History of Sotting - Sotin

Part 1 | Part 2

By the early 19th century, many of Sotting's townspeople were Danube-Swabians and many of them had resettled Sotting coming from Batschka NowoSelo, Neudorf (Backa Novo Selo) and other villages from the Batschka (Ba?cska). The "German Bauern" and other ethnic farmers who first settled this region worked under the feudal system. Ban Josip Jellacic (1801-1859) called for termination of serfdom and feudal dues, ending the Sabor's feudal nature by calling general elections on May 18, 1848 and defense of Croatians' independence from the Magyars of Hungary

Life was sometimes tough, for these early inhabitants of Sotting. Hard work was the only means to survival. Though life improved immensely by the late 1700?s, it wasn't without hardship. In 1784 the Locust Plague greatly affected the area. A few years later its reported that the great Plague of Syrmien was taking many lives, Dr. Lujo THALLER book on the History of medicine in Slavonia. Says the illness came about 5 years following a war with Turkey, in July of 1795. About 4000 people perished in Syrmien. The area was quarantined and an epidemiologist from Budapest University Dr Franz SCHRAUD was dispatched. It took about a year to contain.

Miraculous Picture of the Lady of Sotin,
photo from booklet Cudotvorna Gospina Slika U Sotinu

Since there was a high infant mortality rate in those days, midwives were taught how to baptize infants immediately upon birth. Many mothers also died during childbirth, and it was not uncommon for a man to lose a wife and remarry quickly out of necessity. Life was difficult, yet not entirely dismal. Most people did not starve during lean years, in most Donauschwaben villages. The farmers excelled in agriculture, they had plenty of grain, fruits vegetables and their animal husbandry was without comparison they had geese, ducks, goats (for milk and cheese) cattle, pigs and chickens. They could also supplement their diets with the bounty of the forests, which were full of wildlife, mushrooms and berries. In addition, the rivers and streams had fish. Disease outbreaks on occasion, decimated the population, yet the birthrate exceeded the mortality rate. There was time for singing, dancing, and music at wedding celebrations, religious feasts, and church socials. Weekly Sunday mass gave inhabitants a reason to put on their best clothes and participate in christenings and confirmations as well.

The Serbian Orthodox Church,
photo by Danil Vdovic 2003

Religion was very active in the way of life of most inhabitants. Catholicism was very prevalent in Sotting. The story of the Portrait of the Blessed Mother can be found in the book Cudotvorna Gospina Slika U Sotinu (Miraculous Picture of the Lady of Sotin) by author Mr. O. Placido BELAVIC, University of Vukovaru,, 1909, After the Turks were driven out, Franciscans missionaries came to many towns in the region. In Sotting, they restored the Church dedicated to St. Lucas, the Evangelist and St. Vito, the Martyr. In 1739 they brought the Painting of The Blessed Virgin Mary to Sotting from Belgrade. This Painting was known to be miraculous, and its fame attracted masses of believers. At first, the picture was exhibited at the church in modest surroundings during the time of Father Andrija DAVIDOVIC then later, his successor Father Mihajlo JELASIC, who had several visions of the Lady, displayed it in the church in Sotting. It was then reported that several miraculous healings took place through Mary's intervention, so in 1768 a new church was dedicated to Mary, the Helpmate (a Votive Church ). The painting was hung above a highly ornamented altar. Quite a range of interesting cases and many healings through the divine intervention of The Virgin Mary are listed in the book.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's many people left Sotting, primarily for economic reasons. From about 1900 - 1920, Sotting had had over two hundred villagers pass through the gates at Ellis Island (USA) alone. Ellis Island also seen well over 1000 local residents from surrounding communities. The people leaving Sotting generally rode the train from Wukowar (Vukovar) and went to seaports in Germany or France to board steamships headed for the United States of America, with many settling in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Many of the new immigrants found employment in mines and steel mills or on farms. Croatia declared it's independence from the of Our Lady of Sotting remains unknown.

Republic of Yugoslavia and the Yugoslavian Army in 1991. During this conflict that began in August of 1991., dedicated to Mary the Helper Sottings Catholic Church (St. Mary the Helpmate / MARIJA POMOCNICA) was pillaged and severely damaged. Sottings Serbian Orthodox Church, Church of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas Church built in 1802 was also damaged.

Homes were damaged and It is reported that since the conflict there are still about 45 Croatian people missing from Sotin and assumed dead, also at the same time, it is reported that 150 Donauschwabens also died within Slovonia. Through fund raising efforts of the late 1990's, the church in Sotting was approved for rebuilding. In the interim, many daily Masses were celebrated at a tent church erected in the center of Sotting. Where bereaved family members mourned and prayed. Today the church St. Mary the Helpmate, has been repaired. As of this writing, the fate of the Portrait

Danil's home, destroyed after the civil war in Croatia, 1991. This home was also owned by the Willeg family.
photo by Danil Vdovic

As a result of WW2, Croatia came under the Yugoslavian control of Marshal Josip Broz Tito (1892-1980). Tito's persecution against the Donauschwabens began almost immediately . This caused the deportation, murder and mass exodus of many Danube Swabians. The area's demography again changed dramatically. 50% of ethnic Germans left for Germany and Austria in 1944 before Yet through all of the hardship, some of the people that remained kept their ethnic identity. While others ethnicity was melted in to the populace.

Sotting's Village Square in the 1990's,
photo by a friend

However, under communism, after the war, public talk of the plight of the Donauschwabens in Yugoslavia was frowned upon and ignored. This subject remained closed until Croatia received its independence in the 1990's. Though the plight of the Donauschwaben was well documented, now the Croatian and Serbian intellectuals and historians can pursue it as a research topic and publish information about it, which they could not do while under Yugoslavia communism. The practice of religion was reportedly discouraged under the communists. Throughout the 18th & 19th centuries, Sotting's population was 90% Catholic. In 1921 there were 46% Germans, 26% Croats, and 19% Hungarians. After WW2, Sotting was 69% Croatian and 28% Serbian.

The main road through Sotting is one long street with at most half a dozen side streets expounding from it way. Sotting has around 330 households in 2001, with approximately 1,000 people. Though it is considered part of Vukovar it is actually the first village south, on the road leading to Opatovak and Ilok. There are trees, vineyards and fields all around. The hamlet claims neither a gas station nor a restaurant, but have a printing shop owned by the Lipovèeviæ family, also a couple of cafés and workingman’s saloons. The largest employer in Sotting, is a company called Abottoir. Which is located just a few kilometers outside the village. Though the Danube River is often fairly quite, due to some brief prejudicial conflicts (because of its close location on the border with Serbia) and of current economics. Sotting has returned to a peaceful, sleepy farming village. Areas along the Danube River near Sotting provide many recreational activities. The view of the River from Sotting is quit spectacular. Fishing is also very popular on the Danube River were anglers can catch carp, catfish, perch, pike, and a native European fish called the sterlet. Hunting game in the outlying areas is also a popular pastime.

Any corrections or additions will be greatly appreciated. Croatian/ German translations needed.
Write Kurt McCrary

Many thanks to the people who contributed to this history including Robert ZINK of the DVHH onsai@hrcreditunion.net, Tatjana FORMER Tat417761@cs.com, "Frank KURCHINA" <frankur@att.net, Toni ROCA, curator - probationer of cultural history collection Vukovar ( troca@muzej-vukovar.hr), "Frank George VALOCZY" <valoczy@vcn.bc.ca> Danil VDOVIC, Gerhard Pfaff, Linda (Guardenvtl@aol.com), Rosina T. SCHMIDT of the DVHH rosinas@telus.net, Kristina incitatus@canada.com , "Robert JERIN" <rjerin26@yahoo.com, Jody McKIM of the DVHH dvhh-Coordinator@att.net and members of Banat-L.