Vereinigung der Donauschwaben 127 Route 156, Yardville, NJ 08620

Trentoner Donauschwaben

Volume 2 Issue 1 January•March 2002

Special points of interest:

· Did you know that German missed out as being theTRENTON DONAUSCHWABEN GOODS KRAMPUS official language of the USA by 3 votes & 1 vote in PA in DRIVEN OFF AT the late 1700s? Show your Club spirit! The Club hasCLUBHOUSE BY the following items for sale to members; golf• ST. NICK! · The Club published an 81 style shirts with the Club color logo in green or page Donauschwaben Rec• white in large, x•large… for $25.00, Club color ipe book in 1980. logo patches at $3.00. Sew the patches on jack• Okay, so this isn’t the kind of news · The Volkswagen Bug (oldets, ball caps, coats, etc. Items can be shipped,that will get anyone dumping their stocks or version) is the most massso call for the shipping price. something. But for the youngest of our mem• produced auto in the world. If you are interested in purchasing these bers at the St. Nikolausfeier, it was still a · Did you know the PA Ger• great Club items contact Secretary, Hans Martini great relief when good ‘ol St. Nick drove mans (referred to as the PA or President, Joe Brandecker. away bad ‘ol Krampus. Ably portrayed by Dutch) settled in PA around Steve “St. Nick” Brandecker and Bob the same time as our “Krampus” Walter, the appearance of the dy• Donauschwaben ancestors namic duo was actually only an enjoyable settled in Hungary? ************************* finish to what was an activity•filled day. The early December event is always fun for · There were about 5,000 DEUTSCHE KINDERSCHULE Donauschwaben in Yugosla• young and old, but this past 2001 edition was via today per their 1990 surely among the best in recent memory. census. It looks good for the re•start of our chil• Poems by Brittaney Brandecker, and dren’s German language class. The registration Anna & Luisa Martini as well as by Frau Eva date was Saturday 12 January 2002 at 9am. The Martini set the tone, interspersed with enjoy• cost is be only $30. It’s not too late to register! able sing•a•long Christmas songs (special Inside this issue: Classes will run until May on Saturdays thanks to Frau Liz Tindall for her keyboard from 9•11am and Frau Brigitte Kleinmann willaccompaniment, it certainly made a big dif• be the teacher. This is a great opportunity for ference!). We also had fine performances by Club Matters 2 your children to start learning German. PleaseLyla Lenyo and Brittaney B. on violins and do not hesitate, support the club’s LanguageAnna M. on the keyboard. Indeed, by the School and provide your child with a great ex•time Krampus began rattling his chain (and Genealogy & History 3 perience to learn a foreign language sending in a our youngest members scrambling friendly, familiar atmosphere. for safety), the spirit of Christmas was every• Map of Batschka— 4 where evident at the Trentoner Donauschwa• Banat, Yugoslavia ***************************** ben! Some of the ‘Bratwurst Boys” (see “Club Mat• The St. Nikolausfeier is among the Membership News 5 ters” next page) Donauschwaben’s most tradition•oriented events. We, as a club, are most gratified that Deutsche Ecke 6,8 it turned out to be such a big success. Many (German Corner) thanks to all, including Frau Caroline Bran• decker for the decorating the hall so nicely German Ethnic Food 7 and to the kitchen staff for all its efforts (love & Recipes those cookies!). Thanks to everyone for com• ing. See you next time! Newsletter Advertis• 9 ers & Sponsors Hans Martini

Club Events 10 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 2

Club Matters

FALL 2001 SCHLACHTFEST

The Fall 2001 Schlachtfest was another success! Over 200 individuals showed up on Sunday, 18 November at the 1pm and 3pm sitting to dine on Bratwurst, Sarma (stuffed cab• bage), roast pork and Leberwurst. The kitchen crew showed up on Saturday to “do their thing” and make the homemade sausage and stuffed cabbage. The sausage guys, under the watchful eye of Ludwig Jakober, “dug” right into their chores, cutting, grinding, mixing and stuffing! We are one of the only clubs that make our own wurst! The ladies were busy making the other items for the fest. We can not forget the ground crew who raked, mowed and Some of the Sunday’s (18 Nov. 2001) Schlachtfest Crew (left to right) Josefa Bran• mulched the thousands of leaves around the Clubhouse. As in decker, Eva Martini, Steve Brandecker, Lyla Lenyo, Kim Walter, Brittaney Bran• decker, Joe Brandecker, Caroline Brandecker, Anna Martini, Nicole Lenyo, Adam the past, we always have to make sure the end product is “sehr Martini, Ulrike Pietzke, JoAnn Martini, & Käthe Pfann. Ulrike Pietzke is from gut”,. So a tasty lunch to sample our finished products was nec• München, Germany. Her aunt, Ulrike DeVictoria, was a German language teacher essary. And, as usual, the labor of love turned out excellently. here at the Club in the 1970s. Herzlich Willkommen!! Those that attended the next day, surely agreed. We *************************************** served about 200 diners during the two sittings. The Fall and Winter Schlachtfests continue to be a great success for the HELP NEEDED WITH MEALS Club. See you at our next Schlachtfest on Sunday, 10 Febru• Preparation and service of these meals require a lot of ary 2002. Better yet, show up the Saturday morning before and time and effort from those who volunteer. Please, please con• give us a hand in the preparation of this meal of our ancestors! sider helping out in the future. The number of helpers is grow• ing smaller. Not only will you help the Club out , but you will have a lot of fun and fellowship with other members!

Some of the Schlachtfest Preparation Crew on 17 November 2001 (Top /Left•right): Ludwig Jakober, Käthe Pfann,Eva Martini, Josefa Brandecker, Ludwig Jakober, Eva Martini, Käthe Pfann, Joe Brandecker, Josef Bran• decker, Tess Pinkerton, Rose Kernast, (Bottom/Left•right) Harold Paar, Dennis Bauer, Walt Suttmann, Robert Wal• ter, Hubert Pinkerton, Chuck Pinkerton, Stefan Brandecker, Dennis Bauer, Hubert Pinkerton, Stefan Brandecker & Walt Suttmann. VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 3

Genealogy & History Section

Life in Banat and Batschka as told to me But no, she defiantly said to Opa “Prove it!”. Grandpop, who was not much of a talker, showed his ace for all to see…… by my Grandparents “We were rich because WE OWNED A HORSE!” by Jim Lieblang Game over. Set, game and match I thought. Grand• mom can not top that one ever! As a child, I remember hearing stories from my Oma Wrong! Oma began to smile… . Her grin got bigger and Opa about life in the “old country”. To better understand the and bigger. Finally, she looked at Grandpop and played her following story, first a little background to understand their local secret card… … ”YOU MAY HAVE HAD A HORSE, BUT rivalries. IT WAS BLIND !!!!!” My Grandmother (a Rohrbacher) was born and lived in Grandmom won… … or so I thought… … … .We all Palanka (Batschka). She came directly to the US from there. My laughed. Poor Opa, just retreated and said nothing. A cute Grandfather Lieblang’s father came from Molidorf (Banat).story. Funny punch line. It is over. But it was not!… … .. They had moved to Wekerledorf (8 km n of Palanka) about This is not the end of the story. I must have heard 1890. My Great Grandfather had previously married a womanthat story around 1955 or so. I had to wait until 1992 to find from Obrovatz (Batschka), about 30 km n of Palanka. out that Grandpop was actually right! They were rich! How About 1895, the Lieblang’s moved from Wekerledorfdid I find out? to Orolik/Rollitsch (Syrem), just south of Palanka. They came to My wife and I are friends with an Austrian historian the US in 1905. named Dr Erwin A Schmidl. He has written several books on th th Thus, my family had lived in three of the five German 17 thru 20 century European history. He is also the Assis• settled provinces (except for Baranja just west of Batschka andtant Director of the Austrian Military Museum in Wien. One Slavonia, just west of Syrem). In their hearts, the Lieblang’s al•night at dinner I told him the above story. I got to the last part ways considered themselves BANATER’s and the Rohrbacher’s and told him how Grandmom had “snuckered” Grandpop and always considered themselves BATSCHKA’S”. The seeds were won the argument with her “blind horse” comment. planted for rivalries that always exist throughout the world. Erwin shook his head and laughed. “I am sorry to tell Just as we nowadays tell jokes or stories about PA ver• you this” he said, “but your Grandfather was right! Hardly sus NJ, or Mercer versus Burlington, or Hamilton versus Ewing anyone could afford to buy a horse in good condition. The Township, so did our grandparents have their own rivalries. cost was out of reach for just about everyone. Once in a It still continues, but as good natured humor for thosewhile, the Army would get rid of its remounts that were lame involved. I am also a member of the German American Club.or blind. The lucky farmer who had saved up money got to The first time I went to the bar there, I was told by one of the buy one of the ex•army horses. It was a status of wealth be• Herdt’s (or Bohn’s) that the “Batschka people sit on one side of cause even though blind, the horse could still pull a plow and the bar and the Banaters sit on the other side of the bar” still to a cart! Your Granddad’s family had an envious possession. this day!!!! Anyone would have loved to had a blind horse to help in the As a child, Oma and Opa would occasionally kid each fields.” other about how there province was better than the others. So Opa, you were right all along! Your family was One day, Oma (who was from the progressive modern rich in a material sense with the purchase of their blind horse. metropolis of Palanka) was kidding Opa telling him how all Ba• Sorry Oma, but you were wrong. nater’s were just poor farmers compared to those in Batschka. In today’s life with Pokemon’s and Sony DVD play• Well, Grandpop would not take that lying down! He replied,ers, it is probably difficult to have our children relate to a “Maybe others were poor, but we were rich. We were NOTstory about life four generations ago. But the story does re• poor.” Grandmom laughed and said “You were just as poor as flect our roots and who we are and what we are and where we all the other farm families there”. come from. We are the children and grandchildren of these Grandpop hesitated, said nothing for a moment and then played poor farmers who settled the “wild east”. his “ace card”…. And we should never forget it or not be proud of our “We were too rich” he said, “and I can prove heritage. it!” Read the story to your children. If you have some of Grandmom’s eyebrows raised. Maybe she should back down.your own, send them in to our editor, Dennis for others to share.

In this issue of the newsletter (page 4) we have included a map of the Batschka/Banat area of Yugo• slavia for your reference and use while reading several of the articles included in this edition of the newsletter. Page 4

The Batschka & Banat Region of Yugoslavia Source: Palanka Ortssippenbuch Anton Reimann, 1981, HMD – Druck GmbH, Griesheim VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 5

Membership News

2002 Club Officers & Staff

Joseph Brandecker— President Robert Walter— V.P. for Facilities

Kim Walter— V.P. for Human Resourses Hans Martini— Corresponding Secretary

Eva Martini— Recording Secretary Ludwig Jakober— Treasurer

Josefa Brandecker— President Ladies’ Auxiliary

Harold Paar— President of German Language School

Dennis J. Bauer— V.P. for Cultural Affairs, Genealogist, Newspaper Editor

Dana Miles— Web Master Adam Martini— Newspaper Staff Writer

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS PALANKA HISTORY NOW IN ENGLISH Herr Erich Haratsch of Bradley Beach, NJ. Club member Hans Martini was Erich’s sponsor. He is a young im• Member John E. Feldenzer and wife, Myrtle, of Mon• migrant from Munich who works as a certified engineer for a tana just completed a labor of love. They asked Oskar Feldtän• firm in Holmdel, NJ. zer (original contributor to the book) and daughter, Doris, to Herr Kurt Müller and his wife, Elizabeth of Yardville, translate the Palanka history section of theOrtssippenbuch NJ, recently became members. Kurt, who is a retired Palanka U.S. into English. Permission was then obtained from the Army Colonel, now ably teaches our adult language educationlate Anton Reimann’s (original author) family to publish this class. The Müller’s, who have two grown children, Christa and document. John and Myrtle then retyped, edited the translation Evan , and were brought into the Club by member Harold Paar. and then published it in a soft back book. The book also contains color pictures of Donauschwa• ben traditional customs and maps of the Batschka area. The book can be yours for only $20, which includes postage and handling. For those of us with roots form Palanka, it is a great reference to hand down to our children. It also contains histori• cal information common to all Donauschwaben, so it is a great gift to you to purchase also. You can send your order to; John Feldenzer, 6419 Kootenai River Rd., Libby, MT 59923.

Voyage of our Ancestors from Germany to Hungary Danke, John Membership Happenings (births, engagements, weddings, deaths, anniversaries, vacation trips, graduations, etc.)

Gute Besserung: The Club wishes Dennis J. Bauer’s father, CLUB NEWSLETTER RECOGNIZED Jacob A. Bauer, a continued recovery. He had major surgery in 2001. The Club’s newsletter was recently recognized in the December 2001 issue of theDonauschwäbische Fami• The Club also wishes a continued recovery to one of lienkundliche Forschungsblätter .The Club sends the Ar• our Language School teachers, Lou Romolo. Lou had surgery in beitskreises donauschwäbischer Familienforscher e.V. the Fall of 2001. (AKdFF) a courtesy copy for its library. The article, by Dr. With Sympathy We Note: Belated condolences to mem• Günter Junkers, points out that Dennis J. Bauer (a AKdFF bers, Carl & Sue Conrad of Cape May, NJ, on the passing of member) , Hans Martini and other club members contribute Carl’s mother late last year. to the Trenton Donauschwaben Club newsletter, which in• cludes articles about Donauschwaben genealogy, historical Hochzeit: Belated congratulations to Lori Walter & Jimevents, club events and member news. He notes that the arti• Lostetter of Tabb, VA. They were married 2 April 2001. Thecles can be found in English and/or German. club wishes them all the very best as they embark on their new The Club wishes to thank Dr. Junkers for his kind life together! God’s speed. Jim is in the U.S. Navy. and thoughtful article about our newsletter. VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 6 Deutsche Ecke, Seite 1

Poem by Luise Baumgartner, zu finden und dann nach Gara zu bringen. Unsere arme Grossmutter mit ihren Hörsching, Austria So war es dann, dass es auf einmal nachdicken Füssen hatte es nicht leicht, (Sister of Member, Ludwig Jakober, per• langer, langer Zeit der Trostlosigkeit undaber war doch kurz hinter uns und wir mission granted) Angst, die Hoffnung wieder aufflackertemussten wieder zurück gehen zu und der Gedanke, lebendig unserem hier Zimmer und Lagerleben. Die Lebt wohl Ihr lieben Donauschwaben rausszukommen, seinen Anfang hatte.Mutter war aber draussen auf dem Ich will Euch allen auf wiedersehen sagen Natürlich als der junge Mann meineTreffplatz und wartete auf uns bis Lebt wohl in diesem für mich so fremden Grossmutter, meine Schwester und michspät Abends und kam dann wieder Land. das erste Mal sah, da hat er nicht zurück viel in's Lager. wo Euch das Schicksal hat hingesandt. gesagt, nur murmelte er dass ich zuerstSomit kam es zum zweiten Versuch. * stärker werden müsste, sonst geht es nicht. Alles wurde wieder mit den drei Doch euer nettes Donauschwabenheim Ich war nämlich dürr wie Burschen eine geplant, die Mutter trifft soll für Euch immer ein Stückchen Heimat Bohnenstange und konnte fast nicht mehr uns nach der Feldarbeit auf einem sein gehen. So gab es dann periodische Besuche gewissen Platz ausserhalb des Lagers. Haltet fest zusammen seid froh und munter von einem der drei Burschen, der auchWir sollen dann im Kukuruzfeld Ein echter Donauschwabe geht nicht unter. immer Brot mitbrachte für uns, damit wir sitzen, so ungefär in der Mitte des * stärker werden.Feldes. Das Kukuruzfeld grenzte an Die Zeit verging schnell, sie war kurz und Nach einigen Wochen wurde dann dieden leeren Streifen an einem Ende schön Flucht geplant. Es war an und einem hatte einen Fahrweg am anderen Und ich hoffe es gibt nach Jahren ein fro• Wochentag an dem meine Mutter draussen Ende. Die Jungs hatten immer eine hes wiedersehen, bleibt alle Gesund. auf dem Felde arbeiten musste und dannGruppe von zirka 14 • 20 Personen, Written in 1987 after her visit to the Club anstatt zurück in's Lager zu kommen, unsdie sie dann über die Grenze nach ******************************** dann ausserhalb des Lagers treffen sollte.Ungarn vielmehr Gara führten. Das Alles war abgesprochen und der grosseSignal war zwei laute Pfiffe von den DIE FLUCHT – Adam Martini Tag stand vor der Tür. Ich wurde total Führern und wir mussten dann lebendig, denn die Idee, hier endlichinnerhalb zehn Minuten am anderen Es war im Jahre 1947, im Lagerrausszukommen, war schon langeEnde des Kukuruzfeldes sein um Kruschiwil, dicht an der ungarischenbegraben, aber jetzt gab es mitzugehen. eine Die Jungs sagten sie Grenze, als wir mit der Idee spielten nach Möglichkeit zur Freiheit und Gara war der könnten nicht länger warten, denn der Gara in Ungarn zu fliehen und somit unser erste und wichtigste Schritt. So kam Pfiff es alarmierte auch die Straschars, Lagerleben in Tito's Reich, zu beenden. Es dann das meine Grossmutter meine kleine die dann auch reagierten. Nach zehn war aber nicht leicht, obwohl KruschiwilSchwester Maria und mich zum Mitgehen Minuten pfiffen sie wieder, und wenn und Gara eightlich nicht weit auseinander aufforderte. Die Idee war irgendwie überman nicht dort war verpasste man den sind, so macht die Grenze dort doch eine den leeren Streifen Land zu kommen undGrenzübergang. grosse Aufwärtskurve und wenn man nicht dann in den Feldern an der anderen Seite So unser zweiter Versuch aufpasst dann endete man wieder zu verschwinden. in Ein leerer Streifen gab es aus dem Lager über den leeren Jugoslawien. Das war aber nicht alles.um ganz Kruschiwil, das half den Posten,Streifen Land zu kommen war wieder Meine Grossmutter hatte damals Wasser in die in regelmässigen Abständen standen,auf der Tagesordnung. Grossmutter, den Füssen und tat sich sehr schwer beimdas fliehen aus den Lagern zu verhindern. Maria und ich sammelten zur Mitte gehen. Ich hatte "Malaria" oder so etwasSo Grossmutter sagte zu uns, wir sollen so des leeren Landstreifens. Immer auf ähnliches. Es war ein hohes Fieber undtun als ob wir Sachen zum Brennenden Boden schauend, hin und wieder auch teilweise ein Schüttelfrost. Meinesammelten und dann ganz langsam immer einen Zweig oder was immer Schwester war damals drei Jahre alt undweiter in den leeren Streifen Land aufheben zu und langsam sich der unsere Mutter musste täglich aufs Feldwandern, wenn das Feld an der anderenanderen Seite nähern. Wenn man arbeiten gehen. Wir waren also nicht dieSeite nahe genug erscheint, dann schnell"Stoj" hört dann entweder ideale Gruppe für eine lange nächtlichedort hineinlaufen und nur weiterlaufen. So zurückrennen oder in die Felder Flucht. Es ist aber interessant, dass, wennkam es zu unserem ersten Versuch daslaufen. Diesesmal waren wir aber man fast am Ende ist, dann kommt aufLager zu verlassen. Wir drei wandertenüber der Hälfte, als wir das laute einmal irgendwie Hilfe. So war es auchlangsam in den leeren Streifen Land,"Stoj" hörten und wir rannten in's mit uns. Die Hilfe kam von drei jungenschauten auf die Erde und sammeltenFeld. Es war aber nicht das Burschen, die Leute über die Grenze kleine fü getrocknete Stängel und Zweige.Kukuruzfeld sondern ein Hanffeld, hrten. Meine Tante, eine Nonne, Doch die das laute Wort "Stoj" schreckte uns das ist nicht wie ein Kukuruzfeld. Es damals in Gara Schullehrerin war, und hat der Posten mit seiner Puschka standist dicht und der Blütenstaub ist. erfahren, dass wir in Kruschiwil sind undnicht weit von uns und wir rannten (continued so on page 8) hat dann diese jungen Männer gebeten, uns schnell wir konnten zurück in's Lager. VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 7 German Ethnic Foods & Recipes

Grumbiera Suppe— Sour Cream in waxed paper and chill for around an Fastnachts Potato Soup (Tejfeles krumpli leves hour. Roll out to about 1/8” thickness and (Raised Doughnuts) in Hungarian) cut out with a round wreath•shaped cookie Dawn Bicht, Schuylkill County, PA Submitted by Dennis J. Bauer, prepared cutter. In half the cookies, also cut out Website (www.rootsweb.com/ by my grandmother, Theresa Helleis Bauer center holes using a lipstick tube or small ~paschuyl/cooking.html) round hors d’oeuvre cutter. These will be 2 tsp. salt the “top” halves. Eating Fastnachts on Strove ½ pint sour cream Top Halves: Beat 1 egg white Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) is an old 6 medium potatoes diced with one tablespoon water. Brush on the Pennsylvania German custom. Sub• 1 carrot sliced cookie, then sprinkle it with chopped nuts, mitted by Dennis J. Bauer 1 onion then granulated sugar. 3 cups water Bake the cookies for around 10 For the Sponge: 2 tblsp. flour minutes, till light golden, at 350 – 375. 1 cake yeast ¼ tsp. black pepper Sift powdered sugar onto top 2 cups lukewarm water 2 tblsp. butter halves with holes. 4 scant cups sifted flour Assemble cookies by spreading Cook diced potatoes, carrots with onion in each bottom half with a small amount of At night break and soak deep pot in 1½ cups water for 15 minutes, jam and pairing it with a top half contain• yeast in lukewarm water for 20 min• add salt. ing a hole. Let cookies “cure” overnight in utes. Mix with flour to a thick batter. In skillet, brown flour in meltedan airtight container before serving. Cover, let rise in warm place over• butter. Add 1½ cups cold water & stir until night until doubles. smooth. Pour this mixture into cooked********************************** potatoes, boil a few minutes. Add sour For the Dough: cream just before serving. Six servings. Stuffed Cabbage 1/2 cup shortening Enjoy! (Sarma) 3/8 cup sugar You can also cook several eggs in From the Book of Danube Swabian Reci• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg the soup by floating them on top of the pes, Trenton NJ, 1980 1•1/2 teaspoons salt soup broth until done. The soup can also 2 eggs 5 cups or more of flour be served over cooked noodles. 2 lbs. Ground pork ********************************** 4 T. rice In the morning cream to• 1 large onion (chopped) Vanilla Kränze gether the shortening, sugar and salt. 1 egg Add this to the risen sponge, with the (Vanilla Wreaths) 2 tsp. Salt beaten eggs and spice. Stir in as Submitted by Karin Burger, prepared by ½ tsp. Pepper much flour as mixture will take up my grandmother, Mary Bohnert Sherer 2 tsp. Paprika readily, making a rather soft dough. 1 head cabbage Mix well. Let rise until doubled in 1 lb. Flour (3 ¾ cups) 1 lb. Sauerkraut bulk. If desired, stir down and let rise 7 oz. Powdered sugar (1 ¾ cups) Add water again until nearly doubled in bulk. 2 T. sour cream Turn onto floured board, pat or roll 1 T. vanilla Remove core and steam cabbage in large pot of boiling water. Place cab• until 1/2 inch thick and doubled. 1 egg Fry in deep hot fat about 375 ¾ lb. Shortening (1 ½ cups) bage in colander and separate leaves. Mix meat, rice, onion, egg, salt,degrees. If no thermometer is at than, test temperature with 1 inch square of Top Halves pepper and paprika. Put large spoonfuls of meat mixture in each cabbage leaf and roll; bread, which should brown in 1 min• 1 egg white plus 1 T. water (for tops) ute. Finely chopped walnuts tuck in the sides. Spread leftover cabbage on bottom of pot. Place cabbage rolls and For Assembling sauerkraut in layers. Add water. Cover, Powdered sugar bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 or 2 jars best•quality seedless jam about 1½ hours.

Mix together the flour, powdered ********* sugar, sour cream, vanilla, egg and short• ening. Knead until smooth. Wrap dough VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 8

Deutsche Ecke, Seite 2 (Continued from page 6—Die Flucht) MY ESCAPE TO FREEDOM… by rendous ordeal. betäubend. Wir aber rannten für unser Adam Martini After a few weeks our escape Leben. Immer tiefer ins Hanffeld bis wir (Editor’s note: The following article is an was set. It was a day on which my nichts mehr hörten von den Straschars.English translation by Hans Martini ofmother would be working in the fields Wir sassen dort für Stunden bis zum“Die Flucht” • the true•life experience of a nearby, allowing her to come directly späten Nachmittag. Ich bekam meine10•year•old Donauschwabe from Bukinto a meeting point outside of camp. during the ethnic cleansing of Germans Everything was in place and soon the ersten Kopfschmerzen damals von dem from Yugoslavia in the aftermath of starken und schweren Hanfduft. WirWWII. This story is not unlike that of moment arrived. I was completely en• mussten aber in's Kukuruzfeld um unsere many other Donauschwaben who survived ergized by the possibility of survival! Mutter zu treffen. Und so gingen wir am similar ordeals. Sadly, some 126,000 oth• My grandmother grabbed my sister and späten Nachmittag in Richtung ers des did not.). me and proceeded to the “no man’s Kukuruzfeldes. Dort angekommen In 1947 my mother, grand•land” strip of cleared field, which sur• warteten wir auf unsere Mutter, die sich mother, sister and I found ourselves inrounded Kruschiwel. This clearing wieder nach der Feldarbeit wegschlichthe “detention” camp of Kruschiwel situ• aided the sentries posted all around the um uns dort zu treffen. Endlich war sieated near the Yugoslav – Hungarian bor• perimeter and were meant to prevent da, Gott sei Dank. Wir gingen dann mehr der desperately trying to figure a way to anyone from escaping. The idea was in die Mitte des Kukuruzfeldes, damitescape. It was a daunting prospect de•that we would work our way to the wir nicht von einer Patrolle erwischtspite the close proximity of Kruschiwel other side of the clearing by collecting werden, denn das ist auch oft to Gara, Hungary. In fact, the border was firewood and when we were close vorgekommen. Wir mussten aber bisshaped in such a fashion that if one was• enough, run into the nearby cornfield. zehn Uhr abends warten. Ohne Uhr weiss n’t careful one could end up right back in Slowly we worked our way over, keep• man nicht wenn es zehn Uhr ist, so Yugoslavia! To make matters worse, my ing our heads down all the while pre• jemand musste auf die ersten Pfiffegrandmother had a great deal of trouble tending to be intent on our task. warten. Die Mutter schlief ein und auch walking, I had a form of malaria with its A loud “stoj!!” (halt!) stunned Maria. Grossmutter und ich aber waren accompanying high fever and coldus as we looked up to see a sentry with wach wie die Wachtel. shakes, Die my little sister Maria was justhis menacing weapon. We then ran as ausserordentlichen Umstände, sowie die three and my mother worked every day fast as we could back to camp, even my Möglichkeit wieder frei zu sein, peitschte in nearby fields. We were not the ideal grandmother managed to keep up! My uns beide auf. Nach langer Wartezeit,group to attempt an escape! Our pros•mother returned to camp later after eine kleine Ewigkeit, hörten wir zweipects were not good and we had littlewaiting in vain at the designated meet• schrille Pfiffe. Wir weckten Mutter und hope. ing place for many hours. Maria um dann sofort an's andere Ende It’s interesting that a real oppor• Our second escape plan was des Feldes zu ghen. Wir standen auf und tunity to escape came just when it similar to the first. We had a strict unsere Mutter, noch etwas verschlafen, seemed things couldn’t get any worseschedule to adhere to once we made it fing an zu gehen, aber es war and die the end appeared near. Our salvation through the clearing and into the corn• verkehrte Richtung, sie ging wiedercame in the form of three young men field. A whistle would signal us to zurück in Richtung Kruschiwil.hired by my aunt, a schoolteacher andmove to the end of the cornfield and Grossmutter und ich sagten ihr nein wir nun stationed in the aforementionedanother whistle would signal the move müssen die andere Richtung einschlagen, Gara. These men made it possible for a toward the Hungarian border and free• aber wir konnten sie nicht überzeugen.number of Donauschwaben to flee anddom. Of course, the whistle would also Sie war wahrscheinlich müde von dersecretly visited us to discuss the plan.alert the sentries so precise timing and Feldarbeit und der Schlaf disorientierte Upon seeing us for the first time – myswift movement were required. Those sie total. So gingen wir ihr nach undailing grandmother, my little sister andwho were not fast enough would be left erreichten das Ende des Feldes. Nachmyself, a skinny bean of a kid almost too behind. einigen Minuten hörten wir wieder diesick to move – they determined that we Our second escape attempt Pfiffe, aber wir waren am verkehrtenwould have to be much healthier if ourfound the three of us in the same clear• Ende. Da bestand keine Möglichkeit die escape would have any chance of suc•ing making as if we were collecting Gruppe zu erreichen, das Feld war zucess. They then began to bring us bread firewood just as before. Always look• lange. Also wieder zurück in's Lager, nur during each successive visit to help make ing down, we stopped here and there to aufpassen musste man, dass man nichtus stronger. And so it was that at the pick up a twig or something and slowly erwischt wird, beim zurückschleichen.very depths of our hopelessness and de• eased our way through the clearing. spair, there now flickered a glimmer of (Continued on page 9) Fortsetzung folgt. hope that we might yet survive this hor• VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 TRENTONER DONAUSCHWABEN NACHRICHTEN PAGE 9

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(Continued from page 8— My Escape to Freedom… ) The shrill command “stoj!!” was again heard but as we were more than halfway, we decided to make a run for it! We ran for our lives with little regard that the field we ran through was a hemp field and not corn. Hemp is planted in dense, thick rows with pollen that makes you dizzy (I would suffer from an intense headache as a result). Onwards we ran as our lives truly hung in the balance. We ran until the shout of the sentry could no longer be heard and then sat hidden in the hemp for hours until late afternoon. The three of us proceeded to the meeting place with my mother who had stolen away from her work detail. Our joy upon seeing her, however, was tempered by the need to move to the cornfield and avoid the frequent patrols whose path our little group couldn’t afford to cross. We waited many hours in that cornfield and listened like hawks for the sound of the whistle. While my mother and sis• ter dozed, my grandmother and I sat fully awake. Partially because of the excitement of the moment and the idea of being free at last, there was no way I could sleep. Then after a small eternity the whistle finally sounded! We awakened my mother and sister, both of whom rose quickly knowing that time was of the essence. My mother, perhaps disoriented from malnutrition, the long hours of hard fieldwork and lack of sleep, proceeded in the wrong direction! Try as we might, my grandmother and I could not convince her otherwise, and we all headed to the wrong end of the field. The sound of the whistle at the other end of the field meant we would not be escaping to freedom that night. It was with great care (and not a little disappointment) that we had to steal our way back into the camp at Kruschiwel. (to be continued in the next issue) Club Events for the Winter 2002 EVENTS— DATES & TIMES Vielen Dank !

A special thanks goes out to our wonderful food pre• * Winteressen— Sunday, 1pm parers, cooks, dishwashers, servers and bartenders. Without their hard work, our dinners would not be 20 January 2002 the success that they are. Danke schön ! * Annual Meeting— Sunday, 1pm, 27 January 2002 * Schlachtfest— Sunday, 1 & 3pm 10 February 2002 * Osteressen— Sunday, 24 March 2002

* Donauschwabenessen— Sunday, 1pm, 14 April 2002 * Muttertagessen— Sunday, 1pm, 5 May 2002

Please call Frau Josefa Brandecker at (609) 585•8460 for meal reservations. Though certainly not necessary, feel free to tip our young servers. Young, hard workers are hard to come by. They appreciate it!

VEREINIGUNG DER DONAUSCHWABEN 127 ROUTE 156, YARDVILLE, NJ 08620 609•585•1932 One of President Joe Brandecker’s duties? Mulching leaves at the Club 17 Nov. 2001 PRESIDENT— JOSEPH BRANDECKER 609•585•9001

Dennis J. Bauer, Editor & Club Genealogist 49 Conifer Road Levittown, PA 19057•1718 Email: [email protected] 215•945•9089

Hans Martini, Secretary 1822 Orchard Ave. Hamilton, NJ 08610 Email: [email protected] 609•888•2762 www.geocities.com/ ~donauschwaben