Evacuation of the Swabians

by Stefan Schmied
Translated by Gerald "Jerry" Thomas Boyle 

      Stefan Brendli, the last pastor of the Church community, gives this account of the evacuation of the Swabian inhabitants:

      "On the ninth of October (1944) came the order that Scheindorf, together with the neighboring town of Hamroth, would be evacuated the next day. The people were in the fields, in the vineyard, and in the nearby forest, as shortly before noon crying women and girls ran in all directions to spread the news. I was just coming out of the woods with the church warden and his wagon, as we saw what was happening in the town. The town looked like an anthill that had been disturbed. We had been expecting this blow for a long time, but now, when it was becoming reality, everyone was stunned and alarmed. Everywhere on the main street there was violent debating and advice, back and forth talk. No one wanted to submit to fate without argument.

      During the night of October 10, no one in the town closed their eyes in sleep. After midnight, people came to church for confession. At the morning Mass at 7 o'clock, crying and sobbing was the prayer of the faithful. At the final prayer, the people said good-bye to house and farm, to church and school, to field and vineyard, to meadow and forest. Afterwards, teacher Martin Gyetko played the organ for a long time, since it would probably be the last time. With tears in his eyes, he squeezed my hand afterwards. Old Mesner let out a painful sigh with the words: 'This is a hard thing.' He also had tears running down his cheeks.

      Around 11 o'clock, commissioned soldiers pushed for departure. But no one wanted to drive from their courtyard, although the ox, cow, and horse wagons stood by their houses ready for departure. At last, the soldiers had to threaten them. Finally, the first wagon drove out, and the others followed hesitatingly and thoughtful. They were telling each other that in two weeks they would be home again and everything would be better. Nobody believed this, though. At the church, they blessed themselves and tipped their hats. Many hurried quickly into church, and some took some holy water. Gradually, the town emptied. At the end, a horse and wagon drove from the courtyard with church objects and the St. Anne statue.

      Now the bells began to ring from the tower. They announced to the world the tragedy of this Swabian town among other nations. They wailed and cried together with the people. Then, it also began to rain softly. Even heaven cried. The bells rang for a whole hour. Meanwhile, I watched the wagon train from the tower with two soldiers. The two soldiers were unable to hold back their tears either. The wagon train drove farther and farther away from the town. But it looked as if they kept stopping and looking back. As if, over and over, they wanted a last look at their house, their field. Who knew if they would ever see them again!

      I stayed in the town. The next day, the last soldiers left the town. The long street was deserted. A few hours ago, each house and yard was crowded; and now suddenly this deathly silence. It disturbed the mind, it was frightening, as if a man who was fit as a fiddle died suddenly. After two days, I drove out after them and found them west of Grosskarol. Gradually, they were able to cope with the necessity of flight. It also helped that it was a beautiful, sunny fall day.

      I turned to go back home. It was risky, but I arrived back in Scheindorf. There was not an animal left in the town. The soldiers took the rest, while they shot every living thing. At the edge of town, a few couples of mixed nationality remained. The looting of the Swabian farm houses was carried out quietly. Even the rectory door had been broken. The next day, I was lucky to be able to reach Sathmar by military transport.

      In the meanwhile, the wagon train from the community slowly made its way west. They had mostly oxen and cow teams, and the horses had to adapt themselves to their pace. Through Sathmar, Grosskarol, Nyirbator, Nagykallo, Nyiregyhaza, Polgar, Poroszlo, Heves, Jaszbereny, Rakoskeresztur, Budapest, and on October 28th, they reached Budaors. The approximately 400 kilometer trip took 18 days. They were in constant fear that the front would overtake them. Four miles from Poroszlo, there was a battle as they were going through the town.

      In Budaors, where they met fellow countrymen from other towns, the news spread that the war was going over the border into Germany. They had thought they would be able to stay in western Hungary. Those who wanted to, were told that they would be able to travel by train. Many who had oxen or cow teams chose to do this. The army took over their oxen and cows and wagons. For consolation, they were given a receipt for them. Those who took the train went to Thuringen" (This was where Mary Weiss - Anne Weiss Boyle's mother - parted from John Weiss' parents, John's sister Mary, and Mary's family).

      "The people had taken from their houses what they were able to load on one or two wagons. Some slaughtered a pig that night. Mainly they brought clothes and bedding. Then kitchen utensils, tools; some brought a sewing machine, etc. Most importantly, they brought food. They had no problem with food, however, because from Budaors on, the army took good care of the refugees. Again and again, they came to a field kitchen, where they had a hot meal and were given food to take along on their journey. All the way to the border the wagon train drove, through Bia, Bicsk, Kisber, Veszpremvarsany, Tet, Rabacsanak, Csapod, Nagyczenk, Kophaza, and Odenburg. In Kophaza, all the wagons pulled by cattle had to be given up. Only the horse-wagons were allowed over the border. Here, the people also exchanged their Hungarian Pengo for German Mark. They were going into Austria. 287 head of cattle had left the town with the people. Before the border, they gave away the last one. The 136 horses they kept until the end of the line, which was in Enns, by Linz, Altmunster, and Traunsee in Salzkammergut. From Budoars to Odenburg, a distance of 250 kilometer, took 13 days. The 300 kilometers to Altmunster took another 13 days. The horse wagons arrived in Altmunster on November 26. They were happy after a month and a half, to unhitch their wagons.

      On October 10, 692 people left their homeland. On the way, 5 people died, 2 were missing, 214 went to Thuringen, and from there went back to Scheindorf after the war. 471 people arrived in Altmunster; this number included 7 children who were born on the way."