A land lies between the Carpathian and the lower Theiß it is called the Banat, it had become a robbery of the Turks. But Prince Eugene came with men of the German Kaiser and conquered Temeschwar; the Turks fled, -originally referred to any of several frontier provinces of Hungary and Croatia that were ruled by bans (governors). The Banat region is bordered on the east by Transylvania and Walachia, on the west by the Tisza River, on the north by the Muresul River, and on the south by the Danube. Except for some eastern mountains, it is primarily an agricultural area of fertile, rolling plains. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the Banat was occupied successively by Romans, Goths, Gepidae, Huns, and Avars.

          Claudius Florimund Graf Mercy, born 1666 died 1734, was appointed by Prince Eugene of Savoy as Governor of Banat and also in charge of the colonization of the Banat. Graf Mercy circulated information regarding immigrating to South East Europe to most western regions in Germany. Free land, living accommodation, and exempt from taxes for several years.

From the lovely Rhineland plain,
With trust in God and hearts undaunted,
Our forebears journeyed long ago.
On the long and lonesome road,
With sun and stars, wind and train,
Storm and clouds their sole companions,
They struggled onward, striving
Steadfast to the East.
----solo.

          Those who had no conveyances loaded their belongings on a pushcart. A mother had strapped her infant on top of the baggage and hitched herself to the front of the cart by means of a rope, while her seven-year old son trotting by her side and comforted her with the words: “Don’t cry, mother! God will look after us.” 

          In Offenbach near Frankfurt, a number of emigrants gathered every day, some came on foot, and others had pushcarts or wagons. There were people from Württemberg, Baden, Hessen, Alsace, and the Palatinate – pursuing a common goal. At Plittersdorf and Steinmauern, two of the collecting points in n Baden; the Alsatian emigrants joined up with those from several villages in n the Rastatt district. Fifteen to twenty families combined to form a transport or wagon train, which was put under the supervision of a conductor or a train master. Other transports were organized at Berg and Insheim in the southern Palatinate. The horses and wagons used or the transports did not belong to the emigrants but were provided by friends and relatives who had volunteered, or were hired, to haul the emigrants as far as Ulm, a distance of only 140 kilometers. From this river port they continued their journey on the Danube waterway as far as Vienna where they had to be registered.  

          Day after day the wagons rumbled over the rough roads that took the emigrants through the lands of Baden and Württemberg. At night they camped by the side of the road on the outskirts of a village. The men fed the horses while the women prepared a frugal for the weary wayfarers. Then the women and children climbed back into the wagons for a night’s sleep while the men lodged on the ground. In the following weeks the wagon trains continued to roll towards Ulm. A group of 121 emigrants lacking passports were prevented from embarking on the riverboats. 

          “The Ulmer Schachtel”, the cumbersome, slow moving “Ulmer crates”. These were large, flat-bottomed barges that normally hauled all kinds of freight from Ulm to Vienna, and even as far as Galatz on the mouth of the Danube. Propelled only by the current, these barges were limited to one-way traffic. After discharging their freight, they were sold as lumber, while the oarsmen and deck hands returned to Ulm by coach. The passenger fare on the “Ulm Schachtel” from Ulm to Vienna cost 6 florins for adults, 5 florins for children 8 to 16 years, and 4 florins for children less than 8 years .The accommodations were crude and uncomfortable; the emigrants were crowded on the single deck, where they camped, ate, and slept, exposed to the wind and weather. They had to bring along their own supply of food for the journey and provide their own bedding. After a ten-day journey the emigrants disembarked at Vienna and were conducted to an inn where they were lodged until departure.

          They had no idea how their journey would be, or what lies ahead. Guides who spoke Turkish were hired to accompany them in case when needed. Travelling was done during daylight and parked on shore at night. Stormy weather conditions would delay the journey. 

          On their long eastward journey the emigrants’ encountered hardships. Many a mother had to give birth to her child under perilous conditions. Many a newborn infant, and sometimes an adult, had to be buried along the roadside, without a priest in attendance. Some who had fallen seriously ill had to be left behind at a post station, to be picked up by a later boat. However, despite all hardships and setbacks, the emigrants pressed forward towards the rising sun and the land of promise in the east. The journey lasted from 4-6 weeks, depending on the weather conditions. 

          The colonization was done in three stages and was known as the “der Große Schwabenzug” or the Great Trek. The first Schwabenzug was known as the “Karolinische Ansiedlung” between 1723-1726. On arrival in Temeschburg, all Colonist where registered.  

          After a few years, Graf Mercy realizing the settlers were unable to adjust to a different climate and the swamp terrain. Many died from cholera, malaria, and other diseases. To develop the land, the settlers had to drain the water, dry and clear the land. Canals had to be built to drain the water into the River Bega, which was widened by manual labour. (1728-1733) Maria Theresia colonization to Banat and Siebenbürgen occurred between 1744-1768. During that time, approximately 75,000 settlers came to Banat. Only at the end of the seven-year war, 1763, she took settlers into Batschka, Slavonia, and Syrmia. Due to heavy pressure from the Magyars, Maria Theresia was forced to turn Banat over to Hungary. She enforced a village master plan; the village of “Billed” was her “Muster Bild”  (master model) where the rest of villages to be build the same. But in 1765, already there were German Settlers, who came from “Mainz, Trier and also from Lorraine. Some of the first German Settlers who arrived in Knees, came from “Billed” they were “Hentz, Mertesacker, Both, Lenner, Federspiel, Hehn, Braun, Klein, Mann, Speichert, Sebastian, Paulus, Klassen, Gergen, Lauer, Gengler, Weiss and Schwartz” She enforced a village master plan; the village of “Billed” was her “Muster Bild”  (master model) where the rest of villages to be build the same. But in 1765, already there were German Settlers, who came from “Mainz, Trier and also from Lorraine. Some of the first German Settlers who arrived in Knees, came from “Billed” they were “Hentz, Mertesacker, Both, Lenner, Federspiel, Hehn, Braun, Klein, Mann, Speichert, Sebastian, Paulus, Klassen, Gergen, Lauer, Gengler, Weiss, and, Schwartz”.     

          Still many settlers died from diseases and also from the Turkish attacks. The Third “Schwabenzug” took place during Josef’s II time, (1782-1787). Approximately 60,000-65,000 came on the “Josephinische Ansiedlung.” Some of the settler went to Banat, Batschka and Galazien. 

          By 1792, some of the villages had been established, i.e. in 1792, in Neu-Beschenowa, already there were 1296, German inhabitants. In Sanktandres, 926, in Sackelhausen 1522, in Orzydorf 900, in Mercydorf 977, in Perjamosch 1939, in Warjasch 300, in Lowrin 1492, in Kleinbetschkerek 644 and in Billed 1793. 

Vienna house plans for the Banater settlers

          The houses were built from loam and covered with reed. When it came to building, families would work together and help each other. The churches were built in the centre of the village, the church rectory, school, and kindergarten immediately beside the church. The schoolteachers and priest were assigned to their village in Temeschburg. Children attending Kindergarten at the age of 5-6, and school at the age of seven and would attend up to grade seven. If someone chose further education, they would attend colleges and universities in larger cities. Until 1945, German was taught in elementary schools. In colleges and universities, German and other languages were also taught. School hours were from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM, even on Saturdays students had to attend classes. A large percentage of the early settlers were illiterate, due to lack of facilities, or teachers. Once the villages were established, it was compulsory for children to attend schools.

One of the early houses, built with loam and covered with reeds. Some of the roof points were covered with roof tiles to prevent from the rain. Chimney coming from the kitchen which is in the middle of the house. The little hole in the top of the gable is,  for attic ventilation. The attic is used for storing  wheat, barley and corn. The chimney is also used for smoking sausage, ham and bacon. Vegetables and fruits were stored in the cellar.

          Their strong faith carried them through their hardship. Whenever there was a shortage of teachers, besides doing religious duties, the priest would also teach in schools. Teachers were very strict and students would be disciplined. When responding to teacher’s question, student had to stand. Children were taught to respect their elders. Adults would be addressed by children as “Mr and Mrs.” When meeting or passing a priest at all time, everyone would greet him as “Gelobt Sei Jesus Christus.” (Praised be Jesus Christ and removing their caps or hats. You could not leave the table, unless all the food on the plate was gone. Grace was said before and after each meal.

          At first, not very many social activities occurred; therefore most of the marriages were matched. The civil wedding would be performed first and a religious ceremony later. The newly wed couple would live with the groom’s parents and later inherit his parent’s goods. When a baby was born, a “Goodwife” would be called in. During baptism the “Goodwife” would be included in the ceremony. 

          Sunday was the only rest day, if someone was seen working in the field on a Sunday, they would be frowned upon. An average farmer would have from 15-30-Hectar of land, life stock, and an average fruit garden. Most farmers had their own “Weingarten” (grapes) most grapes were used to make wine. The only items that were bought in a store were, sugar, salt, pepper, paint, lumber, and nails. Wheat was exchanged for flour at a flourmill, 100 kilos of wheat for 100 kilos of flour. As for the food, they baked and cooked everything. Persons who were unable to buy land would work as hired persons. 

          In the late 1800 and early 1900, due to work shortage, to better themselves, some Banaters went to North America, South America, and Australia. Some returned to the Banat and established businesses or bought themselves machinery. But the majority did not return. Being Romanian citizen, the men served in the Romanian Army in WW I, and WW II, in the German Army. After WW I, Banat was divided into three parts. Romania, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. Romania got the majority part of Banat. The loss of WW I, did not effect the Donauschwaben much. They seemed to live a happy normal live up to 1945.

Originally Published Monday Jul 14, 2003

This page is a web presentation reproducing Alex Leeb's www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~romban web pages.
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