Hello Therese, My parents too were at Haid Lager, but left in 51. Still at the camp were family members and friends, names of Siller, Dautermann, Sklena. Do any ring a bell? Eve On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 11:11 PM, therese schmidt <trherschas@yahoo.com>wrote: > Hi Rita, > i,m new here, i agree what you have Written , > the same happen to my Parent , we lived in > Lager Haid Austria, in 1953 they appellate for German Citizenship > the where refused > my Father was in the German Army , they did not go to Germany , > instate the came to the U S A, Illinois , of 1954 , > they joint the Donau Schwaben Verrein and American Aid Society , > it was there where the Word Schwowe, - Schaben or Donauschwaben > was always spoken of. > Therese > > On May 11, 2014, at 8:39 PM, Eve wrote: > > > 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