I always felt that my parents didn't talk about it because it was too complicated to understand and explain. Most people here had preconceived notions as to what was going on and with the lack of language skills by my parents, it was easier for them to just go with whatever was being told them had happened to them. This probably sounds confusing, but I know many of the people from the church I grew up in told "me" stories about what had gone on with my folks before coming here and I remember questioning my parents about things that were said and they would just make this gesture - like - ach, forget about it, almost in disgust. I don't think my mom in particular ever felt any shame about being German - my dad possibly since he was more aware of what was going on outside their little village, but mom, nah, she has been proud of who she is always. Eve On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Joseph Psotka <psotka@msn.com> wrote: > > My parents also never spoke about being Shwovish to anyone outside the > family; > > but a large part of that was being ashamed of being imprisoned in Gakowa > (my mother and I) > > or being sent to slave labor in the Donetsk(my father). For those of us > interned, it was a very painful and shameful part of our life and we never > wanted to talk about it, and hid it whenever we could, in whatever way we > could. > > > > > The second generation seems to think that this experience is something we > wanted to discuss, but I assure we did not and it is even harder to get > started with strangers. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > Joe > > > > > > From: Diane Halas > Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎53‎ ‎AM > To: 'John Schambre', 'Eileen Simcox' > Cc: dvhh > > > > > > I once asked my grandma why she had said the family was German. She said. > "My dear, we were all 'Germans' then." I asked her what she considered > herself and she said, "Austro-Hungarian". I told my fifth grade teacher > who > in turn told me there was no such place as Austria-Hungary. Everyone in > Grandma's nuclear family spoke more than one language. She identified their > primary language as "low German" and her family was from Alsace-Lorraine > and > her grandmother was pure French. The family had emigrated to the Banat > before there was a "Germany". There you have it. I never even learned > about Schwabish until I subscribed to this site. > > Diane > > Diane Halas > 239-592-9969 > > 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

It is important to realize that Americans did not and still do not know about German history.  They identified  the Germans in Germany, who had to follow Hitler's orders to kill,  and the Donauschwaben in Hungary as the same people.  They did not realize that the Donauschwaben were not a part of Hitler's regime at the time.  So when a Donauschwaben came to the US, they automatically labelled them as  Nazis.  Most people today do not know their world history and know very little about World War II.  My mother was born here but was the daughter of a Banat resident.  She had only a grade school education and knew very little about her heritage.  She could only tell me that her family was German-Hungarian and that Hitler was evil,  but she couldn't explain what that meant.  I went back and studied world history to get the story.  you can now find a lot of that history on www.dvhh.org . Fran Matkovich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve" <evebrown@gmail.com> To: "Joseph Psotka" <psotka@msn.com> Cc: "dvhh" <donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 3, 2014 3:23:20 PM Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish I always felt that my parents didn't talk about it because it was too complicated to understand and explain.  Most people here had preconceived notions as to what was going on and with the lack of language skills by my parents, it was easier for them to just go with whatever was being told them had happened to them. This probably sounds confusing, but I know many of the people from the church I grew up in told "me" stories about what had gone on with my folks before coming here and I remember questioning my parents about things that were said and they would just make this gesture - like - ach, forget about it, almost in disgust.  I don't think my mom in particular ever felt any shame about being German - my dad possibly since he was more aware of what was going on outside their little village, but mom, nah, she has been proud of who she is always. Eve On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Joseph Psotka <psotka@msn.com> wrote: > > My parents also never spoke about being Shwovish to anyone outside the > family; > > but a large part of that was being ashamed of being imprisoned in Gakowa > (my mother and I) > > or being sent to slave labor in the Donetsk(my father).  For those of us > interned, it was a very painful and shameful part of our life and we never > wanted to talk about it, and hid it whenever we could, in whatever way we > could. > > > > > The second generation seems to think that this experience is something we > wanted to discuss, but I assure we did not and it is even harder to get > started with strangers. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > Joe > > > > > > From: Diane Halas > Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎53‎ ‎AM > To: 'John Schambre', 'Eileen Simcox' > Cc: dvhh > > > > > > I once asked my grandma why she had said the family was German.  She said. > "My dear, we were all 'Germans' then."  I asked her what she considered > herself and she said, "Austro-Hungarian".  I told my fifth grade teacher > who > in turn told me there was no such place as Austria-Hungary. Everyone in > Grandma's nuclear family spoke more than one language. She identified their > primary language as "low German" and her family was from Alsace-Lorraine > and > her grandmother was pure French.  The family had emigrated to the Banat > before there was a "Germany".  There you have it.  I never even learned > about Schwabish until I subscribed to this site. > > Diane > > Diane Halas > 239-592-9969 > > 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

I fully agree with Fran. I would like to add that the DS history is often missing from history books, or it is presented in a seriously distorted fashion. To properly remember our ancestors, DVHH has a duty to present the missing DS view. I am absolutely certain that it can do that, while strictly respecting the truth. Nick Tullius -----Original Message----- From: donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:donauschwaben-villages-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Fran Matkovich Sent: 4-May-14 09:20 To: Eve Cc: dvhh Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish It is important to realize that Americans did not and still do not know about German history. They identified the Germans in Germany, who had to follow Hitler's orders to kill, and the Donauschwaben in Hungary as the same people. They did not realize that the Donauschwaben were not a part of Hitler's regime at the time. So when a Donauschwaben came to the US, they automatically labelled them as Nazis. Most people today do not know their world history and know very little about World War II. My mother was born here but was the daughter of a Banat resident. She had only a grade school education and knew very little about her heritage. She could only tell me that her family was German-Hungarian and that Hitler was evil, but she couldn't explain what that meant. I went back and studied world history to get the story. you can now find a lot of that history on www.dvhh.org . Fran Matkovich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve" <evebrown@gmail.com> To: "Joseph Psotka" <psotka@msn.com> Cc: "dvhh" <donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 3, 2014 3:23:20 PM Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish I always felt that my parents didn't talk about it because it was too complicated to understand and explain. Most people here had preconceived notions as to what was going on and with the lack of language skills by my parents, it was easier for them to just go with whatever was being told them had happened to them. This probably sounds confusing, but I know many of the people from the church I grew up in told "me" stories about what had gone on with my folks before coming here and I remember questioning my parents about things that were said and they would just make this gesture - like - ach, forget about it, almost in disgust. I don't think my mom in particular ever felt any shame about being German - my dad possibly since he was more aware of what was going on outside their little village, but mom, nah, she has been proud of who she is always. Eve On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Joseph Psotka <psotka@msn.com> wrote: > > My parents also never spoke about being Shwovish to anyone outside the > family; > > but a large part of that was being ashamed of being imprisoned in > Gakowa (my mother and I) > > or being sent to slave labor in the Donetsk(my father). For those of > us interned, it was a very painful and shameful part of our life and > we never wanted to talk about it, and hid it whenever we could, in > whatever way we could. > > > > > The second generation seems to think that this experience is something > we wanted to discuss, but I assure we did not and it is even harder to > get started with strangers. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > Joe > > > > > > From: Diane Halas > Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎53‎ ‎AM > To: 'John Schambre', 'Eileen Simcox' > Cc: dvhh > > > > > > I once asked my grandma why she had said the family was German. She said. > "My dear, we were all 'Germans' then." I asked her what she considered > herself and she said, "Austro-Hungarian". I told my fifth grade teacher > who > in turn told me there was no such place as Austria-Hungary. Everyone in > Grandma's nuclear family spoke more than one language. She identified their > primary language as "low German" and her family was from Alsace-Lorraine > and > her grandmother was pure French. The family had emigrated to the Banat > before there was a "Germany". There you have it. I never even learned > about Schwabish until I subscribed to this site. > > Diane > > Diane Halas > 239-592-9969 > > 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 ------------------------------- 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

I'm a first generation immigrant, having been born in a DP camp in Austria. My parents were from Banat. When we came to this country, we spoke German at home, and I continued to speak German with my parents until they died several years ago. There was a very active German-American community in Philadelphia, composed of "Reichsdeutsche," and various "Volksdeutsche" groups, including Donauschwaben. There were lots of German clubs (some of which, including the Donauschwaben, that still exist today). I have to say that my identification was primarily with the German culture, regardless of the form. We belonged to a German singing school from the time I was 3 until I graduated from High School. My father started and I was a student and teacher at a weekend German language school, at which German-Americans from many areas of origin were welcomed. In his later years, my father became more active in the Donauschwaben club, but also continued his work with the Kinderchor, Jugendchor and language school. My father was recognized as a friend of the Federal Republic of Germany back in the 80s. The purpose of all these activities was to foster German culture, in its many forms. Today, the Donauschwaben Club still exists in Phila, and the "German Hungarians" are welcome at all club events as well. My father always insisted on our speaking German, even though we children were often subjected to being called "Hitler's granddaughter," "Nazi," etc. My parents seldom spoke of their war experiences, but it was more because it was time to get on with life and not look back, I think. My point is that I think that ethnic communities in the "outland" tend to band together to find what is common in their experience. That's perhaps another reason why not as much was made of being Schwovisch as of being ethnic German. But then what the heck do I know? :-) Lotte -----Original Message----- From: Fran Matkovich <mjm1021@comcast.net> To: Eve <evebrown@gmail.com> Cc: dvhh <donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sun, May 4, 2014 9:22 am Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish It is important to realize that Americans did not and still do not know about German history. They identified the Germans in Germany, who had to follow Hitler's orders to kill, and the Donauschwaben in Hungary as the same people. They did not realize that the Donauschwaben were not a part of Hitler's regime at the time. So when a Donauschwaben came to the US, they automatically labelled them as Nazis. Most people today do not know their world history and know very little about World War II. My mother was born here but was the daughter of a Banat resident. She had only a grade school education and knew very little about her heritage. She could only tell me that her family was German-Hungarian and that Hitler was evil, but she couldn't explain what that meant. I went back and studied world history to get the story. you can now find a lot of that history on www.dvhh.org . Fran Matkovich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve" <evebrown@gmail.com> To: "Joseph Psotka" <psotka@msn.com> Cc: "dvhh" <donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 3, 2014 3:23:20 PM Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish I always felt that my parents didn't talk about it because it was too complicated to understand and explain. Most people here had preconceived notions as to what was going on and with the lack of language skills by my parents, it was easier for them to just go with whatever was being told them had happened to them. This probably sounds confusing, but I know many of the people from the church I grew up in told "me" stories about what had gone on with my folks before coming here and I remember questioning my parents about things that were said and they would just make this gesture - like - ach, forget about it, almost in disgust. I don't think my mom in particular ever felt any shame about being German - my dad possibly since he was more aware of what was going on outside their little village, but mom, nah, she has been proud of who she is always. Eve On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Joseph Psotka <psotka@msn.com> wrote: > > My parents also never spoke about being Shwovish to anyone outside the > family; > > but a large part of that was being ashamed of being imprisoned in Gakowa > (my mother and I) > > or being sent to slave labor in the Donetsk(my father). For those of us > interned, it was a very painful and shameful part of our life and we never > wanted to talk about it, and hid it whenever we could, in whatever way we > could. > > > > > The second generation seems to think that this experience is something we > wanted to discuss, but I assure we did not and it is even harder to get > started with strangers. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > Joe > > > > > > From: Diane Halas > Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎53‎ ‎AM > To: 'John Schambre', 'Eileen Simcox' > Cc: dvhh > > > > > > I once asked my grandma why she had said the family was German. She said. > "My dear, we were all 'Germans' then." I asked her what she considered > herself and she said, "Austro-Hungarian". I told my fifth grade teacher > who > in turn told me there was no such place as Austria-Hungary. Everyone in > Grandma's nuclear family spoke more than one language. She identified their > primary language as "low German" and her family was from Alsace-Lorraine > and > her grandmother was pure French. The family had emigrated to the Banat > before there was a "Germany". There you have it. I never even learned > about Schwabish until I subscribed to this site. > > Diane > > Diane Halas > 239-592-9969 > > 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 ------------------------------- 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

I agree. Only another Schwobish person would even understand what it meant. If you told any other American you were Schwobish, they would say HUHHH? Fran Matkovich -----Original Message----- From: Eve Sent: Saturday, May 3, 2014 3:23 PM To: Joseph Psotka Cc: dvhh Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish I always felt that my parents didn't talk about it because it was too complicated to understand and explain. Most people here had preconceived notions as to what was going on and with the lack of language skills by my parents, it was easier for them to just go with whatever was being told them had happened to them. This probably sounds confusing, but I know many of the people from the church I grew up in told "me" stories about what had gone on with my folks before coming here and I remember questioning my parents about things that were said and they would just make this gesture - like - ach, forget about it, almost in disgust. I don't think my mom in particular ever felt any shame about being German - my dad possibly since he was more aware of what was going on outside their little village, but mom, nah, she has been proud of who she is always. Eve On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Joseph Psotka <psotka@msn.com> wrote: > > My parents also never spoke about being Shwovish to anyone outside the > family; > > but a large part of that was being ashamed of being imprisoned in Gakowa > (my mother and I) > > or being sent to slave labor in the Donetsk(my father). For those of us > interned, it was a very painful and shameful part of our life and we never > wanted to talk about it, and hid it whenever we could, in whatever way we > could. > > > > > The second generation seems to think that this experience is something we > wanted to discuss, but I assure we did not and it is even harder to get > started with strangers. > > > > > > > > Best regards, > Joe > > > > > > From: Diane Halas > Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎53‎ ‎AM > To: 'John Schambre', 'Eileen Simcox' > Cc: dvhh > > > > > > I once asked my grandma why she had said the family was German. She said. > "My dear, we were all 'Germans' then." I asked her what she considered > herself and she said, "Austro-Hungarian". I told my fifth grade teacher > who > in turn told me there was no such place as Austria-Hungary. Everyone in > Grandma's nuclear family spoke more than one language. She identified > their > primary language as "low German" and her family was from Alsace-Lorraine > and > her grandmother was pure French. The family had emigrated to the Banat > before there was a "Germany". There you have it. I never even learned > about Schwabish until I subscribed to this site. > > Diane > > Diane Halas > 239-592-9969 > > 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

Schwovish, Schwaebisch, Donauschwaben, Volksdeutsche, Reichsdeutsche - even the word "Nazis" is used !!! Waking up this morning I said to myself: Gary keep out, this discusion is getting to hot. It is where everyone wants to present their knowledge what we are and who we are: the one said he is glad not to be German - well, let him be Ukrainian or Armenian, he still participates in a forum of Donauschwaben who basically and by majority are Germans, whether they intermarried or not. They are in the eyes of Germany "Auslandsdeutsche" - Germans living on foreign soil. This word is fearfully used by group members of the first or second generation immigrants of North America. Only one gutsy post I have read on Friday 5/2. The list member - no functional Director - uses ethnicity; the term for ethnic German-s: "lit. Germans living outside Germany": for instance in South America, Australia or even Cape town, South Africa etc. The DS memory is traumatic, they hated us for being on their land - and they wanted to exterminate us with hate and when I later asked a former associate: why ? he answered: "may be you didn't belong down there anyhow." No wrong doing we did, just trying to save us from approaching evil. No, I wasn't in Gakowa, Jarek or Valpovo. But lets not "Jammer" (live in misery) for ever. The many memorials permittet now by the State of Serbia are for our ancestors dear to us, whom we left 'down there' and they should never be forgotten ! I do not have any other expression or explanation of who we are !! Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fran Matkovich" <mjm1021@comcast.net> To: "Eve" <evebrown@gmail.com>; "Joseph Psotka" <psotka@msn.com> Cc: "dvhh" <donauschwaben-villages@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 11:53 AM Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish >I agree. Only another Schwobish person would even understand what it >meant. > If you told any other American you were Schwobish, they would say HUHHH? > > Fran Matkovich > > -----Original Message----- > From: Eve > Sent: Saturday, May 3, 2014 3:23 PM > To: Joseph Psotka > Cc: dvhh > Subject: Re: [DVHH] Why our parents didn't say they were Shwovish > > I always felt that my parents didn't talk about it because it was too > complicated to understand and explain. Most people here had preconceived > notions as to what was going on and with the lack of language skills by my > parents, it was easier for them to just go with whatever was being told > them had happened to them. This probably sounds confusing, but I know many > of the people from the church I grew up in told "me" stories about what > had > gone on with my folks before coming here and I remember questioning my > parents about things that were said and they would just make this > gesture - > like - ach, forget about it, almost in disgust. I don't think my mom in > particular ever felt any shame about being German - my dad possibly since > he was more aware of what was going on outside their little village, but > mom, nah, she has been proud of who she is always. > > Eve > > > On Sat, May 3, 2014 at 11:19 AM, Joseph Psotka <psotka@msn.com> wrote: > >> >> My parents also never spoke about being Shwovish to anyone outside the >> family; >> >> but a large part of that was being ashamed of being imprisoned in Gakowa >> (my mother and I) >> >> or being sent to slave labor in the Donetsk(my father). For those of us >> interned, it was a very painful and shameful part of our life and we >> never >> wanted to talk about it, and hid it whenever we could, in whatever way we >> could. >> >> >> >> >> The second generation seems to think that this experience is something we >> wanted to discuss, but I assure we did not and it is even harder to get >> started with strangers. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Best regards, >> Joe >> >> >> >> >> >> From: Diane Halas >> Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎April‎ ‎30‎, ‎2014 ‎9‎:‎53‎ ‎AM >> To: 'John Schambre', 'Eileen Simcox' >> Cc: dvhh >> >> >> >> >> >> I once asked my grandma why she had said the family was German. She >> said. >> "My dear, we were all 'Germans' then." I asked her what she considered >> herself and she said, "Austro-Hungarian". I told my fifth grade teacher >> who >> in turn told me there was no such place as Austria-Hungary. Everyone in >> Grandma's nuclear family spoke more than one language. She identified >> their >> primary language as "low German" and her family was from Alsace-Lorraine >> and >> her grandmother was pure French. The family had emigrated to the Banat >> before there was a "Germany". There you have it. I never even learned >> about Schwabish until I subscribed to this site. >> >> Diane >> >> Diane Halas >> 239-592-9969 >> >> 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 > > > > ------------------------------- > 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