Donauschwaben Villages Helping Hands   Destination: The Americas Brazil Entre Rios | Sao Paulo | Immigration

The Danube Swabian Settlement of Entre Rios in Brazil By Stefan Teppert, M. A. Translated from German by Rose Vetter. Reviewed by Nick Tullius. Published at DVHH.org, 3 Oct 2020 by Jody McKim Pharr. Hardship and Exploration Establishment and Initial Difficulties Turnaround and Blossoming Achievements Diversification, Modernization Secret of Success, Track Record and Residual Risk Hardship and Exploration In the autumn of 1944, at the last hour, leaving behind all their possessions, a large part of the Danube Swabians of Yugoslavia fled westward, away from the Red Army. Tito's Partisans drove the non-evacuated German population out of their homes, liquidated the intelligentsia in mass shootings, put able-bodied workers into labor camps or deported them to Russia. The rest - mostly old people and children - were interned in starvation camps, where many died an agonizing death due to ill-treatment, disease or exhaustion. Those who were able to escape had to endure years of miserable existence in overflowing Austrian transit camps. Although Austria made an effort to provide an education for the refugees and helped to alleviate their plight, there was a need for a long-term perspective to build a new existence and to direct the refugee problem to a fundamental solution. Germany lay in ruins and was overcrowded; refugees were turned away at the border by the Allied occupiers. After several failed settlement attempts in Austria itself, emigration plans for overseas matured. Immediately after the end of the war, Michael Moor, a graduate engineer from India in Syrmia, had already been putting a lot of thought in this direction. He had been the head of the German agricultural cooperative association in Essegg (Osijek) and held the view that it would be more sensible for rural displaced persons in Austria to be resettled in large numbers in self-contained communities. With this concept, not only did the economic advantages of a coherent settlement play a role, but also the consideration that, thereby, the preservation of the German identity, the common spiritual heritage and the German language would be best served. Eng. Michael Moor, the first colony leader   At about the same time, Father Josef Stefan from Vukovar, whom Eng. Moor had known previously, concerned himself with the problem of emigration. Having just become a chaplain for the refugees in Salzburg, he joined forces with Moor. These two men provided the first impetus to the realization of a major emigration operation, although they were aware from the outset that, without a material basis and the logistical and financial support of an influential organization, such a project was doomed to failure.  Father Stefan found a sympathetic advocate in the Archbishop of Salzburg, Dr. Andreas Rohracher, but it was only through Father Stefan's contact with Monsignor Giuseppe Crivelli that a breakthrough could be achieved. Crivelli was director of the Swiss Caritas Association in Lucerne and Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis in Rome, as well as active with the Swiss European Aid (SEH) in Berne. Within a few years, he had developed Caritas, which had been widely stagnant until then, into an efficient relief organization of the war- and post-war period. At about the same time, Father Josef Stefan from Vukovar, whom Eng. Moor had known previously, concerned himself with the problem of emigration. Having just become a chaplain for the refugees in Salzburg, he joined forces with Moor. These two men provided the first impetus to the realization of a major emigration operation, although they were aware from the outset that, without a material basis and the logistical and financial support of an influential organization, such a project was doomed to failure.  Father Stefan found a sympathetic advocate in the Archbishop of Salzburg, Dr. Andreas Rohracher, but it was only through Father Stefan's contact with Monsignor Giuseppe Crivelli that a breakthrough could be achieved. Crivelli was director of the Swiss Caritas Association in Lucerne and Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis in Rome, as well as active with the Swiss European Aid (SEH) in Berne. Within a few years, he had developed Caritas, which had been widely stagnant until then, into an efficient relief organization of the war- and post-war period. Since the end of the war, Swiss Caritas Central, under Monsignor Crivelli, had been mediating for people wishing to emigrate to Brazil, where Dr. János Vayda from Budapest, as the permanent representative, led the negotiations with the Conselho de Imigracão e Colonisacão, i.e. the Council on Immigration and Settlement. Dr. Vayda was also entrusted with the task of safeguarding the interests of Swiss Aid for Europe (now SWISSAID). He would later play a decisive role in all negotiations relating to Entre Rios. The beginnings of the exploratory talks, as to whether and where settlement possibilities in Brazil existed for German refugees from South-Eastern Europe in Austria, date back to 1949. On December 22nd of that year, a Danube Swabian study commission was received in Rio de Janeiro. It consisted of Father Josef Stefan, agricultural engineer Michael Moor and Father K. H. Bormet. The organizational plan they presented was approved by the Brazilians; this also indicated the consent to the entry of those Danube Swabians who wished to immigrate within the framework of the Swiss European Aid.  Brazil, which had been declared an empire independent of Portugal in 1822, had a very positive experience with the immigration of Germans since the first half of the 19th century under Emperor Pedro I and his wife,  Leopoldine, daughter of the Austrian Emperor Franz I, hoped that with the help of the Danube-Swabian grain farmers, a turning point in agricultural policy could be achieved. This would actually occur later, whereby Brazil overcame its dependence on grain imports. Establishment and Initial Difficulties Even after World War II, the Brazilian government pursued a generous immigration policy. However, although the settlements created up to that point had been wrested from the jungle, now began the historic conquest of the open high steppes, the campos of Rio Grande do Sul, with the settlement of Campo Alto, as well as Paraná with the settlements of Witmarsum and Entre Rios. The settlement of Entre Rios is the youngest, and, at the same time, probably the most successful settlement of Germans in Brazil. It began on May 5th, 1951 with the establishment of the Agrária cooperative in the municipality of Guarapuava, but it was actually not until June 8th,1951, when the first settlers, accompanied by Swiss travel companions, entered the Entre Rios region. The pioneer group of 222 persons consisted of tradesmen, laborers, a priest, farmers and the management staff. In the Entre Rios region, 22 fazendas with a total of 9,000 alqueires paulista (1 alqueire = 24 200 square meters) "camp" land and forest in a contiguous area were available for purchase. The expert reports on soil conditions were favorable. Earlier it was thought that "camp" clearing was impossible, as there were no known means of destroying the many rough, often hard, deep-rooted samambaia shrubs. But with the help of the deep-reaching ploughs and tractors delivered by the Swiss European Aid, it was possible to conquer the soil, as well as the scrub and steppe grass, and also obtain manure. On the sparse, low grass steppes of this southern Brazilian region, only hard and sedge grasses, called campos limpos, thrive by nature. This steppe soil had never before been used intensively for agriculture. What followed now must, therefore, be described as a pioneering achievement. A new page was turned in the colonization history of Brazil. The settlers of Entre Rios proved that agriculture can also be practiced there, even as intensive and productive that this could become an important grain belt for the whole of Brazil. With this success, an old dream of Pedro II, the son of Empress Leopoldine, had come true, namely, to transform the landscape of the campos in the interior of Paraná into a cultural region and a farming area.   Youth portrait Maria Leopoldine of Austria (1797-1826) She was Empress of Brazil from 1822 to 1826 Heir to the throne Pedro II (1825-1891). He was Emperor of  Brazil from 1831 to 1889 (photography 1876) Thanks to well-conceived and farsighted collaboration of all forces, to supranational planning, to development aid from Switzerland, the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria, but above all, thanks to creative diligence and unwavering self-help, the Danube Swabian colony of Entre Rios stands as proof of an "economic miracle".  Despite various crop failures and resulting financial problems, Entre Rios has for decades been considered one of the most productive and healthy communities in Brazil, a country as large as Europe, the fifth largest in the world, in terms of both area and population. Until success would come to Entre Rios, the settlers had to persevere and be steadfast despite the failures and show a high willingness to sacrifice. The establishment of this settlement was a daring venture, and crushing setbacks were inevitable in the beginning. Many a newcomer would have preferred to turn around and return to Europe, had it not been for lack of funds. From June 1951 to February 1952, seven transports with the deep-sea vessel "Provence" out of Genoa and Le Havre, carrying 2,446 settlers - 500 families - arrived in Entre Rios in the central highlands of Paraná, between the Jordão und Pinhão Rivers, about 700 km southwest of São Paulo. Arrival of a transport with the ship "Provence" in the port of Santos in 1951 The displaced farmers came equipped with only one suitcase per person and high hopes; most of them longed to be able to work their own land again. During the settlement, Michael Moor was able to realize his plan of allowing family groups to remain together. At that time, Brazil was the only immigration country prepared to accept old people, the unemployable and children as new citizens. However, the Brazilian immigration authorities were mindful of attracting skilled farmers and trained craftsmen. The government authorities assured the Danube Swabians that they would be able to cultivate their language and culture freely in their new homeland. Thus, all the conditions were met to make them feel at home again. Most of the settlers came from Slavonia, many also from Syrmia and the Batschka, a smaller number from the Yugoslav and Romanian Banat.     The steppe regions, which, at the beginning of the 19th century had profoundly impressed the French naturalist, Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, with its lovely, idyllic landscapes and its gentle people, still characterize Paraná today, although most of the former primeval forests have been cleared. These subtropical zones distinguish themselves from tropical Brazil through a temperate climate, which is also due to an altitude of up to 1,100 meters. This is a pleasant average temperature for Europeans, fluctuating between 13 degrees Celsius in July and 30 degrees in January. Frosts can occur from May to October. It is therefore not possible to grow coffee, sugar cane, bananas or other frost-sensitive plants. Precipitation is spread over the whole year, but snowfalls are very rare. The first Danube Swabian colonists who had advanced to the natural pastures of Entre Rios, were impressed by the vast plain, the plant cover of the camp land and the temperate climate. The seemingly immeasurable, partly treeless plateau, dotted with groves and small forests, and interspersed with a number of captivating small and large waterfalls, must have appeared beautiful and inviting to them. The men took several soil samples, tested their acidity and drove with them to Curitiba, the capital of Paraná, where they submitted an application to the Agriculture Office to settle this land. Their decision was based on several factors: On the one hand, they found a deep layer of soil, and its pH content was more promising than in the previously explored regions in Campos Gerais or in the state of Goiás. (The pH value of the soil measures the availability of nutrient salts which are important for plant growth). On the other hand, the nearby county capital of Guarapuava was connected to the railway network, an invaluable advantage of the infrastructure. All in all, the topography of the area, a slightly undulating plateau, was completely convincing, opening up the perspectives to fully mechanized agriculture.   The settlement commission succeeded in acquiring 22,000 hectares of pasture and woodland in the Entre Rios region. Swiss European Aid provided around nine million Swiss francs for the land purchase, the transports and the construction of the settlement. This money was also used to buy the following equipment in Europe: tractors and other agricultural machinery, trucks, a sawmill and a steam-driven power station. The settlement also received a wide range of support in Brazil itself, however, the settlers had to apply for further loans from banks and government agencies. In 1960, the last loans were repaid, thus, the Danube Swabians, considered as a cooperative, have been debt-free ever since. The araucaria is an integral part of the savanna of Paraná. It is Brazil's only conifer that stretches its magnificent crown on a branchless trunk into the subtropical sky like a multi-armed candelabra. Along the rivers around Entre Rios, these trees, also called pinheiros, densify into gallery forests. There the settlers cut the building material with a hand saw, when, under the direction of Eng. Michael Moor, they began to build a main village with offices and central businesses, as well as four other settler villages. The location of the five villages was laid out in an elliptical form, with the distance from village to village being 3 to 5 km. The villages were named after the old land names: the main village of Vitória, which means "victory", the second village of Jordãozinho - "little river", the third, Cachoeira - "waterfall", the fourth, Socorro - "help", the fifth, Samambaia - "fern". Most of the time, however, the German-speaking inhabitants speak of only the "first", "second" or "third" village, etc., whereby the sequence refers to the arrival of the refugee groups and the founding date of the individual villages.  Brazilian araucaria near the main village of Vitória (Photo: Stefan Teppert) The first ship transported primarily craftsmen, such as carpenters, cabinet makers, blacksmiths and tinsmiths. In the port of Santos, they loaded the tools they had brought from Europe onto a lumber train, with which they and their belongings arrived in Entre Rios after a bumpy five-day journey. There they initially built communal barracks as temporary shelters for the gradually arriving pioneers.  The ocean liner "Provence", which brought the emigrants from Genoa to Santos, Brazil Each of the villages was designed according to the old style of the Vienna Court Chamber in the typical spacious Danube Swabian grid pattern. The cooperative allocated a half hectare per family for their houses, along with a whole hectare as a threshing floor on the edge of the village. Additionally, the head of each family received 15 hectares of camp land and four hectares of forest for the use of firewood. After moving into their houses, the settlers immediately built small chicken and pig stalls, planted fruit trees and grape vines. The women planted vegetable gardens and adorned them with flowers and shrubs. They planted fast-growing eucalyptus trees along the main roads, giving the impression of village avenidas. It was only through consistent teamwork that the difficult initial stage could be successfully completed - only in this way could the construction of roads, the building of 500 residential buildings, a school and a church for each village, shops, warehouses, community buildings and a sawmill be completed expeditiously. Initially, the settlers were obliged to join the cooperative, "Cooperativa Agrária", later the membership became voluntary. Carried over from the Danube Swabian tradition in Slavonia, where there had been an agricultural "Agraria"; cooperative before, and headed by the first colony leader, Michael Moor, the Cooperativa Agrária has remained to this day a regulator and shock absorber for marketing and crop failures, stock exchange and procurator of the settlement. It has generally developed into the democratically elected administrative center of the colony and also carries out the tasks of culture and external representation. Consecration of the church bell in Socorro 1954 The collective work, lasting from the clearing to the cultivation of the land, ended on April 1st, 1953. The farmers thus gained their independence and became owners of their farms or businesses. On the average, aside from the fields, every family owned one or two heads of cattle, some pigs, fowl and agricultural equipment. Since the maintenance support on credit was discontinued at the same time by the cooperative "Agrária", and the farmers did not yet have their own income, many of them were forced to look for work in the cities, especially in São Paulo, in order to be able to support their families. Those who could not send family members to the city found themselves in a precarious situation. First school lessons in the settlement 1951/1952 (Heimatmuseum Entre Rios, photographer unknown) In the beginning, everything depended on the first harvest successes. However, these successes did not materialize at first. The settlers were neither aware of the proper growing season, nor of the required type of fertilization and mineral supply. No one was able to advise them. They sowed too early, stored too high and were surprised by night frosts. The equipment and machines delivered from Germany proved to be unsuitable for the local conditions. Thus, the wheat harvest rotted in the heavy downpours, and the barley was ploughed under because a harvest was not worthwhile. The situation was no better with dry- or highland rice: in the fiscal year 1953-1954, only 700 of the 1,000 hectares cultivated could be harvested, because many rice fields were completely covered by grass due to lack of manpower. Ploughing in the early days (Photo: Karl Schäffer) The resulting financial crisis of the settlement contributed to the growing dissent of the settlers toward the president of the Agrária, Michael Moor. He was subsequently forced to submit his resignation at the general meeting on October 25, 1954. He then left Entre Rios and died in Austria in 1963; he was only 61 years old. Fate had not been kind to the planner and founder of this amazing settlement; he received little gratitude for his commitment in serving his compatriots, who were all he had left after losing his son and all his possessions in World War II. However, the question of how unselfish his commitment really was would require a closer examination.  Only the third harvest in Entre Rios was satisfactory, and only gradually did the farmers attain the cultivation methods and crops that the low-humus latosol soil tolerates. It particularly lacks phosphorus, lime, nitrogen and potash, which necessitates a strong fertilization with basic Bessemer slag and formal fertilizer for agriculture. But before these findings could be reached and the corresponding countermeasures could be initiated, the settlement plunged into an existential crisis. The farms were too small and the fields were poorly parceled, the crop failures were piling up, the knowledge of the soil and climate conditions was insufficient, the lack of money was chronic. Only a few farmers succeeded in increasing their holdings and achieving a certain prosperity through leasing and rice cultivation. For others, it was hardly enough for self-sufficiency. Many families were forced to give up. The constant pressure of the existential concerns since the end of the war, the fear of an uncertain future, but also the attraction of the "German Economic Miracle", as well as good professional opportunities in the Brazilian cities caused as many as 54 percent of the settlers to leave Entre Rios up to 1970. Needless to say, those who were left behind were also unsettled by this. The survival of the colony was balanced on a knife-edge. Would the Danube Swabians fail, as several thousand Russia Germans had failed a century earlier, trying to grow wheat on the savanna of Paraná as they had done back on the Volga? Only a few of their forgotten villages remain, and their poor fourth-generation descendants are in a hopeless struggle to survive. Turnaround and Blossoming The decisive turning point in Entre Rios did not occur until 1966, when Mathias Leh, 29 years of age, took over the leadership of Agrária. With him, a younger, dynamic generation came to head the cooperative, as well as administrate the five villages. They were already familiar with the Brazilian conditions and the local Brazilian-Portuguese language. Leh strengthened the cooperative, procured new land outside the settlement area and carried out an internal land reform, under which 14,000 hectares were cleared. Small fazendas were purchased by the Agrária and sold back to the respective neighbors. The purpose of this procedure was to compensate the farmers who had been short-changed in the initial land distribution, and to produce farm sizes of around 100 hectares each. Such holdings, which are large by European standards, are appropriate for this region, given that the soils produce an average of only about half as much as good European soils.   This internal agricultural reform has received attention in Brazil and beyond. Universities and parliamentary agricultural committees showed interest in this; during the revision of the Brazilian constitution a few years ago, the example of this agricultural reform was highlighted in parliament. In November 1990, Brazilian television stations broadcast the visit of Mr. Cabrera, Minister of Agriculture, to the Danube Swabians. By collaborating with the settlement, he intended to seek a solution to the national agricultural problems. The land reform of Presidente Leh demanded a lot of diligence and discipline of the peasants. But thanks to his leadership skills and his resourcefulness in exploring resources and aid, this renewal saved the settlement. A metamorphosis of peasant diligence to diplomatic civility had become personified in the president of the Agrária and triggered a revolution from above. Leh attracted specialized personnel from Brazil and abroad and thus achieved a considerable increase in production. Confidence and credit rebounded, followed by recovery and prosperity. President Mathias Leh in his office in the administration building of the Agrária in 1992 (Photo: Stefan Teppert) Today, it is a matter of course that, in addition to agronomists, the Agrária is also staffed with veterinarians and agricultural technicians, and is equipped with a modern agricultural experimental station. They immediately pass on new findings to the farmers, counsel them and give appraisals for financing. Originating in 1968 from a project of the German Development Aid, this experimental station with 300 hectares of experimental land has gained trans-regional importance and has led to close contacts with Brazilian and German research institutes. It is indeed worth investing in this type of field research; it has long since become the engine of agricultural development. In addition to the productiveness of the soil, experts are investigating cultivation problems and testing new varieties and seeds, plant protection, fertilizers, crop rotations and intermediate crops. On excursions to other regions of Brazil, farmers learn about achievements in agriculture and livestock farming; during well-attended field visits in Entre Rios with interested parties from the immediate and wider area, an analysis can be made of their own research results. In order to get to know the agricultural development status abroad, small groups of farmers and members of the cooperative are occasionally sent to the USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Holland, Argentina and Uruguay. All these information-gathering measures are intended to ensure that farms are managed in a modern, efficient, rational and environmentally-friendly manner with the widest possible radius of diversification. Achievements The climate of Entre Rios allows farmers to harvest two crops a year. Summer crops include soy, corn and rice, while barley, wheat and oats are sown in winter. With the aid of a huge machinery park and the assistance of technical consultants - incidentally, fully mechanized agriculture was introduced in Paraná by the Danube Swabians - they now achieve a total production of 250,000 tonnes during good years. In contrast, the first harvest in 1951/1952 had yielded merely 1,300 tonnes. Today, a cultivated area of about 105,000 hectares is worked. On the average, farmers own about 250 hectares, quite a few even 1,000 hectares. It is worth noting that some fazendas are located up to 120 km away from the villages, simply because there was no more land available near the settlement. As early as 1956, the Danube Swabians provided 37 percent of Paraná’s grain. In 1971, they produced 10% of the total Brazilian wheat harvest. The cooperative does not only provide technical advice, arrange loans, buy fertilizers, plant protection products and fuel in bulk, but also manages the storage and marketing of the products. For decades, the Agrária has been a permanent construction site due to the constantly increasing yields. Between harvests, workers in the industrial sector are called on to expand the receiving and storage facilities. Today, the cooperative, including the branches completed in the Guarapuava transshipment location in 1992 and 2009, has at its disposal a warehouse storage capacity of around 400,000 tonnes. Seeds are also produced in Entre Rios and are tested and graded by the cooperative. The additional step was to take the refinement of agricultural products under their own direction. A wheat mill and a rice peeling plant were installed. The cooperative facilities are equipped with the newest state-of-the-art technology, including the electronic testing system at the grain delivery station, a modern germination-testing laboratory, warehouses, high silos with a capacity of 160,000 tonnes, modern seed storage, huge artificial fertilizer halls, a feed mixing plant and well-equipped workshops. The most prominent project, however, is the malthouse, which commenced operation in 1981 and has gradually developed together with the Antárctica Brewery. Since Brazil was dependent on imports of large quantities of malt, its construction was also in the national interest, as beer with a lower alcohol content than in Germany is increasingly becoming one of the most popular drinks in Brazil. At just under 48 liters per capita per year, Brazilian beer consumers are ranked ninth in the world. In 1986, Cooperativa Agrária took over the Antárctica share and has gradually developed the entire production process since then. The malthouse is a subsidiary of the cooperative, but operates as an independent company under the "Agromalte" name. Through the malting plant, the Danube Swabians initially became the largest producers of brewing barley in Brazil and the second largest in the whole of South America. The malthouse processed a large part of Brazilian brewing barley, and in 2008 supplied over 140,000 tonnes of malt, a quantity that could easily meet the needs of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. A further expansion of production capacity by 80,000 tonnes cost the Agrária 164 million reals, the largest investment it has ever made; the money has been raised largely by public banks, but also partly by own funds. The new project took 16 months to complete. It was officially inaugurated on October 2nd , 2009 in the presence of 600 guests, including prominent personalities in politics and business from all over Brazil. Since January 2010, Agromalte has been delivering 220,000 tonnes per year, making it one of the ten largest malthouses in the world.   Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new industrial complex includes a 60-meter high tower, a greenhouse, two furnaces heated with renewable energy (wood and grain waste), a new scale, a truck parking lot, 26 new silos - 10 of them in Vitória and 16 at the Guarapuava branch. As well, a new building for the laboratory and the canteen has been built, and the sewage treatment system has been expanded. Industrial complex of the Agrária with Agromalte today (Photo: Cooperativa Agrária Mista Entre Rios Ltda.) From genetic research to the production of seeds, harvesting, storage and processing, the cooperative controls all the steps in the production of raw materials for high-quality beer. For a relatively crisis-proof and constantly growing market, Agromalte now generates almost 40 percent of the cooperative income of Entre Rios, and barley has become almost synonymous with the settlement. Agromalte provides a wide range of malt products to all Brazilian breweries and holds a market share of 20 percent of the total Brazilian demand of 1.2 million tonnes. Those who drink a Brazilian beer nowadays will almost certainly enjoy the know-how of the Danube Swabians. Agromalte provides more than 330 jobs, but has indirectly created around 3,000, in view of the fact that it is linked to a reforestation program for the production of firewood. This not only secures the supply of cheap energy to the settlement, but also contributes to the preservation of the original landscape. 150 Luso-Brazilian workers, called Caboclos, are employed by the cooperative for this purpose and are integrated into the medical care network of the settlement.   The medical care of the entire population in the catchment area of Entre Rios can be provided with a modern hospital. For many years, it has been part of the responsibility of the cooperative to take care of the poorer Brazilian fellow citizens. The creation of new jobs and a large influx of people were also accompanied by social problems. Schools, residences, playgrounds and a church preaching in the native tongue were built for the new citizens. Around 8,000 indigenous workers are employed in Entre Rios. Catholic nuns, whose work is paid for by the Agrária, tend to the social and educational needs, especially for newly-arrived working-class families. A new convent has been built for the sisters.   The management of the Agrária has also reorganized the school system. Its shortcomings had been one reason why many young families had turned their backs on Entre Rios. In 1971, the central school, Colégio Imperatriz Dona Leopoldina, with classes ranging from kindergarten to university entrance level, was founded in the main village of Vitória with funds from the German Development Aid. Up-to-date facilities are provided by the school, including an extensive library, biology-, physics- and chemistry laboratories, practice computers and a language laboratory with over 1,000 German language videos.  In the language laboratory While the kindergarten is German-speaking, the mandatory state-controlled school program takes effect in the first school year. However, German is a compulsory subject for all, including students of old-Brazilian descent. German lessons, as well as the posting of teaching staff, are supported financially by the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria. School buildings in the main village Vitória (Photo: Jakob Lichtenberger) The primary objectives of the colégio are to provide young people with an all-encompassing, high-standard education - which should also incorporate German history dating back to at least the previous century - to cultivate the German language, and, of course, to prepare them as the successor generation for Entre Rios. Excellent entrance examinations at various universities in Brazil provide recognition for the school and also attract students from elsewhere. Among the up to 500 students are scholarship holders from the Austrian settlements of Dreizehnlinden in Santa Catarina and Carlos Pfannl in the neighboring country of Paraguay. Entre Rios is becoming increasingly attractive, as the economic successes are also accompanied by the cultural ones. Among the important pillars of pedagogy are the school center, where the school-aged children are cared for and guided to use their free time in a meaningful way, as well as the youth center, where students aged over 15 years meet and journalistically act in their own cause. For three decades, the Casa Austria dormitory in the state capital of Curitiba, co-financed by Austria and its state of Tyrol, has been reserved for the students. Entre Rios offers various evening courses for adult education, and a beautiful recreation center with a lake is available for the whole community. Postcard of Entre Rios with cultural groups Being aware of the importance of their popular cultural heritage, and drawing on the experience of life abroad for two and a half centuries, the settler community strives to cultivate its German tradition, passing on its heritage to the youth and making them receptive to what their ancestors brought with them. The "Schwowe" still erect their maypole, attend the Kirchweihfest, play Schafskopf (a card game), dance in traditional, as well as Brazilian costume, and take part in marching bands. They sing old folk songs and partake in zither-, guitar- and accordion groups, church choirs, brass bands and the mixed Donauschwabenchor. In the cultural center, named after Matthias Leh, popular German-language plays are staged; a museum illustrates the settlement history of Entre Rios; the archive collects all documents relevant to the eventful history of the colony and makes them available for research. In Entre Rios, translated as “the land between the rivers”, the life and well-being of each individual and the community as a whole are dependent on the growth and thriving of the crops and livestock, on favorable weather and natural conditions - in a word, from nature. And nature, in turn, lies in God's hands, despite all human influence. The farmer owes a debt of humility and gratitude to a higher, sacred power, and a piety rooted in descent and traditions are the cornerstones of cohesion. Should this religiosity one day become subject to mere profit, then this colony would be in a bad way. About 90 percent of the Danube Swabians and an even higher proportion of the old Brazilian population of Entre Rios belong to the Roman Catholic Church. In addition to five Catholic churches, there is also a Protestant church in Cachoeira. The parish church of St. Michael in Vitória is an architectural and artistic gem. Designed by Gerold Reutter of Wernau, it is expressively illuminated with colorful leaded glass windows by artist Josef de Ponte of Budaörs. The religious customs are maintained in similar ways to those of the old homeland, however, with the inevitable adjustments. For example, you cannot find spruce or fir trees here at Christmas, but there are prickly pines. Thanks to the German model, one can hardly find a family in southern Brazil today that does not decorate a Christmas tree and sing the Brazilian version of "Silent Night". Church window by Josef de Ponte in Vitória In memory of the cruel fate suffered by the youngest German ethnic group in Yugoslavian extermination camps, the emigrants take part in a pilgrimage every summer to the chapel in the middle of their five villages. They are survivors and descendants of a genocide that to this day has received shamefully little notice. Years ago, believers interned in the extermination camps Rudolfsgnad and Gakowa, together with Father Wendelin Gruber, had vowed to make an annual pilgrimage if they survived the inferno. Similar to Altötting or Bad Niedernau, crosses with the names of the death camps are carried through the corn- and soy fields in each of these pilgrimages. Pilgrimage to the Chapel of St. Mary ca. 1968/1969  (Heimatmuseum, photographer unknown) Many of the achievements that would be taken for granted by a European had to be tediously carved out and fought for by the settlers of Entre Rios. For instance, the villages were without electric light for years. It was not until 1981 that Samambaia became the last village to be connected to the central water supply. Today, the settlement, specifically the Agrária, has an expanded telephone network with modern auxiliary devices such as fax and telex. Danube Swabian sales strategists use computers to retrieve the latest status of the Chicago Grain Exchange. Since 1987, the newspaper, Jornal de Entre Rios, has been published biweekly with 3,000 copies; in 1994 it was replaced by the monthly small-format Entre Rios Revista; and since November 2005 it has been succeeded by the very attractive monthly magazine, Zeitschrift Entre Rios. For many years, the annual economic reports of the cooperative were prime examples of creative design delight. Of course, the local radio station cannot be overlooked. Daily broadcasts are aired for 18 hours in the national and German languages, reaching half a million listeners within a radius of 200 km. Radio Entre Rios is the only radio station in Brazil that broadcasts news in German. The ratings prove how popular the station's program is, even with the long-established population. The cultural center, inaugurated at the 40th anniversary in 1992, is impressive as well. With a capacity of 600 people, it holds 15 adjoining rooms for music- and acting lessons, events and meetings. A three-story administration building, staffed with 200 employees, has been built for the cooperative. It also serves as a town hall and economic center. The administrative center of the Agrária, inaugurated in 1992 (Photo: Stefan Teppert) The 40th anniversary was observed with a variety of ceremonies, celebrations, dedications, a pilgrimage, a historic procession, balls and parties for a whole week, hosting 600 foreign guests. At the same time, the new wheat- and rye mill was inaugurated. As well, the hospital "Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis" was opened, with two operating rooms, a maternity ward with incubators and a capacity of 40 hospital beds. In addition, 70 dwellings for employees were ready for occupancy. At the 45th anniversary five years later, the new kindergarten in Vitória, the clubhouse and the parish hall of the Lutheran church in Cachoeira were dedicated. As a respectful recognition of the initial construction efforts, a plaque commemorates the pioneers of the settlement. As a further testimonial honoring the parents and ancestors, an electronic device in the museum helps every settler retrieve his or her family tree on the PC. A local family book for Entre Rios has also been available since 1998. In memory of the president of the settlement, Mathias Leh, who died in 1994, and who can be described as the savior and benefactor of Entre Rios, the cultural center was festively christened in his name. The architectural and town planning dimensions of Entre Rios are considerable and can certainly compete with those in this country. So, it was Hanns Gottfried Kusch, the former planning director of Sindelfingen and architect of that city’s Haus der Donauschwaben, who, as a great friend of the settlement, developed more than 400 projects free of charge, including the hospital, the museum and seven house prototypes - even a townhouse, as building sites have become scarce. According to this farsighted planner, the infrastructure of the settlement needs to be expanded; an artisan and commercial middle class is needed to strengthen crisis-resilience. In his opinion, all five villages can grow together in the long term. Relations within the German-speaking cultural sphere are indispensable to the colonists, as they have contributed decisively to what Entre Rios has become, surely not only in economic and social terms. The cultural exchange is also very well maintained. The “transplanted planters”, who have long since felt at home in a distant land, perceive the tolerant maxim of the former governor of Paraná as a mandate. During his visit to Entre Rios in 1978, Jayme Canet had said: "Respect the customs of Brazil and hold firm to the ways of your fathers!" With this orientation, the Danube Swabians integrate well into southern Brazilian society, which is characterized by the coexistence of numerous ethnic groups. Young people, in particular, not only respect the customs of Brazil, but they have already become ingrained in them, not only in terms of samba- and lambada rhythms, the joy of dancing, singing and the intense enjoyment of the moment, but they are loyal citizens of Brazil and present themselves proudly in their Brasilianidade. On the other hand, the German heritage is important and effective, partly still present and partly appropriated. Special emphasis is placed on the need for the youth get to know the homeland of their ancestors and to travel to Germany, Austria and South-Eastern Europe. Exchange students are sent to secondary and vocational schools in Germany.  Many dance- and instrumental groups have already taken part in European tours and have taken the opportunity to visit the Danube Swabian institutes there. Just recently, the theatre group of the settlement presented a series of guest performances, earning the admiration of audiences in Europe. Since the city of Rastatt, Germany took over the sponsorship of Entre Rios in 1988, a symbolically important step toward transatlantic solidarity has been taken. Theatre group "Thomas Schwarz" on their European tour in May/June 2010 at the ancestral emigration monument in Ulm Diversification, Modernization Since Entre Rios did not stop at agricultural production, but rather processed the products internally to the consumption stage, the next step in the economic development was to rely on additional footholds, in order to be well prepared against fluctuations in demand and prices. With a market-oriented strategy of diversification, the Danube Swabians of Entre Rios have developed more areas in production and service over the past twenty years. Today, some entrepreneurs grow flowers, vegetables and apples, and raise small animals, pigs, water buffaloes, horses or fish. They distill spirits and brew beer according to the German purity law, and repair their defective agricultural machinery themselves. In addition to the long-existing supermarket and the mini-market, various stores have been opened by women - for clothing, perfumes, toiletries, gifts, knitwear, bed linens, bath towels and accessories, as well as educational toys. The residents between the rivers have even discovered tourism as an income source. The region surrounding the five villages offers beautiful scenery to admire, including about thirty waterfalls, all of which are located less than 15 km from the main village of Vitória. Combined with the need for expert guided tours and souvenirs, the hospitality industry is growing. One of the smaller waterfalls in the Entre Rios area (Photo: Stefan Teppert) In the face of the breathtaking destruction of natural forests through slash-and-burn, especially in Brazil's tropical rainforests, the pollution of rivers and lakes, and the ever-threatening climate change, new laws are constantly being enacted in Brazil to preserve and restore the still intact natural landscapes. A greater consciousness of the environment has also found its way into Entre Rios. The cooperative has made it its mission to show respect for nature by concrete actions. The reforestation program, begun decades ago, was only a first step in this direction. Another was the introduction of direct sowing at the end of the 1970’s, which significantly reduced the use of artificial fertilizers and spraying agents. Soil erosion was also minimized by the direct sowing into the stubble of harvested fields. However, the sensitized ecological awareness of the farmers has not yet led them to convert to organic farming and to entirely abandon pesticides and herbicides. Too often, economic factors are still cited against the viable abandonment of chemicals. But, in the long term, the consequences for the soil are disastrous. More and more fertilization will be necessary before the soil is completely depleted. Then, overexploitation will take revenge and the farmer will have deprived himself of the basis of his existence.  In 2002, the Agrária created an environmental department. So far, it does not sufficiently address the depletion of the soil, but it is making an effort to reduce noise levels and dust emissions at the receiving facilities. Recyclable materials are collected in containers. Special importance is given to the correct disposal of the still toxic containers of plant protection products; 94 percent of them now land in central depots in order to be disposed of in recycling locations. Farmers receive certificates from the cooperative for compliance with environmentally friendly regulations if they set aside 20 to 30 percent of their agricultural land, for example, leaving 30 meters along the banks of a creek untouched, in order to restore the original vegetation. Weigand Greenhouse in Socorro Those who visit the settlement today are amazed at how such a rapid and consequential development could take place within six decades, especially in a notoriously indebted country that for a long time did not emerge from an inflationary, permanent crisis of purchasing power. Despite all the setbacks, Entre Rios is a thriving community, an employer of many people and the largest taxpayer in the region. The settlement has also improved the living conditions of the old-established and newly-arrived population, raised its educational standards and helped to prevent the rural exodus and proletarization in the Brazilian metropolises. Of course, it was only able to accomplish all this because of the previously existing economic potential that has become a major factor for the whole of Brazil. For the past 15 years, the basic government framework conditions for Entre Rios have improved. Since the introduction of the real, the new currency, and its associated stabilization plan in 1994, hyperinflation has been eradicated and the economy has been expanded. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been successful, in an impressive way, in combining the social equity with the interests of the economy. Even during the global financial crisis, Brazil's financial sector remained remarkably solid, the economy showed strong growth in 2010 and 2011, and the tropical realm of 191 million people has awakened to its potential. Secret of Success, Track Record and Residual Risk If we were to ask ourselves about the secret of the settlement's success, i.e. what factors interacted to enable such a rapid and exemplary development, we must consider the colonizing capabilities of the settlers as a prerequisite for everything else. The Danube Swabians brought their experience as agriculturists from Pannonia. In addition to agricultural engineering progressiveness, this includes a visionary steadfastness of the pioneers, tenacious diligence, constant willingness to learn and the rapid application of what has been learned. All this was continuously available in Entre Rios. The prosperity of the settlement is a direct result of many years of intensive and honest work. The fact that many companies prefer agricultural products such as oats, soy, maize, malt, or fattened pigs and beef from Entre Rios, despite slightly higher prices, is simply due to their quality. Customers trust Entre Rios products for the following reasons: They are produced under clean and healthy conditions, properly handled and stored; shipments are correctly weighted and bad grain is not mixed in; the recommendations of the consulting department are implemented; and the best possible technical standard is binding in all stages of production. As a reliable business partner, the Agrária enjoys a good reputation all the way to the federal capital city of Brasilia. It often costs effort and money to meet high quality requirements of agricultural products, as well as in business and finance, but the effort - as one is well aware in Entre Rios - is doubly repaid with interest. The foundation for this economic strength was already laid by the vision of the settlement’s founders, i.e. the members of the settlement commission under Michael Moor. They chose the geographically ideal location. This situation is in contrast to those German settler groups that settled in jungle canyons a century and a half earlier, were then left to their fate and were even completely forgotten by the rest of the world. The distances from Entre Rios to consumer centers, on the other hand, are not too far, but far enough to avoid the damaging influences of the metropolises. The slightly undulating type of land made it possible from the very beginning to use machines and modern agricultural technology. As there was ample availability of undeveloped camp land and high steppes in the vicinity, the farms could expand to economical ownership sizes. Major highways and a railway line traversing the region also constitute a favorable infrastructure. Aspects such as the almost unknown village settlement contributed to the success of the settlement as well, strengthening cohesion, mutual assistance and identity awareness of the settlers. The central administration in a proven cooperative organization brought synergy effects in all areas of community life, from business to culture to health care and care for the elderly. We cannot ignore the benefit of a peaceful period since the end of the war. It enabled a straightforward development without hostility and repression, to which former German settlements in Brazil had been exposed, especially after World War I. Last but not least, we must mention the extensive and varied start-up and development aid that Entre Rios enjoyed. However, it was never a provision of resources, but rather start-up aid. Let us briefly summarize how the astonishing performance of this young colony has been reflected in placements and awards, recognition, praise and positive resonance from the outside world. According to a survey conducted in 1993 by the large daily newspaper, Indústria e Comércio, in the state capital of Curitiba, as to which companies contributed the most to the development of the state of Paraná, whether in the economic-financial or the social sphere, the Agrária Cooperative of Entre Rios was in the leading position. A certificate was awarded for this achievement in a ceremonial setting in the presence of many government representatives of the government in Curitiba.   According to a list published by the Exame magazine in 2003, Entre Rios is one of the largest and best enterprises in Brazil. Within the scope of the 500 largest companies, based on the volume of sales, the Agrária ranked in 370th place. Under the classification by points, on the other hand, the cooperative was in 11th place. In another schedule, titled "The Best" (classified by points), the cooperative appears in 5th place. Center of São Paulo (postcard) Restricted to the southern region of Brazil, the cooperative of the Danube Swabians ranges in 4th place, according to the list of the Exame magazine - rated according to earnings per employee - and even ranks 2nd out of a total of 10 companies, within the criteria of growth, investment, market leadership and liquidity. A Brazil-wide competition in 2004 by Globo Rural magazine in the categories "Professional Management" and "Social Responsibility" also proves that the Agrária is one of the largest and best companies in Brazil. On that occasion, the Danube Swabian cooperative won first place. The esteem shown for the settlement of Entre Rio and its settlers is expressed not least in honoring its highest representative, former president, Mathias Leh. In 1989, the House of Representatives of the southern Brazilian state bestowed on him the highest honor available: For his outstanding merits for the welfare of the settlement and his new homeland of Brazil, he was named an honorary citizen of Paraná. The laudators stressed that Entre Rios was a model, not only for the region, but for all of Brazil. The Governor of Paraná described Entre Rios as one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in South America. So much for the small synopsis of the recognition bestowed on Entre Rios. It could, of course, be extended to the successes of individuals, such as Fazendeiro Reinhofer, who won an almost incalculable number of trophies for his cattle, or Uschi Pettinger, a Danube-Swabian girl from Vitória, who, among 350,000 applicants, reached the final of the Super Model Show in Sao Paulo in 2002, and has been at home on the catwalks of the world ever since. However, while drawing a final stroke under the unparalleled success stories, rather than appearing as one who paints a rosy picture of everything, I have to note that Entre Rios is not an all-around perfect world either. Tough conflicts are waged, both hidden and in broad daylight; there are problems, such as poverty, alcoholism, fraud, illegal enrichment, broken marriages and vicious intrigues.   The strong in-migration has inevitably led to the emergence of dismal favelas on the outskirts of Entre Rios. There, the poorest live in makeshift huts made up of boards, corrugated sheet metal and tarpaulins, in the vague hope of getting a share of the wealth. However, as the large landowners are acquiring increasingly larger and more labor-saving machines, more and more agricultural workers are losing their jobs. Once they can no longer afford the rent for their modest cottages, they have to move out. Empty and run-down workers' domiciles are as much a part of the street scene of the successful community as neglected children and loitering young people. Since the time of settlement, problems have existed and lingered on. It is notable, however, that the colony has weathered all the crises, and it has steadily progressed and grown despite immense difficulties. As the only cohesive Danube Swabian settlement outside of south-eastern Europe, Entre Rios has become a sort of showpiece for all Danube Swabians - one might even call it a trademark; their old colonist virtues have impressively stood the test of time in the New World. The freedom with which they were allowed to cultivate the language and traditions of their German origin from the very beginning significantly contributed to the spiritual and emotional contentment of the settlers. This happened with relatively little conflict, along with the inevitable adaptation to their new Brazilian homeland. A paradox? No, only an apparent one! There are two sides of the same coin: The integration of the Danube Swabians succeeded in a rapid and smooth way, precisely because they were never prevented from remaining who they are. The fact that, on the one hand, they never had to deny their nature, made them all the more willing to engage with what was foreign, to accept it and to commit themselves to Brazil without compromise. Passionate evidence of this is most obvious when the Brazilian national football team is playing. However, despite the remarkable and perhaps exemplary success of the Danube Swabian settlement and its aura, another unmistakable problem appears on the horizon of righteous assertion: Whereas hardship initially helped to weld the settler community together, the old virtues and community spirit are endangered by today’s affluence. The young generation of Entre Rios is facing tough new challenges: the struggle for meaning between legacy and progress. This colony, which has grown into a large-scale project, has become attractive for the in-migrating Brazilians who have long since formed the absolute majority with more than 8,000 persons, compared to less than 3,000 Danube Swabians. The future prosperity and the economic success of the community will depend on the development of the social and ecological policies already in place. In Brazil, a country with a promising future that exhibits attempts toward an egalitarian culture of tolerance, the softening of the isolation of parallel societies between light and dark skin may be a little easier than outside its borders. In any case, the question of the equalization between rich and poor, with the increasingly urgent problem of a positively-conceived fusion of the various ethnic groups, is likely to become the vital question for Entre Rios. Ink drawing by Sebastian Leicht (owned by the author) Stefan Teppert was born in 1956 in Socorro, the 4th village of Entre Rios. His family emigrated to Germany in 1959. He grew up in Gosheim, attended the business school in the county seat of Tuttlingen, studied philosophy, German studies and history in Freiburg, Vienna and Tübingen, and graduated with a Master's degree. After working as a freelance journalist and publishing editor, he was, from 1988 to 1999, full-time cultural consultant of the Landsmannschaft der Donauschwaben (Homeland Association of the Danube Swabians), based in Sindelfingen. He is an editor, journalist and publisher. In 2009, Teppert was awarded the Danube Swabian Culture Prize of the state of Baden/Württemberg (promotion prize), primarily for preparing a comprehensive anthology of post-war literature in the Danube Swabian region. He has dedicated himself to his native Entre Rios with a traveling exhibition (1989-1991) and lectures. The above text appeared on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Entre Rios, which took place from January 4th to 8th, 2012, in "Spiegelungen. Journal of German Culture and History of South-Eastern Europe", year 2011, issue 4, pp. 384-399. Literature  Helmuth Abeck: Entre Rios – Neue Heimat. Special printing from the "Serra Post Kalender" 1973, published by Empresa Jornalistica Ulrich Löw S. A., Ijui – Rio Grande do Sul Ders.: Deutsche Mitarbeit in Paraná waehrend der letzten 50 Jahre (1929-1979). Contribution to the history of German-Brazilianism in Paraná on the occasion of the commemoration of 150 years of German immigration (A co­ laboração germânica no Paraná nos últimos 50 anos—1929-1979), self-published, 2nd edition, Curitiba 1980, 102 respectively 204 p. Anton Bertl, Federal Chairman of the Association of Danube Swabians: Der Mensch als Leitbild. Lecture to Catholic academics in Salzburg, in: Donauschwäbische Briefe v. 15.1.1963, p. 8-11 Ders.: Donauschwaben­Siedlung Guarapuava. On the one hand, rosy promises – on the other hand, hard realities, in: Der Donauschwabe. Easter 1964, p. 6 Albert Elfes: Donauschwaben in Paraná. An accountability report. With a foreword by the former Governor of Paraná, Exz. Benito Munhoz da Rocha Netto, Curitiba 1971, XLVI, 123 p., 33 Table with Fig. and Ktn. Max Froesch: Bericht über den heutigen Stand der Siedlung Entre Rios, Guarapuava, im brasilianischen Staate Paraná, Zurich, May 30, 1978, manuscript Max Frösch: Guarapuava, die donauschwäbische Flüchtlings­Siedlung in Brasilien, Donauschwäbische Beiträ­ ge – Issue 28, published by Schweizer Auslandshilfe (formerly Schweizer Europahilfe), Pannonia­Verlag, Freilassing 1958, 63 P. „Schwäbischer Pioniergeist und beständiger Aufbauwille haben ein blühendes Gemeinwesen geschaffen!“ 40 Jahre Agrária „Entre Rios“, in: Brasil-Post No. 2147 v. 14.2.1992, p. 12 f. Josef Gappmaier: Entre Rios. Agrargeographie der Donauschwabensiedlung in Paraná – Brasilien, Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades an der naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Salzburg, Salzburg, Salzburg 1987, X + 260 sheets Wolfgang Gleich: Rastatt und Entre Rios. Freundschaftsbegegnungen zwischen deutschen und brasilianischen Kommunen, in: Globus 2/1999, p. 16 Anton Hochgatterer: Donauschwabensiedlung in Brasilien, Donauschwäbische Beiträge 84, ed. by the Haus der Donauschwaben Salzburg, Salzburg 1986, 196 p. Karl Ilg: Bei den Donauschwaben im brasilianischen Entre Rios, in: Zur Kulturgeschichte Innerösterreichs. Festgabe für Hanns Koren, Hist. Verein für Steiermark, Graz 1966, p. 150160, 5  Fig. Gerd Kohlhepp: Raumwirksame Tätigkeit ethnosozialer Gruppen in Brasilien am Beispiel donauschwäbischer Siedler in Entre Rios/Paraná, in: Klaus Rother (Hrsg.): Europäische Ethnien im ländlichen Raum der Neuen Welt. Kolloquium des „Arbeitskreises Bevölkerungsgeographie“ in Passau am 12./13. November 1988, Passauer Schriften zur Geographie Heft 7, Passavia Universitätsverlag, Passau 1989, p. 31-46 Ders.: Donauschwaben in Brasilien. Sozial­ und wirtschafträumliche Entwicklungsprozesse der Heimatvertrie­ benensiedlung Entre Rios in Paraná, Tübinger Geographische Studien, Heft 102, Ostmittel­ und Osteuropa. Bei­ träge zur Landeskunde, Festschrift für Adolf Karger, Tübingen 1989, p. 353-386 Peter Krier: Entre Rios, die donauschwäbische Mustersiedlung. Mit der Würzburger Theatergruppe bei den Landsleuten in Brasilien, in: Banater Post  v.  5.1.1997 Sebastian Leicht / Roland Vetter:  Entre Rios, die donauschwäbische Mustersiedlung. Mit der Würzburger Theatergruppe bei den Landsleuten in Brasilien, Verlag  Passavia, Passau 1982, 83 p. Jakob Lichtenberger (Editorial): Image copyright A Danube Swabian settlement in Brazil (published for the 25th anniversary of the 1976 anniversary), Cooperativa Agrária Entre Rios Ltda., with fig. and Brazilian and German texts, o. O., o. J., o. S. Jakob Lichtenberger, Mathias Leh. 15 Jahre Präsident der Agraria Entre Rios, in: The Danube Swabian  v. 2.8.1981, p. 1 Karl Schmid-Tannwald: Entre Rios – donauschwäbisch­brasilianisches Weizenwunder, in: Und über mir die Sterne. Zwischen Nordpol und Feuerland – ein schwäbischer Abenteurer erzählt,  Eugen  SalzerVerlag, Heilbronn 1993, p. 205221 Heinrich Sattler (Director of the Kaiserin Leopoldine School): Schulalltag in Entre Rios, in: Donauschwaben Kalender 1986, p. 115117 Ludwig Schumacher:  Große Festwoche der Donauschwaben in Guarapuava. Aus Urwald schufen sie die Korn ­ kammer Brasiliens, in: The Danube Swabian Jg. 21/No. 50  v. 12.12.1971, p. 1 and 4, forts. Jg. 21/No. 52 to Jg.22/No. 1 (Christmas 1971/New Year 1972), p. 7 Rosina Spiess / Cristiana Spiess / Walter Spiess: Ortssippenbuch Entre Rios im Staat Paraná im Süden Brasiliens, Rastatt, June 1998 Stefan Teppert:  Es stand auf Messers Schneide. Vor vierzig Jahren kamen die ersten Donauschwaben nach Entre Rios, in: The Danube Swabian  v. 9.6.1991, p. 1,  3 Ders. (Editorial): Broschüre zur Ausstellung "Entre Rios – donauschwäbische Siedlung in Brasilien“, ed. v. Landsmannschaft der Donauschwaben aus Jugoslawien, Sindelfingen 1989, 83 p. Lothar Wieland (KK): „Weizenwunder“ von Guarapuava. Die Donauschwabensiedlung Entre Rios – ein ge­ glückter „Eingliederungsfall“ in Brasilien, in: Der Donauschwabe v. 7.9.1969, P. 1 & 4 Lothar Wieland (KK): "Wheat Miracle" of Guarapuava. The Danube Swabian settlement Entre Rios – a successful "integration case" in Brazil, in: The Danube Swabian v. 7.9.1969, p. 1 u. 4 DVHH < Destination: The Americas < Brazil < Entre Rios < The Danube Swabian Settlement of Entre Rios in Brazil