Elbing Damals
Elbing as it once was (Elbing damals). These are images of Elbing in West Prussia- the City and its surrounding environs. The photos and images presented here precede the destruction and the German Expulsion – “Ethnic Cleansing” of the region by the allies following World War 2. Many of the photos here have been sourced from the web and are presented are under fair use rights. Most of our photos were originally published as postcards and have been enhanced for viewing in a web browser. | updated: 14 Feb 2011 2 Jan 2011 31 Dec 2010 26 Nov 2010 24 Nov 2010 8 Aug 2010 |
Should you happen to have any Photos of the following areas prior to the German Expulsion after WW2 (1947?) that you are willing to share with us, we would LOVE to hear from you (Please use our Contact page to get in touch):
- Elbing (Kreis Elbing)
- Ellerwald
- Grosses Werder
- Jungfer
- Stube
- Tiegenhof
- Zeyer- Zeyervorderkampen- Zeyerniederkampen -or-
- anywhere near that area of West/ East Prussia
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very nice – great to see the past
Hi Irina
I’m glad you enjoy the pictures. If you have others you’d like to share I am happy to place them here.
…mark
Wow – wonderful photos of “damals”.
Awesome cathedrals! In particular I was captivated by the photos of St. Annen and Heilige Leichnam 1, which relate to Ellerwald, 2 Trift and Ellerwald, 4 Trift respectively in the 1811 Census of Mennonites in the Elbing Territory. My question is would these two cathedrals in Elbing (city, I presume) be the same as the ones in Elbing Territory?
Thanks again,
Karin
Hello Karin,
Assuming by Territory you mean Kreis Elbing (more closely translated to Elbing County) then these were the Sankt Ahnen & Heilige Leichnam churches. Both were destroyed in WW2.
…mark
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO VISIT THE AREA IN THE NEAR FUTURE …. FRED C.
I have seen the Rabideau commentary on Kr.Heydekrug, OPr.
My g.grdfather SCHUETZ was b.1831 Laugallen, Kr.Heydekrug,
moved to Danzig c1855 and California 1890.
Good luck,
Wm Schultz, California
A little remark on the information. Elbing was a town in East Prussia (not West Prussia – Gdansk – Danzig was in West Prussia).
Besides – it is becoming more and more beautiful. Unfortunately – the war (Soviet) destruction and post war neglection of the Old Town made it be one of the “emptiest” towns in Poland. Now however after more than 20 years’ archaeological research of the center – we know more and more about its granddeur in the past times. It was the main town of the Teutonic State – it was the capital untill Malbork became the main site of power. More – Elbing was one of the big English collonies, as here Elisabeth I of England settled her Eastland Company. Well, there is so much to see here – even though the Soviet Army nearly thoroughly destroyed the place. Every year I come here with my Menninite guests, to admnire how the house of Jost van Kampen was restored, and how the “retroversion” is going on… My family came to Elbing in the beginning of the 16th century – so no wonder I love the place so much:)
Hi Katherine. Thank you for the note. As for the location of Elbing, over the years it was classified as both East Prussia and West Prussia (and as you point out today it is totally classed by the current Polish owners yet differently again- I believe its province name has changed under their ownership, at least, twice since WW2). I personally choose the West Prussia location ‘label’ because that is the classification accepted by the LDS Church on FamilySearch (see: http://tinyurl.com/7gpcayd ) where I access almost all the wedding, birth, death records I have come to rely upon. But as you may have noted, on ManyRoads you will see it labeled as both East & West-Prussia (depending upon when the information was authored and whether or not I have decided to edit & change the label. ATB. …mark