Hi Eve, Yes it is difficult to be politically correct. There is always someone that you may offend. But, even with this in mind, I think it is important for us to discuss these matters... For the first hand survivors to find a place to do this comfortably... For the next generations to understand their heritage and what what their families went through. This story should definitely not be swept under the carpet. It needs to be discussed and take it's rightful place in the history books. So we can freely embrace our wonderful culture as we live our lives in our new countries. Rita From: evebrown@gmail.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 21:39:43 -0400 Subject: DS descendants - going forward! To: schiwanore@msn.com CC: donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com Hi Rita, You know as I do too, that growing up with family with issues of anger and long believed prejudices that as a child we can't begin to understand how all these things came about. The thoughts of our ancestors and how they lived their lives and depending on which side of the coin they fell, where their own personal sympathies laid. I'm getting confused just writing this and trying to stay politically correct. The thing is.....we as posters don't necessarily agree with or even comprehend the how or why of any of it. I know there are many out here on the list who have lived it first hand, I have the second hand variety - seen the anger, frustration the loss - and not a clue as to why!!!! Until I found out about the DS and their journey (long before anyone thought to coin the name Donauschwaben) was I able to start to make sense of what was to many considered a horrible childhood for me (and my parents escaped and were not in one of Tito's camps). Yes, indeed it is a difficult thing to explain, but a real treasure when you do catch someone's ear and are able to discuss it with the passion that I see shared here on the list. Eve On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 9:18 PM, Rita Schiwanowitsch <schiwanore@msn.com> wrote: Hi Eve, My Mother made a personal decision not to go to Germany after the war. She and my Oma lived in the Graz area in Austria after escaping in 1948 and worked on local farms. My Oma was approached by some agency that was helping the refugees find places to reestablish themselves. The options were Germany, USA, or Australia. Even though the majority of my family went to Germany, Mom refused. Said there was no way she was going there (Stubborness runs in my family... Dickschädl for those that know the lingo). She felt Germany was the cause of all of their hardships and heartaches... and that Germany's actions were responsible for the murder of her father.... her brother's death (at that time he was MIA).... and the loss of everything that she ever knew. She would have been about 24 years old at the time of that decision. My Oma finally gave in to her and they came to the USA. Oma would go to Germany every few years or so to visit with her brothers, sisters, and their families. Some came to visit us occasionally. Oma really missed her immediate family. All in all, Mom still feels that is was the right thing to do. This also makes me wonder what nationlity she really considered herself to be in 1944.... especially since she would not involve herself with the Kulturbund (German Cultural Club) that established itself in Jugoslavia after WWII and, some feel, responsible for promoting Hitler's philosophies. She says she is German or Austrian (depending on who she is talking to). But, only because she doesn't want to have to explain about herself and her background. She was and still is not ashamed. But, the lack of knowledge Americans have about Donauschwaben and the end of WWII, make it a difficult explanation. Rita From Colorado, Jabuka, and Bistritz > From: evebrown@gmail.com > Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 18:35:42 -0400 > To: danielashowley@aol.com > CC: donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [DVHH] German-Hungarians - Nationality vs Citizenship > > Daniela, > > My mom & dad told the same story. Mom didn't feel wanted in Austria - or > like she belonged and were refused entrance into Germany in 1946 as it was > overcrowded and they already had some cousins that were admitted - early on > in 45. > > Eve > > > ------------------------------- 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

Amen to that! Eve On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 9:49 PM, Rita Schiwanowitsch <schiwanore@msn.com>wrote: > Hi Eve, > Yes it is difficult to be politically correct. There is always someone > that you may offend. But, even with this in mind, I think it is important > for us to discuss these matters... For the first hand survivors to find a > place to do this comfortably... For the next generations to understand > their heritage and what what their families went through. This story > should definitely not be swept under the carpet. It needs to be discussed > and take it's rightful place in the history books. So we can freely > embrace our wonderful culture as we live our lives in our new countries. > Rita > > From: evebrown@gmail.com > Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 21:39:43 -0400 > Subject: DS descendants - going forward! > To: schiwanore@msn.com > CC: donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com > > Hi Rita, > > You know as I do too, that growing up with family with issues of anger and > long believed prejudices that as a child we can't begin to understand how > all these things came about. The thoughts of our ancestors and how they > lived their lives and depending on which side of the coin they fell, where > their own personal sympathies laid. I'm getting confused just writing this > and trying to stay politically correct. > > > > The thing is.....we as posters don't necessarily agree with or even > comprehend the how or why of any of it. I know there are many out here on > the list who have lived it first hand, I have the second hand variety - > seen the anger, frustration the loss - and not a clue as to why!!!! Until > I found out about the DS and their journey (long before anyone thought to > coin the name Donauschwaben) was I able to start to make sense of what was > to many considered a horrible childhood for me (and my parents escaped and > were not in one of Tito's camps). Yes, indeed it is a difficult thing to > explain, but a real treasure when you do catch someone's ear and are able > to discuss it with the passion that I see shared here on the list. > > > > Eve > > > On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 9:18 PM, Rita Schiwanowitsch <schiwanore@msn.com> > wrote: > > > Hi Eve, > > My Mother made a personal decision not to go to Germany after the war. > She and my Oma lived in the Graz area in Austria after escaping in 1948 > and worked on local farms. My Oma was approached by some agency that was > helping the refugees find places to reestablish themselves. The options > were Germany, USA, or Australia. Even though the majority of my family > went to Germany, Mom refused. Said there was no way she was going there > (Stubborness runs in my family... Dickschädl for those that know the > lingo). She felt Germany was the cause of all of their hardships and > heartaches... and that Germany's actions were responsible for the murder of > her father.... her brother's death (at that time he was MIA).... and the > loss of everything that she ever knew. She would have been about 24 years > old at the time of that decision. My Oma finally gave in to her and they > came to the USA. Oma would go to Germany every few years or so to visit > with her brothers, sisters, and their families. Some came to visit us > occasionally. Oma really missed her immediate family. All in all, Mom > still feels that is was the right thing to do. This also makes me wonder > what nationlity she really considered herself to be in 1944.... especially > since she would not involve herself with the Kulturbund (German Cultural > Club) that established itself in Jugoslavia after WWII and, some feel, > responsible for promoting Hitler's philosophies. She says she is German or > Austrian (depending on who she is talking to). But, only because she > doesn't want to have to explain about herself and her background. She was > and still is not ashamed. But, the lack of knowledge Americans have about > Donauschwaben and the end of WWII, make it a difficult explanation. > > > > Rita From Colorado, Jabuka, and Bistritz > > > From: evebrown@gmail.com > > > Date: Sun, 11 May 2014 18:35:42 -0400 > > > To: danielashowley@aol.com > > > CC: donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: Re: [DVHH] German-Hungarians - Nationality vs Citizenship > > > > > > Daniela, > > > > > > My mom & dad told the same story. Mom didn't feel wanted in Austria - or > > > like she belonged and were refused entrance into Germany in 1946 as it > was > > > overcrowded and they already had some cousins that were admitted - early > on > > > in 45. > > > > > > Eve > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > 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 > -- Syrmia Regional Coordinator http://www.dvhh.org/syrmia