FEBRUARYJANUARY 2015 2016 ISSUE ISSUE #95 #99 OFFICERS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2016 HOLDS PROMISE FOR Anton G. Smoot President Liebe Mitglieder-Dear Members, THE GERMAN SOCIETY Dr. James D. Schaub 1st Vice President It seems just like yesterday when I wrote my This will be a banner year for our Society, Dr, Armin E. Mruck with many landmark events in the planning. 2nd Vice President president’s message back in January 2015. After two years of frustration, we will Dr. Mary Upman As we enter the new year, I would like to Secretary report that The German Society of Maryland dedicate the bust of General John Stricker, Theodore J. Potthast, Jr. is continuing its goal to preserve and promote the hero of the Battle of North Point and a Treasurer the German heritage, language, traditions vice president of our Society (see page 3). Hon. Gerard Wm. Wittstadt and history through many programs. We will be joining the Maryland Historical Counselor Society in the commemoration of the visit of the U-Deutschland to Baltimore in 1916. DIRECTORS Facebook: Our new Facebook guru Ms. Nora Malatinszky is continuously adding Kraig Dean The Maryland Historical Society expects to Dr. Michael J. Kurtz information and promoting our society convert one of its halls to replicate the interior Gerhard Meinzer through this social media venue. I encourage Paul-Gerhard Otto all of you to go to our page and “Like” us. Just of the submarine and to tell the story of the Shirley Santora enter the German Society of Maryland in the courageous captain Paul Koenig’s voyage in Anton Smoot search area! the world’s fi rst merchant submarine, which John Vogt eluded the British blockade to deliver much Kurt Wittstadt School Visits: This ongoing program is needed pharmaceuticals and dyestuffs to Gen. M. Hall Worthington something we would like to expand and America. Our plans include special publicity we are looking for additional schools that for the role of General Johann deKalb, the EX OFFICIO Bavarian born commander of the Maryland- Pres., Women’s Auxiliary participate. If you are a teacher and would Delaware Line in the Revolutionary War. Eva Maus Kelleher like to have myself or another director of our society visit your class, please email me at Though the deKalb name is nationally known, since there are many counties which LIFETIME DIRECTORS [email protected] and we will be happy Shelley Arnold to make the time and come see you and your bear the name, but few Americans know Merl Arp students. anything about his heroism in battle. Our John K. Aymold, Jr.* Society will be cooperating with many other Dandridge Brooke German American organizations to carry Linda Butt These are just a few ideas on how we are looking into the future to promote our great out our mission: to promote the German Dr. David Denisch American culture and heritage and promote Prof. Dr. Mohamed Esa society and I am always looking for your the study of the language and literature. We Brigitte V. Fessenden* input. I strongly encourage all of you to visit Prof. Dr. Maureen Helinski the www.md-germans.org website to get up also have a serious obligation to inform our Prof. Dr, Armin Mruck to date details on all the happenings in the fellow Marylanders of our traditions during Michael J. Nieberding* German Community. October, the month our legislature has set Betty Niemann aside as German American Heritage Month Rev. H.J.Siegfried Otto * Best wishes and a speedy recovery to all of in Maryland. Bernard Penner, Esq. our sick and shut in members. Theo. J. Potthast, Jr.,Esq.* Our directors hope to stir in our members Dr. James Schaub* an enthusiasm to join in the many activities. Irma Tillman Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Please volunteer when the call goes out for Dr. Mary Upman Anton G. Smoot Christel van der Berg help. Only with the actions of our members Thomas A. Werner* can we achieve the Society’s mission, goals Hon. Gerard W. Wittstadt and our reason for being. Bärbel Otto Offi ce Manager * = past president FEBRUARY 2016 VEREINSNACHRICHTEN The German Society of Maryland Page 2 Steamship Company of which several members of our KALENDER Society are also members. Details of the weekend event will appear in subsequent newsletters. We urge our members April 8 6:00 pm to save that date and plan to attend. Annual Meeting at the dining room of Zion Church Part of the ballast for the U-Deutschland consisted of iron, May 22 3:00 pm offl oaded in Baltimore. The iron was melted down to make Student Awards Ceremony at the commemorative German crosses with brass centers. The Aldersaal of Zion Church center medallion was designed and cast by the famous June 26 Noon to 5 pm Baltimore sculptor, Hans Schuler. The Schuler family was The Great German-American Picnic honored at our 2013 banquet. The crosses were distributed at Kurz’s Beach to those contributing to the widows and orphans of German July 23&24 German Festival at the soldiers. Our Society owns such a cross. It is held in our Timonium Fairgrounds archives. Visit the German Society’s website: CHRISTKINDLMARKT www.germansociety-md.com For more local German-American events, check the web site The ancient German tradition of the “Christ Child Market” of the Deutschamerikanischer Bürgerverein von Maryland: was held in Baltimore on the grounds of Zion Church at City www.md-germans.org Hall Plaza, co-sponsored by the Baltimore Kickers and the You are invited to add articles about your German ancestors Church. Our Society is a strong supporter of the event. You to the website conducted by our director Shelley Arnold; can plan now for the 2016 event, remembering that it always germanmarylanders.org takes place at Zion on the weekend after Thanksgiving. For Listen to German music and announcements of the past three years, a Christmas market has also been held local German American activities on internet radio at at the Inner Harbor running from Thanksgiving to Christmas germanamericanradio.com Eve, the duration of similar events in Germany. Hopefully You are invited to visit and participate in the interactive this tradition will also continue in Baltimore. Many of our website “Der Wecker”, founded by our member, Walt members travel to Europe to attend the Christmas markets. Mathers. Google search these 3 words: German American The city of Nürnberg’s event is more than four hundred Forum years old. Similar markets were held in most German villages and metropolitan areas. Our member, Mia Walsh, SHELLEY ARNOLD, HISTORIAN took her father, Ted Potthast, to the Christmas markets in Vienna and Budapest as well. Those events were very well Our director, Shelley Arnold, a historical scholar who is an attended and included young children and old timers braving expert in Maryland’s German American heritage, wrote the cold weather of Europe in November and December. an article published this month in the national magazine Hans Steffen reported that the coffee in Munich was hot and “German Life”. The 4-page article with excellent photographic the beer was cold in early December. illustrations, tells the story of German immigration to early Maryland and the many contributions made by German “MENCKEN MEMBERS” immigrants to our state. The article alone is worth the price of a subscription for Marylanders of German ancestry. In a lecture by eminent Mencken historian Marion Rogers we Shelley conducts a website, germanmarylanders.org in learned that H. L. Mencken supported German organizations which she tells the stories of German Americans with but never attended any meetings. Mencken faithfully sent in roots in Maryland. Members of our Society are entitled to his $5 dues to our Society. He was too busy writing to go a reduced subscription price for German Life Magazine to events but as a strong supporter of the German culture during the annual subscription drive, by sending your check and heritage, he always paid his dues. We have many to the Deutschamerikanischer Bürgerverein. Details will be members today who are in the same position. They cherish published in this newsletter in time for the drive. the German culture and the German American heritage and wish to support it fi nancially by paying their dues, but for JULY 9, 1916: U-DEUTSCHLAND many reasons cannot actively participate in events. Our Society is nevertheless happy to have them among our 100 years ago this coming July the German submarine came membership. Their support helps others to get the work to Baltimore. Plans are being made to commemorate the done, to carry out the mission of preserving the culture, event with ceremonies aboard the nuclear ship, Savannah, heritage, and language. We welcome all such supporters. now docked within view of the site where the submarine If you can’t be active, then be a “Mencken Member.” And was birthed 100 years ago. Our Society plans to support spread the word. Let the world know our Society exists and the events sponsored by the Baltimore and Chesapeake is always looking for those to support our mission. FEBRUARY 2016 VEREINSNACHRICHTEN The German Society of Maryland Page 3 HENRY GUNTHER MEMORIAL THE STRICKER BUST Preserving our German American heritage is a prime Since the society has been refused a Federal Hill site for mission of our Society. One way we achieve this goal our monument to General John Stricker, there have been annually is by honoring the memory of the last American heated discussions about where the monument should be soldier killed in World War I: Sgt. Henry Gunther. He placed. The suggestions so far are three: The North Point was Baltimore born and raised, living in Highlandtown, a National Guard Armory, Patterson Park, and The Garden at member of Sacred Heart parish and a member of the Santa Zion Church.