Prussia

  • Deutsche Reichsgründung 1871
    German Genealogy Pointers,  Prussia

    Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichte (German Administrative History) 1871-1990

    One of the Internet’s most valuable German research websites has been removed from service, Dr. Michael Rademacher’s: Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichte von der Reichseinigung 1871 bis zur Wiedervereinigung 1990 (German administrative history from the Reich Agreement of 1871 to reunification in 1990). I do not know the reason for the site’s (and its related facebook site’s) removal; but I happen to have a copy of the original site (reconstructed from the Wayback Machine) and present it here in memory of its author: Dr. Michael Rademacher M.A.. I make no claim of ownership, nor do I acknowledge responsibility for the original site’s content. As per the original site: alle Rechte vorbehalten (all rights…

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  • Kreis Elbing,  Shoah

    Demise of the Elbing Synagogue and Jewish Community

    November 9-10, 1938 – “Kristallnacht” Elbing, Germany (today Elbląg, Poland) On the night of 9 to 10 November 1938 in the presence of the Mayor (Johannes O. H. Woelk), of Elbing, Germany officials of the Gestapo, the SS, the Elbing Fire Brigade, set fire to the Elbing synagogue and Jewish community house. Jewish men were arrested, beaten and robbed of their property. Windows were broken in all the Jewish shops in the city. At two o’clock in the morning, Elbing was steeped in a damp darkness and fog. Lantern light barely broke through the darkness. A large portion of the city was awake. Dressed in long military coats, people marched…

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  • German Genealogy Pointers,  Polish Genealogy,  Prussia,  Search Tricks & Tips

    NEHGS Searchable German Duplicate Records

    Today, I received an email from one of our readers (Beth Golden).  Beth’s note provided the following information: German Church Book Duplicates (Online at American Ancestors- New England Historic Genealogical Society) Germany, Baden, Church Book Duplicates, 1810-1869 Germany, Prussia, Brandenburg and Posen, Church Book Duplicates, 1794-1874 These collections of church records for the territories of Baden, Brandenburg and Posen, Germany, were obtained from church book duplicates that were annually provided to the German state for use by civil authorities. If a particular region had only one religious institution, the clergy often recorded the births, marriages, and deaths of all local individuals regardless of religious affiliation. Microfilm numbers noted in the…

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  • German Genealogy Pointers,  Mennonites,  Polish Genealogy,  Prussia,  Search Tricks & Tips

    Researching “Lost” Eastern German Provinces

    Many people get confused when conducting searches for their Eastern German forebears; this is especially true if those forebears purport to have been from Prussia (Preussen), Pomerania (Pommern), Silesia (Schlesien). Note: I have written a detailed article on helping you determine whether or not your family was Prussian and if so, what type. It might not surprise you that I encounter a lot of people having trouble doing, or trying to do, ‘their’ Prussian research. Given I have fairly extensive research experience in those regions of Europe, I thought I’d put together a quick tutorial, or key, for identifying and finding clues to those Eastern German ancestors ‘of ours’ who…

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  • Kreis Elbing

    When paths cross

    This article is cross posted from the PEP, Inc. website. There are times in life when paths cross.  As many of you may know, among my greatest interests are both process improvement (my ‘day job’) and my family (not just those living but also including my past, meaning my ‘genealogy’). Well, yesterday was one of those days where my day job and my family genealogy passions crossed. A couple of years ago through my genealogy work, I had the good fortune of meeting a young man (by my standards pretty much everyone is young).  His name is Pawel. As it happens, Pawel and his mother attended some of the same…

  • Prussia

    Altpreussische Monatsschrift (von 1864 bis 1913)

    AltPreußische Monatsschrift (original source materials located here – here – here) hrsg. unter Mitwirkung der Königlichen Deutschen Gesellschaft zu Königsberg und des Vereins für die Geschichte Ost- und Westpreußens. – Königsberg, Pr. : Thomas & Oppermann Abkürzungstitel: APM. – Digitalisiert von Google Books. – ZDB-ID: 506912-9. APM Register 1-40, bearb. von Max Perlbach (1905) Almost all are also located at the Biblioteka Elbląska. APM 01 (1864) APM 02 (1865) APM 03 (1866) APM 04 (1867) APM 05 (1868) APM 06 (1869) APM 07 (1870) APM 08 (1871) APM 09 (1872) APM 10 (1873) APM 11 (1874) APM 12 (1875) APM 13 (1876) APM 14 (1877) APM 15 (1878) APM 16 (1879) APM…

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  • Kreis Elbing

    How I came over from [Zeyer] Germany

    An “old neighbor” from Zeyer, Karl Jochem (deceased), whose descendants now live in the US, wrote the following school assignment, after his arrival in the US in the early 1900s. Because most of my stories are from the period immediately after the Second World War, I thought our readership might enjoy this tale of adventure and exploration from “a better more hopeful time”. Thank you for sharing Dan! HOW I CAME OVER FROM GERMANY (by Karl Jochem for school assignment) I was born in Germany. The village was Zeyer, which is some eight miles north of the city Elbing, West Prussia. My father was fishing. He afterwards bought a farm…

  • Kreis Elbing

    The Elbing Streetcars return

    Der historische Straßenbahnwagen stehen wieder auf dem Alten Markt in Elbing/Elblag. (The historical streetcars are once again in the Elbing/Elblag Old Market.) Click on the following photo to view a live webcam feed of the Old Elbing/Elblag Market.

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Kreis Elbing

    Grete geb. Roschkowski & Hannelore geb. Petroschka- Remembrances of Elbing

    Hannelore Petroschka and Grete geb. Roschkowski were among the tens of thousands of Germans forcibly removed from their home by the German Expulsion – “Ethnic Cleansing” of  Elbing/Elblag following World War 2. In March of 2013, I was contacted by Hannelore’s grand-daughter who wrote: My Grandmother Hannelore was born in Elbing [West Prussia] in 1923 to Julius Petroschka and Grete Roschkowski (whose family owned a furniture factory in Elbing). After my grandmother died a lot of her belongings were lost but we have recently discovered a box of photographs which included a lot of post cards from Elbing and the surrounding areas. It seems my great grandmother purchased them before…

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  • Kreis Elbing

    Bericht ueber den Untergang der Synagogengemeinde Elbing/ Report on the Destruction of the Elbing Synagogue

    World War 2 and its aftermath was a tragic period for the inhabitants of Elbing Westpreussen (Elblag, Poland, today). It is essential to preserve and honor the history and travails of those people and their times. To quote: “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” Martin Luther King, Jr. “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” Albert Einstein It is in this spirit that I am pleased to announce, courtesy of the Leo Baeck Institute, ManyRoads is able to present a transcribed version of the   Bericht ueber den Untergang der…

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  • Kreis Elbing

    Elbing Damals- new photos

    For those of you who might be interested in viewing my latest batch of Elbing “Damals” Photos. (Fals Sie interesse darueber haben, hier sind meine lezte Elbing Damals Fotos) The following images were added today (Die folgende Fotos sind jetzt auf ManyRoads): Alte Giebelhaeuser Alte Haeuser Spieringstrasse circa1935 Alter Markt circa 1935 Blick auf St. Nikolai-Kirche 1940 Blick auf St Nikolai durch die Fleischerstrasse 17.1.13 Blick ueber den Elbing-Fluss Brueckstrasse Fischmarkt Markttreiben mit Geschaefte Friedrichstrasse 1916 Lagerhaeuser am Elbingfluss Marktstrasse mit Friseurgeschaeft und Giesskanne Moltkestrasse mit ober Real Schule 1918 Moltkestrasse Realgymnasium 1927 Patrizierhaeuser Spieringstrasse circa 1935 Rathaus mit Erweiterungsbau 1931 Real-Gymnasium um 1900 Sankt Georgen-Bruederhaus circa 1910 Sankt Marienkirche…

  • Luise- Richard- Frieda Senger Zuhause circa 1940
    Kreis Elbing,  Thoughts

    Past to future

      .revised 5 July 2021 Over the past few years, I have been mulling over the significance of history, war, and the ravages of time.  Quite the happy thoughts I know. I suppose this stream of consciousness was initiated by my review of some photos from my mother’s family church in Zeyer, Westpreussen, in what is today Poland.  Then today an Internet friend sent an article from today’s Elbląg, Poland (what used to be Elbing, West Prussia, Germany) regarding their German past. Here are the photos and articles that prompt my thoughts. The first sets of photos focus on the Zeyer Evangelische Kirche- Zeyer Lutheran Church as well as the…

  • Prussia,  Thoughts

    Hinaus in die Ferne

    It probably bears mention that my grandmother- Frieda Senger- was a woman of many verses.  So given that my most recent visits with my mother have involved hearing a particular verse frequently; I thought I’d preserve it for posterity, especially since it is a verse I never heard while growing up.  It’s a lively little item… Hinaus in die Ferne Mit Butterbrot und Speck. Das mag ich ja so gerne, Das nimmt mir keiner weg. Und wer das tut, Dem hau’ ich auf die Nase, Dem hau’ ich auf die Schnut’, Daß es [ihm] blut’. It turns out to be a music composition with lyrics and so it has an…

  • Kreis Elbing,  Mennonites

    West Prussia (near Zeyer) Mennonite Births, Deaths, Marriages

    The links on this page have been sourced from the Prussian Mennonite Genealogy Resources site. I have rearranged the original links and grouped them for my convenience. Please note, these materials are used without permission because there was no copyright notice or location from which to request usage permission. All ownership and rights of this material belongs to its original author(s). If you wish to use the most current information and links on these topics and more, I encourage you to visit the original site. Any research queries should be directed to one of the Mennonite archives in Canada or the U.S. Elbing-Ellerwald Elbing and Ellerwald Mennonite Church Record Books:…

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  • Kreis Elbing,  Mennonites

    Mennonite Histories of West Prussia

    The links on this page have been sourced from the Prussian Mennonite Genealogy Resources site. I have rearranged the original links and grouped them for my convenience. Please note, these materials are used without permission because there was no copyright notice or location from which to request usage permission. All ownership and rights of this material belongs to its original author(s). If you wish to use the most current information and links on these topics and more, I encourage you to visit the original site. Any research queries should be directed to one of the Mennonite archives in Canada or the U.S. Danzig District The 1661 Census of Mennonites in…

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Kreis Elbing,  Senger,  WW2

    Zeyer- the end

    Recollections of an officer of the chief administrative district in Zeyer. Johannes Jahn, farmer and farm owner in Zeyersvorderkampen. see original document This document has been translated and reworked with additional family history by Mark Rabideau. The District of Zeyer was located in the northeast corner of the Free State of Danzig, in the area that included the towns of Grosses Werder, Zeyer, Stuba and Schlangenhaken. The district followed the Nogat River, starting at the village Zeyer to the Vistula Lagoon estuary. The total area of the District was about 2510 hectares (~6200 acres)  of which 480 hectares (`1200 acres) were the village of Zeyer, Stuba with the village of…

  • Deutscher-Volks-und-Kulturboden-1937
    Europe Maps,  Prussia

    Deutsche Mundarten- German Language

    Deutsche Dialekten seit 1945 Deutsche Dialekten um 1910 revised: 14 Feb 2018 1 June 2021   The following library illustrates more of the German dialect and Language evolution (spread and contraction). The maps below also indicate where various German dialects were (are) spoken…  

  • Kreis Elbing,  Senger

    Papatschen Käserei (Meierei)

    . revised: 22 Dec 2022 In Zeyervorderkampen during and before World War 2, there was a small Käserei (Meierei) Dairy that was owned, all or in part, by Richard Senger. Based upon maps and analysis of the region (today Kepiny Male) by Rainer Glodde-Mueller during his 2010 journey to the area, it is believed that the following photos are what remains of that past business. Obviously the buildings had been worked on in the early 1950s (see the photo with the dated stone near the roof peak). Discussions with Luise Senger Rabideau (Richard’s daughter) were not definitive in identifying these buildings positively. A mystery remains. Are these, or are they…

  • Kreis Elbing,  Senger

    Wasserstrasse, Elbing

    On the 22nd of October, 2010, I received an email from a long-time (since 1762) family friend (more on that later). Rainer and his family were in Poland looking at the alte Heimatland. AND… they had been to visit the street where my mother lived as a teenager with her Onkel Robert and Tante Olga. The email I received contained these photos. I was visiting with my mother when the photos arrived. Es war wirklich eine Ueberraschung! (It was truly a surprise!) Meine Mutter war sehr froh alles wieder zu sehen (My mother was happy to see everything again.). She had not seen her Onkel’s house since the mid- 1940s,…

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Prussia

    NDR Flucht & Vertreibung Geschichten- Expulsion Histories

    Flucht und Vertreibung Geschichten von Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR). German Expulsion histories broadcast and published by North German Radio (NDR). Damals in Ostpreußen: Die Geschichte einer Region Flucht und Vertreibung Flucht bei Minus 20 Grad

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  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Kreis Elbing,  Tools

    Heimatsortskartei & a true history

    By the end of WW2, the destruction of Germany was nearly total. Almost every city had been leveled; the remnants of families were scattered all over Germany, Europe, North and South America. Everyone had lost family members or friends. According to Wikipedia losses in the Third Reich were: Country Population 1939 Military deaths Civilian deaths Jewish Holocaust deaths Total deaths Deaths as % of 1939 population Austria 6,653,000 261,000 58,700 65,000 384,700 5.8 Germany (within 1937 borders) 69,310,000 4,456,000 700,000 to 2,284,000 160,000 5,316,000 to 6,900,000 7.7 to 9.9 Ethnic Germans from other nations 7,292,000 601,000 200,000 to 886,000 801,000 to 1,487,000 11.0 to 20.4 Soviet citizens in the German…

  • Kreis Elbing,  Senger

    Senger Land und Großen Buden Kampe

    The Senger Family appears to have had a long term link to the lands around Zeyer (see below). I guess it is no wonder that my mother is still so ‘mentally’ attached to this land and region (Es war einmal…). Thank you to Rainer Mueller-Glodde for this note & excerpt: Two years ago (2008) a Dr. Glodde from Berlin, […] tried to find out the meaning of “Glodde”, [and] sent me a shot he made of a document from about 1805 [located] in the Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz. The subject is the estimation of the size of the Grosse Jacob Glode Buden Kampe [in the area of Zeyer, Westpreußen]. Zum…

  • Prussia

    Prussian and Polish Royalty

    The following documents covering Prussian and Polish Royalty lexicons and histories are now available on ManyRoads. Der polnische Adel und die demselben hinzugetretenen andersländischen Adelsfamilien Band. 1 Der polnische Adel und die demselben hinzugetretenen andersländischen Adelsfamilien Band. 2 Die polnischen Stammwappen: ihre Geschichte und ihre Sagen Geschichte des polnischen Adels: nebst einem Anhange der Vasallenliste des 1772 Preussen huldigenden polnischen Adels in Westpreussen Neues preussisches Adels-Lexicon band 1. A-D Neues preussisches Adels-Lexicon band 2. E-H Neues preussisches Adels-Lexicon band 3. I-O Neues preussisches Adels-Lexicon band 4 P-Z Westpreussen unter polnischem Scepter mfg. …mark

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Kreis Elbing

    An Elbing Remembrance- Fred Rump

    We’ve had some interesting discussions […] lately but I feel that for most of us Elbing and it’s history is far, far away. The people who actually lived there before 1945 are fast becoming a dying breed. In addition, while there is much Information available in German sources, little information can be found in English. Let me store some of my thoughts and a brief historical background on these pages. I was born in Elbing in Dec 1937. My earliest memories are rather vague. See My Story Point is we left under duress with the full expectation to be back in at most 2 weeks. That was the propaganda line.…

  • Kreis Elbing,  ManyRoads,  Thoughts

    You can’t go back (an appreciation)

    A recent posting I placed on ManyRoads has provided me with some new insights into life, progress and accommodating the past. As an old adage notes, you can not control the problems life presents you with, but you can choose how you react to them. And, this is true. The following historical facts are true: World War 2 involved the senseless displacement and destruction of tens of millions of people Germany lost the second World War the German people of Kreis Elbing were expelled from their homeland the Russians and their allies destroyed much of what was West Prussia the Poles were given many former eastern German lands including those…

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Kreis Elbing

    Zeyer Friedhof- 2010

    Vergangenheit in aller Munde (the original source article has been removed) Die Kirche und der Friedhof in Zeyer (Gemeinde Elbing) haben den Kampf gegen die Naturgewalten verloren – den gegenmenschlichen Widerwillen und Vergessenheit aber gewonnen. Das war ein wichtiges Ereignis für das ganze Dorf. An der Stelle, wo sich einmal die evangelische Kirche und der dazu Friedhof befanden, wurde am 22. August nach sieben Jahren der Bemühungen ein Denkmal zu Ehren der dort Ruhenden errichtet. Das Denkmal entstand dank den Bemühungen des ehemaligen Einwohners von Zeyer Ewald Frost, der weitere, in Deutschland zerstreut lebende ehemalige Einwohner von Zeyer versammelte, das nötige Geld organisierte und mit Unterstützung der Gesellschaft der deutschen…

  • Kreis Elbing,  Prussia,  Senger

    Our Elbing Addressbooks

    Elbinger Adreßbücher Mark Rabideau hat auf seiner privaten Webseite zahlreiche Elbinger Addressbuecher (1847-1930) veröffentlicht. Auch ein Telefonbuch von 1937 ist dabei. Zahlreiche weitere Adreßbücher aus Westpreußen (Graudenz, Thorn, Konitz) sind auf der Webseite zu finden. Einwohnerbücher von Danzig, Graudenz und Zoppot stehen zum Download bereit. (GJ) see: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Computergenealogie I truly appreciate this acknowledgement.  These books are here for all to use as well as to honor my Oma, Opa und Mutti.

  • Kreis Elbing,  ManyRoads

    Elbinger Adreßbücher

    We are seeking to complete our collection of all known Elbing Prussia (Kreis Elbing Westpreussen) Address and Telephone Books. Please note we are only interested in obtaining copies of texts which were printed before 1945 prior to the ethnic cleansing and expulsion of the German population after the end of World War 2. A complete inventory of the texts in our possession are freely available and accessible on this site. If you know of additional texts, texts we do not currently list, please let us know and we will make very effort to identify and/or create an electronic copy to make available on ManyRoads. Once we have a completed collection,…

  • Kreis Elbing

    Elbinger Schutzjuden

    source: courtesy Fred Rump In 1783, Moses Simon paid 40,000 Thaler to the city to earn protection and the rights to compete with his Christian counterparts in Elbing for himself and his descendants. (Schutz = protection and Juden= Jews) By 1812, 33 such families had settled in Elbing. Most had paid a fee to the Prussian state and were permitted to settle anywhere. Some chose the city of Elbing. Hardenberg’s edict of 1812 gave full citizenship rights to all people of the Jewish faith in Prussia. Up to this time Jews were known by their biblical names and they now were required to chose a proper German name so as…

  • Histories,  Prussia

    Pogesanians, Pomesania & Pomerelia

    The area from around Elbing and Zeyer from which the Senger family came was land most anciently known to have been settled by Pogesanians, Pomesanians and Pomerelians. source: Wikipedia (best viewed with your browser’s WikiWand reader). Pogesania Pomerelia Pomesania  

  • Histories,  Prussia,  Videos

    Hansestadt Elbing- Videos

    Ich habe die volgende Films von ehemaligen Elbing gefunden…. viel spass! I found the following films of the former Elbing (pre-WW2)… enjoy! Wenn Sie von anderen Videos wissen bitte sagen Sie mir… if you know of other videos, please tell us via our Contact page.

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Histories,  Prussia,  WW2

    The Expulsion of Germans

    Original Article (used within terms of Fair Use; this article has been removed from the original site) By Dr. Alfred de Zayas –The main speaker at the premiere of the documentary travelling exhibition ” In the Claws of the Red Dragon” in Pittsburgh [in 1999], organized in cooperation with Dr. Marianne Bouvier and B. John Zavrel,was Dr. Alfred de Zayas, a prominent expert in international law; he is an American of Spanish-French descent. After law school at Harvard, de Zayas went to Germany on a Fulbright fellowship, took doctorate in History at the University of Goettingen. He works as a legal consultant in New York and Geneva, Switzerland, and is…

  • Prussia,  WW2

    Die letzten Tage – Januar und Februar 1945

    Original Article (used and enhanced within the terms of Fair Use)   Die Reportage: Der folgende Bericht beruht auf Datenunterlagen des letzten Oberbürgermeisters der Stadt Elbing Dr. Fritz Leser (in einigen Dukomentationen auch Dr. Hans Leeser genannt); Oberst a.D. Schöpfer dem letzten Kommandanten von Elbing und von Oberleutnant Curth Günther. Die Aufnahmen stammen aus russischen Wochenschauen. Ende August- Anfang September 1944 fanden in Danzig erstmals offizielle Verhandlungen über Räumungsvorbereitungen statt, zu der die Landräte und Oberbürgermeister des Reichsgaues Danzig und andere geladen waren. Für jede Ortsgruppe wurden Sammelplätze und die Fluchtwege festgelegt. Für Ostpreußen erschien niemand, dafür kam ein Brief von dem Regierungspräsidenten Dargel aus Königsberg mit der Erklärung: “Es…

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  • Prussia,  WW2

    Bericht über die End-Kämpfe um Elbing

    Alfred Neubert, Hannoversch Münden, Burgstraße 15/16, den 18. August 1946 23. Januar bis 10. Februar 1945 Die Verteidigung Elbings war voraussichtlich gedacht als eine vorgeschobene breitangelegte Sicherung der linken Flanke der Weichsellinie mit linker Anlegung an das Frische Haff, rechts angelehnt an die Verteidigungswerke von Marienburg. Die Stellung Elbings im gesamten Verteidigungssystem wurde als “Brückenkopf Elbing” bezeichnet. – Der um Elbing beabsichtigte Bogen der Verteidigungslinie war weit vorgeschoben, sollte z. B. bei Dörbeck, Rakau und die entsprechenden Entfernungen nach rechts fortgesetzt führen über Grunau-Höhe, Anschluß an den Drausensee finden und über Kerbswalde, Grunau-Niederung zum Anschluß nach Marienburg führen. Zur Besetzung dieser Linie waren zwei Divisionen beabsichtigt, dazu die Einheiten des…

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  • Kreis Elbing,  Prussia

    Kirche Zeyer (evangelisch)

    Original Source (used with author’s permission) Autor: Günter Mauter Fast ein Kuriosum ist ein Teil der Geschichte der evangelischen Kirche von Zeyer. Als am 22. Januar 1920 der Kreis Großes Werder amtlich wurde, befand sich das Dorf Zeyer im Freistaat Danzig, während die Kirche und die Kirchenhaüser mit ca. 35 Bewohnern auf Elbinger Gebiet lagen. Die Nogat bildete die Grenze und die Kirche lag ja auf dem rechten Nogatufer, damit also im Elbinger Landkreis. Allerdings, und das ist auch bemerkenswert, lag das Pfarrhaus im Dorf Zeyer! Dr. Kerstan (Die Geschichte des Landkreises Elbing) schreibt über den Bau der Kirche: “Wann die Kirche begründet wurde, ist unbekannt, vermutlich aber in der…

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Prussia,  WW2

    Selbst Jauche half uns nicht

    Auszüge aus dem Text von Charlotte Kaufmann (used within terms of Fair Use) Die schlimmste Zeit meines Lebens begann vor etwas mehr als 60 Jahren,genau im Januar 1945. Auch nach dieser langen Zeit sind die Narben nicht verheilt. Die Auswirkungen sind bis heute spürbar. Dieses Schicksal teile ich mit hunderttausenden Frauen und Mädchen aus den deutschen Ostgebieten, die noch vor Kriegsende vom russischen NKWD (Volkskommissariat für innere Angelegenheiten; zuständig auch für Angelegenheiten der Kriegsgefangenen und Internierten) verhaftet und dann zur Zwangsarbeit nach Russland verschleppt wurden. Dort mussten wir stellvertretend für das ganze deutsche Volk Reparationsleistungen erbringen unter unmenschlichen Bedingungen. Wir zahlten mit unserem Körper und unserer Seele für ein Verbrechen,…

  • Histories,  Prussia,  WW2

    Zum Gedenknis- In Memory

    For those who thought that WW2 was long over, a rude reminder of its horrors and brutality have once again surfaced in the former home of our Senger family.  In just the past year, more than 2000 people were found buried in a mass grave.  It is thought that all were killed/ died at the war’s end. To learn more please visit the site dedicated to their memory. An English article is at Der Spiegel.

  • Fanne Muster V, VI, XVI und XVII Armee Korps
    Histories,  Prussia,  WW1

    XVII. Armeekorps

    36th Division (German Empire) This is the major unit during WW1 to which we believe Richard Senger belonged and for which he fought on two fronts. The 36th Division was a component of the XVII Army Corps (Armeekorps). From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Note: the Wikipedia article was removed, a modified article is available) 36th Division (36. Division); from August 2, 1914, 36th Infantry Division (36. Infanterie-Division) Active 1890-1919 Country Prussia/Germany Branch Army Type Infantry (in peacetime included cavalry) Size Approx. 15,000 Part of XVII. Army Corps (XVII. Armeekorps) Garrison/HQ Danzig Engagements World War I: Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, 1st Masurian Lakes, Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive, Somme, Arras (1917), Passchendaele, Spring Offensive, St. Quentin, 2nd…

  • Histories,  Prussia

    Danzig History

    DANZIG / GDANSK This page is concerned with the history of the whole Danzig territory as set up in 1919, not only with the town of the same name. (Please note the site from which this history was duplicated and edited no longer is functioning: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Rotunda/)

  • Prussia,  Senger,  WW2

    The Sengers -1920 to 1944

    Richard Senger was a successful German farmer (Landwirt)  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, known simply as Onkel) and his sister-in-law Erna Recht (Tante Erna). The homestead and lands had been in the Senger family since before 1893; when the home was built by Richard’s father and mother, Michael & Adelgunde Senger. The Senger farm was located on the banks of the Nogat River in Zeyervorderkampen (Kreis Elbing in Grosses Werder). At the time of the establishment of Freie Staat Danzig in 1920, the farm was the first farm…

  • Expulsion - Vertriebenen,  Prussia,  Senger

    Richard Senger- The Long Road

    In late winter of 1944/45, the Senger’s farm was overrun and occupied by a command of the advancing Russian armies.  The family furniture and possessions were stolen by non-Germans;  the lives and history of the Senger family were unalterably, irretrievably changed. Only the Senger farm and two other farms in the village of Zeyersvorderkampen remained standing following the Soviet bombardment and artillery attacks which accompanied their nearly complete destruction and invasion of the area.  Ultimately, the Senger farm was left as the sole ‘undamaged’  farm in Zeyersvorderkampen. At first, the farm was used to house Soviet commanders; ultimately, possession of the farm, lands, buildings and few remaining possessions were confiscated…

  • Histories,  Our Families,  Prussia,  Senger

    Senger Family

    The Senger family had lived in Kreis Grosses Werder area of West Prussia since at least the late 1600’s. Both 20th Century World Wars took a heavy toll on the entire ‘clan’.  Many family members and all the Senger lands and possessions were either destroyed or taken. The those who were not killed in the fighting were forced to leave their homes as a result of the WW2 allies ethnic cleansing pograms following the defeat of Germany.  Along with as many as 12 million other Germans the Sengers were either force marched to work in Russian labor camps or left behind to work as slaves on their own lands. Finally…

  • Kreis Elbing,  WW2

    Zeyer- das Ende

    This article has been translated and reworked with family events. Erinnerungen eines Amtsvorstehers des Amtsbezirkes Zeyer. Johannes Jahn, Landwirt und Hofbesitzer in Zeyersvorderkampen. Der Amtsbezirk Zeyer lag in der nordöstlichsten Ecke des Freistaates Danzig, im Kreis Großes Werder und umfasste die Ortschaften Zeyer, Stuba und Schlangenhaken. Er zog sich entlang der Nogat, beginnend bei der Ortschaft Einlage bis zur Mündung der Nogat in das Frische Haff. Das Gesamtareal betrug etwa 2510 Hektar Davon fielen auf Zeyer 480 Hektar, Stuba mit der Ortschaft Neudorf circa 610 Hektar,Zeyersvorderkampen circa 1020 Hektar und Schlangenhaken 400 Hektar Die Gesamteinwohnerzahl betrug etwa 1735 Einwohnen deutscher Abstammung und Herkunft. Die Bevölkerung gehörte ausschließlich der Landwirtschaft und…

  • Prussia,  WW2

    Endkampf um Ostpreußen

    Source document may be found at: The Real Blaze source has been removed Die Panzerabwehrschlacht südlich Gumbinnen von Oberstleutnant a. D. W. Salomon Die Panzerabwehrschlacht war für den Kreis und die Stadt Gumbinnen von höchster Bedeutung. Sie vereitelte den Plan der Russen, durch einen Umgehungsvor­stoß über Nemmersdorf-Branden (Ischdaggen) nach Mallwen (Mallwischken, Kr. Pillkallen), Gumbinnen einzukesseln. Ein geglückter Vorstoß hätte viele Gumbinner Landsleute in die russische Gefangenschaft gebracht. Lagekarte Wie ernst die Lage war, geht daraus hervor, daß am 21. Oktober 1944 drei russische Panzer schon über die Bahnstrecke bei Bergenbrück (Sabadszuhnen) in Richtung Zweilinden (Stannaitschen) vorgestoßen waren. Der russische Führungs­panzer fuhr sich in dem sumpfigen Wiesengelände fest. Die Besatzung stieg…

  • Richard Senger circa 1952
    Prussia,  Senger

    Richard Senger -90th Birthday

    Richard Senger, einst Bauer in Westpreußen, feierte 90. Geburtstag Schwifting(m). Schnittblumen, Blumen­schalen, köstliche Getränke und weitere Prä­sente schmücken das Wohnzimmer im Hause ‘der Familie Senger in der Schwiftinger Sied­lung. Vor wenigen Tagen feierte der “Se­nior” des Hauses, Opa Richard Senger, sei­nen 90. Geburtstag. Anlaß genug für dieMitbürgerschaft, um Schwiftings derzeit altesten Mitbürger zu ehren und zu erfreuen, ihm ‘ die herzlichsten Glückwünsche für den weiteren Lebensabend mitzugeben. Richard Senger stammt aus Westpreußen. In seinen Adern fließt urwüchsiges bäuerli­ches Blut. Am 2. Februar 1879 wurde er in Zeyersvorderkampe bei Danzig geboren. Wie seine Eltern Bauern waren, so wurde auch Richard Senger Bauer, um einmal das Erbe seines Vaters, einen Stättlichen Hof,…

  • Prussia,  Senger,  WW2

    Erich Recht

    ZUM GEDENKEN Name: Erich Recht Dienstgrad: Gefreiter geboren: 12.02.1924, Tattamischken Truppenteil: 1./Pi. 198 Erkennungsmarke: -1-Marsch Komp.Eisb.Pi.Ers.Btl.4 Todestag: 09.09.1944 Todesort: Raum Vallecchio Bestattet: Gem.Montecolombo-Ca Menghino/Forli Feldgrab Umgebettet nach: Futa-Pass / Italien Block: 48 Grab: 815 821 Futa-Pass ist die größte deutsche Ehrenstätte des Zweiten Weltkrieges in Italien, auf der über 30 660 deutsche Gefallene ihre letzte Ruhestätte gefunden haben. Der weitaus größte Teil der dort Bestatteten ist in den vom Herbst 1944 bis zum April 1945 andauernden Kämpfen gefallen, die zwischen Carrara am Ligurischen Meer und dem Raum von Rimini an der Adria stattfanden. Die Gefallenen wurden von dem erfahrenen Fachpersonal des VOLKSBUNDES aus Feldgräbern und Gemeindefriedhöfen der umliegenden Provinzen auf…