >> >> Germans. >> >> The coining of the term Donauschwaben is attributed to Robert Sieger >> >> of >> >> Graz, Austria around 1922. But the fact that it is widely used today >> >> is >> >> mainly due to the efforts of geographer Hermann Rüdiger. >> >> >> >> It's a sad fact that even today many people in Germany have not heard >> >> about >> >> the Donauschwaben. >> >> >> >> Rose >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> >> 'unsubscribe' >> >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Syrmia Regional Coordinator >> > http://www.dvhh.org/syrmia >> >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com >> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the >> body >> of >> the message >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > -- > Syrmia Regional Coordinator > http://www.dvhh.org/syrmia > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com

Hi Daniela I am also new to the mailing list and was a silent reader until a few days ago when I reluctantly posted my first story. My mother was from Banat, Torda. Your story was very sad and I am so grateful that my mother fled when she had the chance. Welcome aboard! Gaby Sent from my iPad > On 23 Apr 2014, at 7:48 am, Eve <evebrown@gmail.com> wrote: > > Daniela, > > You may be disappointed to have actually posted to the list, since that is > not what you intended, but I am happy that you broke the ice - even if > unintentional. Your post is informative and reads well - AND welcome to > the discussion! > > Eve > DVHH mail list co-administrator > > >> On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Daniela <danielashowley@aol.com> wrote: >> >> Hi there Barb...I am a new member so I have been a silent reader. Still >> trying to get used to how the mailing list works and still reading all the >> info on the DVHH website. If I made this reply correctly I am just >> responding to you, not the whole group. I am still nervous and hesitant to >> message all. It is so comforting to be amongst this group and getting >> access to all the literature out there. I was surprised and happy to see >> you are in a suburb of Chicago. I also live in a suburb of Chicago. I was >> lucky to have grown up hearing many stories about my mom and dad's life in >> Banat and Syrmia. I was always very proud of them. My mom was born in >> Banat, Sankt Hubert 1927. She and her family did not flee when they had the >> chance. She spent 4 years in Rudolfsgnad Concentration Camp. My dad was >> born in Srem, in Zemun 1930. In 1941 his family moved to Brandenburg, near >> Berlin because things were very dangerous in Zemun. They lived in >> Brandenburg until 1944. He was in the Berlin zoo the day the first bombs >> fell on Berlin. I thank God the German's had so many bomb shelters. My dad >> was one of the lucky ones to make it to the subway shelter that could hold >> hundreds of people. Unfortunately, he was in what became the Russian zone, >> not the American zone, and the Russians sent my dad and his parents back to >> their homeland in Yugoslavia. They were put into concentration camp in >> Mitrowitza, and my dad and opa were then sent to work in coal mine in >> Verdnic camp by Neusatz. In 1948 my parents met each other in Gakowa, which >> is where they were sent when the camps closed to work on big farms, pustas, >> My older sister was born in Sombor in 1950. And all 3 of them came to the >> USA in 1956, where I was born shortly later. I love my heritage and I love >> speaking "Schwowisch". I will never lose it. I am so happy that the >> Donauschwaben are all over the world and

Welcome to the list Gaby. Glad you posted. We've all been new on the list at one point. There are no right or wrong questions and DS stories and comments are always welcome. For you and others who may be fairly new to the DVHH list, I invite you to see our 10th year anniversary publication of Jan 15, 1013: http://www.dvhh.org/community/10-years/index.htm Particularly read about listers finding cousins via the DVHH: http://www.dvhh.org/community/connections.htm You never know who is reading your messages, either now or in the future. That's why it is so important to post information and inquires to the list, so it can be stored in the Rootsweb archives ---probably forever! Thanks again, Jody McKim Pharr Woodstock, GA - USA -----Original Message----- From: donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Gaby Curtis-Hayward Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 5:31 AM To: Eve Cc: DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe Hi Daniela I am also new to the mailing list and was a silent reader until a few days ago when I reluctantly posted my first story. My mother was from Banat, Torda. Your story was very sad and I am so grateful that my mother fled when she had the chance. Welcome aboard! Gaby Sent from my iPad > On 23 Apr 2014, at 7:48 am, Eve <evebrown@gmail.com> wrote: > > Daniela, > > You may be disappointed to have actually posted to the list, since > that is not what you intended, but I am happy that you broke the ice - > even if unintentional. Your post is informative and reads well - AND > welcome to the discussion! > > Eve > DVHH mail list co-administrator > > >> On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Daniela <danielashowley@aol.com> wrote: >> >> Hi there Barb...I am a new member so I have been a silent reader. >> Still trying to get used to how the mailing list works and still >> reading all the info on the DVHH website. If I made this reply >> correctly I am just responding to you, not the whole group. I am >> still nervous and hesitant to message all. It is so comforting to be >> amongst this group and getting access to all the literature out >> there. I was surprised and happy to see you are in a suburb of >> Chicago. I also live in a suburb of Chicago. I was lucky to have >> grown up hearing many stories about my mom and dad's life in Banat >> and Syrmia. I was always very proud of them. My mom was born in >> Banat, Sankt Hubert 1927. She and her family did not flee when they >> had the chance. She spent 4 years in Rudolfsgnad Concentration Camp. >> My dad was born in Srem, in Zemun 1930. In 1941 his family moved to >> Brandenburg, near Berlin because things were very dangerous in Zemun. >> They lived in Brandenburg until 1944. He was in the Berlin zoo the >> day the first bombs fell on Berlin. I thank God the German's had so >> many bomb shelters. My dad was one of the lucky ones to make it to >> the subway shelter that could hold hundreds of people. >> Unfortunately, he was in what became the Russian zone, not the >> American zone, and the Russians sent my dad and his parents back to >> their homeland in Yugoslavia. They were put into concentration camp >> in Mitrowitza, and my dad and opa were then sent to work in coal mine >> in Verdnic camp by Neusatz. In 1948 my parents met each other in >> Gakowa, which is where they were sent when the camps closed to work >> on big farms, pustas, My older sister was born in Sombor in 1950. And >> all 3 of them came to the USA in 1956, where I was born shortly >> later. I love my heritage and I love speaking "Schwowisch". I will >> never lose it. I am so happy that the Donauschwaben are all over the >> world and ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dear Daniela, I agree with Eve's comments & Welcome! Loving your heritage is wonderful and you're certainly at home amongst this group. Jody McKim Pharr Woodstock, GA - USA -----Original Message----- From: donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Eve Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 6:19 PM To: Daniela Cc: DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe Daniela, You may be disappointed to have actually posted to the list, since that is not what you intended, but I am happy that you broke the ice - even if unintentional. Your post is informative and reads well - AND welcome to the discussion! Eve DVHH mail list co-administrator On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Daniela <danielashowley@aol.com> wrote: > Hi there Barb...I am a new member so I have been a silent reader. > Still trying to get used to how the mailing list works and still > reading all the info on the DVHH website. If I made this reply > correctly I am just responding to you, not the whole group. I am still > nervous and hesitant to message all. It is so comforting to be > amongst this group and getting access to all the literature out > there. I was surprised and happy to see you are in a suburb of > Chicago. I also live in a suburb of Chicago. I was lucky to have grown > up hearing many stories about my mom and dad's life in Banat and > Syrmia. I was always very proud of them. My mom was born in Banat, > Sankt Hubert 1927. She and her family did not flee when they had the > chance. She spent 4 years in Rudolfsgnad Concentration Camp. My dad > was born in Srem, in Zemun 1930. In 1941 his family moved to > Brandenburg, near Berlin because things were very dangerous in Zemun. > They lived in Brandenburg until 1944. He was in the Berlin zoo the day > the first bombs fell on Berlin. I thank God the German's had so many > bomb shelters. My dad was one of the lucky ones to make it to the > subway shelter that could hold hundreds of people. Unfortunately, he > was in what became the Russian zone, not the American zone, and the > Russians sent my dad and his parents back to their homeland in > Yugoslavia. They were put into concentration camp in Mitrowitza, and > my dad and opa were then sent to work in coal mine in Verdnic camp by > Neusatz. In 1948 my parents met each other in Gakowa, which is where > they were sent when the camps closed to work on big farms, pustas, My > older sister was born in Sombor in 1950. And all 3 of them came to the > USA in 1956, where I was born shortly later. I love my heritage and I love speaking "Schwowisch". I will never lose it. I am so happy that the Donauschwaben are all over the world and that we can come together here. > God Bless everyone. > > Daniela > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Barb D <bbd2424@gmail.com> > To: SusanM <soozn_6@yahoo.com>; DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES < > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tue, Apr 22, 2014 1:26 pm > Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe > > > I agree!!!! This has been fun and very informative. I hope it keeps > up. I am getting the feel for how my grandparents and families lived > and died. So many question to go and I will probably never have the > answers to most. I am not even sure how to know if we are > Donauschwaben or not. > I wish I had some stories to tell but it was my grandparents who lived > in DSM. and they didn't talk a lot about the old country even to their > kids (sometimes with their old country friends) or maybe we weren't > paying enough attention to remember. All I can tell you is I wish I > had had the foresight to ask or listen better. > So keep the info coming please! If there is anything I can do to help > let me know. I live in a suburb of Chicago, Il. > Thanks so much for all info and help! > Barb D. >

Thank you, Thank you All for the very very warm welcome. When Eve told me I had indeed posted to everyone, I had a bit of a panic attack. But, her kind words and all the nice notes from others in the group here (and in private), helped a great deal. I am glad I broke the ice and comforted in being amongst fellow Donauschwaben. I love reading everything in this group. Growing up it was always hard to be able to speak freely about what my parents and their families went through in Yugoslavia. And for many years they tried to hide it. They (and I) were afraid to speak about what happened. There of course was even shame to be dealt with. And fear. But no more. I will not be silent any longer. My (our) heritage is too rich and should not be hidden or forgotten! After the second World War, the Volksdeutsche, the Donauschwaben, were not overly welcomed by the real Germans in Germany. That was a big surprise for the Donauschwaben to see! But, we have to understand that it was a general confusion and misery going on for quite a while because the Germans in Germany, at that particular time did not have anything either. This was all the after results of the war. And that was a big tragedy by itself. Daniela Ivkovic Showley IL - USA -----Original Message----- From: Jody McKim Pharr <jodymckimpharr@comcast.net> To: 'Daniela' <danielashowley@aol.com> Cc: DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES <DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wed, Apr 23, 2014 6:27 pm Subject: RE: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe Dear Daniela, I agree with Eve's comments & Welcome! Loving your heritage is wonderful and you're certainly at home amongst this group. Jody McKim Pharr Woodstock, GA - USA -----Original Message----- From: donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Eve Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 6:19 PM To: Daniela Cc: DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe Daniela, You may be disappointed to have actually posted to the list, since that is not what you intended, but I am happy that you broke the ice - even if unintentional. Your post is informative and reads well - AND welcome to the discussion! Eve DVHH mail list co-administrator On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 3:21 PM, Daniela <danielashowley@aol.com> wrote: > Hi there Barb...I am a new member so I have been a silent reader. > Still trying to get used to how the mailing list works and still > reading all the info on the DVHH website. If I made this reply > correctly I am just responding to you, not the whole group. I am still > nervous and hesitant to message all. It is so comforting to be > amongst this group and getting access to all the literature out > there. I was surprised and happy to see you are in a suburb of > Chicago. I also live in a suburb of Chicago. I was lucky to have grown > up hearing many stories about my mom and dad's life in Banat and > Syrmia. I was always very proud of them. My mom was born in Banat, > Sankt Hubert 1927. She and her family did not flee when they had the > chance. She spent 4 years in Rudolfsgnad Concentration Camp. My dad > was born in Srem, in Zemun 1930. In 1941 his family moved to > Brandenburg, near Berlin because things were very dangerous in Zemun. > They lived in Brandenburg until 1944. He was in the Berlin zoo the day > the first bombs fell on Berlin. I thank God the German's had so many > bomb shelters. My dad was one of the lucky ones to make it to the > subway shelter that could hold hundreds of people. Unfortunately, he > was in what became the Russian zone, not the American zone, and the > Russians sent my dad and his parents back to their homeland in > Yugoslavia. They were put into concentration camp in Mitrowitza, and > my dad and opa were then sent to work in coal mine in Verdnic camp by > Neusatz. In 1948 my parents met each other in Gakowa, which is where > they were sent when the camps closed to work on big farms, pustas, My > older sister was born in Sombor in 1950. And all 3 of them came to the > USA in 1956, where I was born shortly later. I love my heritage and I love speaking "Schwowisch". I will never lose it. I am so happy that the Donauschwaben are all over the world and that we can come together here. > God Bless everyone. > > Daniela > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Barb D <bbd2424@gmail.com> > To: SusanM <soozn_6@yahoo.com>; DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES < > DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tue, Apr 22, 2014 1:26 pm > Subject: Re: [DVHH] Donauschwaben and Schwowe > > > I agree!!!! This has been fun and very informative. I hope it keeps > up. I am getting the feel for how my grandparents and families lived > and died. So many question to go and I will probably never have the > answers to most. I am not even sure how to know if we are > Donauschwaben or not. > I wish I had some stories to tell but it was my grandparents who lived > in DSM. and they didn't talk a lot about the old country even to their > kids (sometimes with their old country friends) or maybe we weren't > paying enough attention to remember. All I can tell you is I wish I > had had the foresight to ask or listen better. > So keep the info coming please! If there is anything I can do to help > let me know. I live in a suburb of Chicago, Il. > Thanks so much for all info and help! > Barb D. >