The Sengers -1920 to 1944
Richard Senger was a successful German farmer in West Prussia. He worked and cared for his family’s farm with the help of his wife (Frieda), children (Luise & Erich), his brother Rudolf (Onkel Rudolf) and sister-in-law Erna (Tante Erna). The homestead had been in the Senger family since about 1893; when it was built by his father and mother (Michael & Adelgunde). Their farm was located on the banks of the Nogat River in Zeyervorderkampen (Kreis Grosses Werder). In 1920, it was the first farm inside of the Polish corridor as defined by the victorious allies of WW1.
Richard inherited the farm from his parents (Michael and Adelgunde) in 1920, the year of his and Frieda’s marriage. The 50 hectare Senger farm grew apples, cherries, plums, sugar beets, rye, and raised ducks, chickens, cows, pigs. During the Second World War additional crops were grown as a requirement of the German government they included rapeseed, poppies and wheat.
Both Erich and Luise were born on the farm; Erich in 1921 and Luise in 1923. This was during the hyper-inflation years of the Weimar Republic. The hyper-inflation was so bad at the time that it cost Richard and Frieda and entire wheelbarrow full of money to purchase a pacifier for Luise. Luise and Erich were baptized at the Zeyer Evangelishe Kirche (Lutheran); Herr Doebel was Luise Senger’s godfather. Later he was to become an early member of the National Sozialistische Deuthsche Arbeiters Partei (NSDAP, Nazi); ultimately he was to become disillusioned and was imprisoned for his opposition to the NSDAP (It is believed that he served more than 5 years for his opposition.)
From the age of 14, Luise Senger lived with her Onkel Robert and Tante Olga in Elbing on 58 Wasserstrasse (today: Wodna 58, Elbląg, Elblag, Polska) . There she attended Elbing Handelsschule. Robert & Olga Senger owned a small Gasthaus and store on the waterfront of the port of Elbing. Their Gasthaus had 4 guest rooms and was described as being ‘plain’ but friendly. During her years in Elbing at the Handelsschule, Luise used to take long walks to a nearby park (in the city); this is where she watched and ultimately met some of the musicians and other members of the ‘artists’ community who befriended her and some of whom protected her when they met again at the end of the war in Munich.
“Onkel Robert and Tante Olga” were city dwellers and throughout Luise’s youth Luise and Erich Senger used to ‘smuggle’ small amounts of food (fruit, wheat etc) from the farm to Onkel Robert’s so as to avoid paying taxes to the government. At one time, Onkel Robert sent bananas to the Richard Senger family in Zeyervorderkampen as a treat; Luise refused to even try them as she had never seen anything like them before!
Sometime while Luise was living with the Senger’s in Elbing, her cousin Erika and Erika’s husband (Otto Grawert) and their son Karl-Otto came to live with Robert and Olga. They came from their home on the Dutch border on a doctor’s recommendation. Erika had a severe case of TB and the cold, moist air was supposed to help her heal. Erika especially enjoyed the Gasthaus and the customers that frequented it. She and Luise became very close friends.
From 1937 on through much of the second world war (WW2) the Richard Senger farm was quite successful. The daily routines continued; the work was hard and the crops were quite good.
During the war years, the Sengers were required to host English prisoners of war. One PoW stayed the entire war; his name was Tommy. He had been captured at Dunkirk and arrived at the age of 17. Tommy remained with the Sengers up until the time the Russians took the farm in 1944, escaping by foot towards the North Sea just ahead of the advancing Russians and Poles.
Once the war began, Richard’s son, Erich, was fighting as a rear-gunner in a Stuka (he fought on both the Eastern and Western fronts). Erich was taken prisoner in 1944 by the British when his plane was shot down over France (it is believed). By the early 1940′s his daughter, Luise, was a administrative aide and Lieutenant in the Luftwaffe.
With all of Zeyer’s young people at war, the farm was managed and operated by the two ‘closest’ Senger brothers (Richard and Rudolf) and Richard’s wife Frieda and Frieda’s sister Erna up until the time the lands and property were confiscated by the Russians in late 1944. 
composite of verbal stories related by Luise Senger Rabideau to her children Linda & Mark
Related Readings:
Note: There is related material in the following category/ categories: Prussia | Senger | WW2
Alternatively, the following related selections (up to 10 most recent related posts) are provided for you automagically»»
Get our NewsLetter
Contact Us!