Surtschin in
Syrmien
The
following is a
summary and
translation of
portions of Surtschin:
Ortsbiografie
der deutschen Minderheit eines
Dorfes in Syrmien
published
by the
Ortsausschuss
der
Ortsgemeinschaft
Surtschin in
1980.
Translated by
Henry Fischer.
The first
Lutheran
settlements in
the Military
Frontier
District were at
Neu Pasua in
Syrmien in 1790
and Franzfeld in
the Banat in
1793 during the
short reign of
Leopold II.
These settlers
came chiefly
from
Württemberg,
Baden, Briesgau,
Baden-Durlach,
Alsace and
Lorraine as well
as Switzerland.
The future
colonists in
Surtschin traced
their origins
back to these
two original
Lutheran
settlements.
The settlers at
Neu Pasua
endured a great
deal in
establishing
their
community. In
1790 upon the
invitation of
what would be
known as the
Josephinian
Settlement a
large contingent
of German
settlers came
down the Danube
and disembarked
at
Peterwardein.
Of these
settlers, 62
families were
intended for the
eastern portion
of the Slavonian-Syrmien
Military
Frontier
District to form
the Peterwardein
Regiment and 26
families were to
go to Semlin, a
city outside the
jurisdiction of
the military.
But they were
soon to
discover that no
one had made any
preparations for
such a
settlement. The
jealousy between
the rich noble
landlords in
Semlin and the
Roman Catholic
clergy prevented
the settlement
of Lutherans in
close proximity
to the town.
The larger group
of 62 families
was then settled
in Alt Pasua
which had been
founded by
Slovak Lutherans
in 1770 and was
served by a
pastor who spoke
German. A
bitterly cold
winter, the
climate change
and the poor
quality of the
water led to
countless deaths
due to swamp
fever which in
all likelihood
was malaria.
The authorities
did not know
what to do with
the settlers or
where to settle
them. Slavonia
was out of the
question because
of the ban
against the
settlement of
Protestants.
The only option
was the Military
Frontier
District. In
the spring of
1791 the order
came for them to
establish
themselves
between Alt
Pasua and
Batajnica and
they took the
name Neu Pasua.
It was in the
middle of swampy
meadows where
oxen were left
to graze.
All of the
settlers came
from
Württemberg.
The 26 families
who went to
Semiln were from
Nassau, the
Pfalz and
Baden. They
were being cared
for in Semlin
until May 15th
as most of them
had come down
with the fever.
They were forced
to leave the
area and found
refuge at Neu
Pasua. The
number of
settlers who
died was very
high. No wonder
Hungary was
called “the
cemetery of the
Germans.”
A military watch
tower known as
Tschadake #7 was
erected in the
future location
of Surtschin in
1745. But for
now the area in
its vicinity
remained
unpopulated.
The tradition
among the
settlers who
would become
known as the
Danube Swabians
was one in which
the oldest son
alone would
inherit the
family house and
land. The other
sons were given
money or taught
a trade at their
father’s
expense. Land
was getting
scarcer and more
and more
expensive. The
only alternative
was buying land
in neighbouring
Serbian
villages. These
new “colonists”
lived in mixed
communities in
terms of both
nationality and
religion. Soon
even that kind
of land was no
longer available
in the Banat and
the Batschka.
In 1859 the
prohibition
against
Protestants in
Syrmien was
finally lifted
and in 1873 the
Military
Frontier
District was
disbanded and
massive
settlement
followed. This
region possessed
fertile and
cheap acreage
and lots of it.
The authorities
planned the
settlement and
as a result
Surtschin became
a large Danube
Swabian
community and
had both a
Lutheran and a
Reformed
congregation.
In addition to
the farmers who
settled there
were also
numerous
artisans and
tradesmen.
In 1864 there
were fifteen
German families
who had settled
in Surtschin; by
1866 three more
families had
joined them. In
1867 six more
arrived and in
1869 ten more.
By the
outbreak of the
Second World War
the population
included 2,400
Serbs who were
Orthodox, 800
Croatians who
were Roman
Catholic and
1,200 Danube
Swabians of whom
1,000 were
Lutheran and 200
Reformed.
At the beginning
of the 19the
century there
were less than
2,000
Protestants in
Croatia/
Slavonia. By
1895 the
government in
Agram (Zagreb)
reported a
population of
35,691
Protestants of
whom 25,000 were
Lutherans and
10,691 who were
Reformed.
The situation
and position of
the Protestant
settlers was
rather
precarious and
they were
mistrusted by
the local
populations.
The greatest
difficulty was
providing
pastoral care
and schools.
All at once it
seemed as if
Croatia/Slavonia
was being
overrun with
Protestants
whose spiritual
needs were being
met by only five
Reformed and
four Lutheran
parishes. The
Reformed
congregations in
Agram, later
Fiume and Gross
Pisanica took
all of the
Reformed under
their wing. The
three Lutheran
parishes in
Syrmien at Alt
Pasua (Slovak),
Neu Pasua
(German) and
Neudorf served
their fellow
believers in the
area. That had
to do at first.
But that would
not do in the
long run. Only
functions like
baptism and
marriage could
be provided in
this way. The
question of
teaching the
children and
nurturing the
adults with the
Gospel could not
be done from a
distance and
they could
easily become
prey to the many
sects that were
abounding around
them or convert
to Roman
Catholicism. As
a result a new
Mother Church
was established
at Bingula in
1863 halfway
between Neudorf
and Alt Pasua.
With a
continuous
stream of
settlers into
Syrmien after
1873 and the
disbanding of
the Military
Frontier
District new
congregations
were
established.
In Beschka
during the year
the Patent went
into effect
(1859) 24
families
representing
both confessions
arrived there.
They became a
filial of Neu
Pasua and Pastor
Weber supported
the fledgling
church. In 1869
the Reformed
withdrew and
formed a
separate
congregation and
first became a
filial of
Neusatz and then
in 1878 the
Lutherans in the
village became
an independent
congregation.
This freed the
Neu Pasua
congregation to
relate to the
new situation in
the area around
Semlin. Schools
had been
established by
the newly formed
Lutheran
congregations at
Boljeuci in
1858, Beschanija
in 1865,
Surtschin in
1869, Dobanovce
in 1875 and
Obresch in
1882. Neu Pasua
provided
pastoral
services to the
Swabians in the
area and Alt
Pasua served the
Slovaks. The
teachers acted
as Levite Lehrers and the school
buildings were
used to gather
for worship.
By 1879 the new
settlements had
over 1,000
Lutheran
residents and
the Mother
Churches could
not provide the
care they
needed. As a
result in 1879 a
missionary
parish was
established and
operated out of
Surtschin.
As a result at
the end of the
19th
century there
were twelve
Lutheran
parishes
(excluding
Mitrovica) and
ten Reformed
(excluding
Fiume). The
Reformed Mother
Churches joined
the neighbouring
Seniorats of the
Hungarian
Reformed
Church. The
Lutheran
congregations
were unable to
structure
themselves in
order to conduct
their own
affairs for
almost one
hundred years
and remained
part of other
outside
jurisdictions.
It would only be
after the First
World War and
the
establishment of
the state of
Yugoslavia when
the Lutherans in
the various
parts of the new
nation came
together to form
an independent,
indigenous and
national
church. In
electing its
first bishop,
Philip Popp they
elected a son of
one of the
parishes in
Croatia/Slavonia.
While he was
bishop he also
served the
congregation in
Agram and became
a senator in
parliament
during the reign
of King
Alexander.
Following the
King’s
assassination
things began to
change radically
and the
situation of the
Danube Swabian
became
precarious as
Hitler came to
power in Germany
and all that was
to follow.
After the
incorporation of
Austria into the
German Reich in
1938 many Jews
fled from
Austria where
they had first
arrived after
fleeing Germany
in 1933 and now
sought refuge in
Yugoslavia.
Through the
efforts of
Bishop Popp the
congregation in
Agram provided
sanctuary and
ministered to
their needs.
After the
proclamation of
the Independent
State of Croatia
by the Ustaschi
Fascist allies
of the German
Reich after the
capitulation of
Yugoslavia
following the
short war in
1941 horrendous
times were ahead
for the Orthodox
Serbs in Croatia
and Bosnia.
Many Serbs took
to the woods and
joined the
Partisans in the
fight against
the genocide of
the Serb
population
unless they
converted to
Roman
Catholicism.
The struggle
became
intensified when
the German Army
also became
involved.
Bishop Popp
sought to save
those who were
persecuted
regardless of
nationality,
religious
confession or
political
loyalties. He
saw them all as
his “persecuted
brethren” as he
put it.
In order to save
lives he set no
frontiers to the
limits of his
love. Through
secret contacts
and bribes he
was able to
secure
transportation
to assist Serbs
flee to
Belgrade. To
save other
Serbs, he
registered them
as converts to
the Lutheran
Church. In this
way alone he
saved over 400
Serbian families
from
extermination by
the Ustaschi.
He also assisted
imprisoned
Partisans and
people charged
with
collaboration
with them and
condemned to
death. He
personally
intervened with
the dictator,
Pavelic and was
able to save
twenty-two of
them. Partisan
circles
considered his
humanitarian
concerns and
commitments so
highly that the
Partisan High
Command twice
sent him
messages to
persuade him to
take to the
forests and join
Tito’s
Liberation
Army. The last
such contact was
in 1944. Bishop
Popp’s response
was, “The
shepherd must
remain with his
flock come what
may.” He said
the same when
the Swedish
Counsul sent his
car to take the
bishop to safety
in the Swedish
embassy as the
Red Army
approached
Zagreb. Only
his wife and son
did so.
By the end of
1944 about half
of the 600,000
Danube Swabians
in Yugoslavia
had left as
refugees or were
evacuated and
Bishop Popp
found comfort in
knowing so many
had been saved
from what he
sensed was about
to follow. In
Zagreb itself
most of the
Lutherans
remained and he
remained behind
with them. To a
friend he sent
one last
message: It was
John 10:11. “I
am the Good
Shepherd. The
Good Shepherd
lays down His
life for the
sheep.”
On April 9, 1945
the Second
Partisan Army
marched into
Zagreb. On May
23rd
the bishop was
arrested and
following
imprisonment for
one month he was
put on trial by
the Second Army
Count Martial
under Judge Dr.
Brnicic who
condemned him to
death. On June
28, 1945 the
sentence of
death was read
to him and one
day later it was
carried out.
Before his
execution he was
blindfolded and
shouted, “God
stand with my
son Edgar!” His
oldest son Edgar
had also
remained behind
in Zagreb where
he served as a
vicar. Even
during his time
of imprisonment
the bishop had
the opportunity
to escape yet he
did not take
advantage of
that.
During his
imprisonment
many Serbs,
especially those
the bishop had
saved, attempted
to have him
freed. Over
1,000 Serbs
signed a
petition. The
Swedish Lutheran
Church
intervened on
his behalf. All
of this was
futile. They
wanted to make
an example of
him and
condemned the
church leader to
death because he
was a Danube
Swabian. The
only church
leader in Zagreb
to survive was
Archbishop and
later Cardinal
Stepinac.
His widow and
their son Edgar
were interned
and arrested on
July 16th.
Through the
efforts of some
doctors she was
sent secretly to
a hospital where
she remained
hidden for a
year. The son
Edgar was placed
in the
internment camp
for Danube
Swabians in
Zagreb and then
later in Stari
Gradischka and
released in May
of 1946.
There is a
memorial tablet
for Bishop Popp
in the church in
Geisenfeld bei
Ingolstadt where
many of the
people from his
birthplace in
Beschanija were
resettled.
Events in the
life of
Surtschin and
its future and
the destiny of
its people were
shaped and
formed by the
two cataclysms
in the 20th
century known as
the two World
Wars.
The First World
War was fought
in their
immediate
vicinity. The
front lines were
only 8
kilometres away
along the Sava
River which
formed the
frontier between
Austro-Hungary
and Serbia. The
war zone was 20
kilometres deep
and enveloped
the village.
All able bodied
men had to
report for
military service
and horses and
wagons were also
taken by the
military.
In August 1914
two weak
Austro-Hungarian
Armies under
Field Marshall
Potiorek
attacked
Serbia. Between
the 13th
and 19th
of August they
crossed the
Drina and Sava
Rivers.
Schabotz was
taken, Ljesnica
and Losnica were
stormed. From
the 9th
to the 15th
of September the
Serbs began an
offensive to
take Slavonia.
After several
failures around
Progar and
Pantschevo they
were successful
in crossing the
Sava and
advanced as far
as Alt Pasua and
Ruma. As a
result Surtschin
found itself in
the middle of a
battle and the
Swabian
population fled
to the Batschka
and Banat. In
great haste,
clothes and
supplies were
thrown on
wagons. They
fled towards Neu
Pasua and were
able to stay
overnight. The
roads were
packed with
Austro-Hungarian
troops on their
way to the
front. The
refugees had to
wait until the
military had
moved on. The
Surtschin
refugees found
refuge with
relatives and
friends in the
Batschka and
Banat. But it
lasted only for
a short while.
The
Austro-Hungarian
offensive began
on September 20,
1914 and forced
the Serbs to
re-cross the
Sava in retreat
and by December
2nd
Belgrade was
occupied by the
Austro-Hungarian
Army.
From mid to late
December the
people returned
to Surtschin.
They found their
homes plundered
and virtually
destroyed. The
local Serbian
population was
ordered to
return the
looted goods to
the schoolhouse
but in the end
the Swabians
lost too much
and had a
difficult time
in surviving.
The Second
Austro-Hungarian
Army was
withdrawn and
sent to serve on
the Galician
front and the
Serbs began a
counter attack.
Potiorek
suffered heavy
losses and on
December 15th
he withdrew his
forces and left
Belgrade to the
Serbs as they
fled to their
defences at the
Sava and Drina
River line.
Here they stood
firm and held
back the Serbian
onslaughts that
followed.
As the Russian
front in Galicia
held, troops
were transferred
to the Serbian
front. On
September 6,
1915 in a
special treaty
between Germany
and Bulgaria ten
divisions (six
of them
Austro-Hungarian
and four of them
Bulgarian) would
attack on the
Danube and Sava
front while
other Bulgarian
forces would
march across
their border
with Serbia.
Because of a
Russian
breakthrough in
Volhinya only
two divisions
were sent to
Syrmien. German
Army
headquarters
rushed in troops
from the eastern
front, four
divisions in all
to join the
Third
Austro-Hungarian
Army. By
September 16,
1915 they were
determined to
destroy the
Serbian Army and
to secure the
way from
Belgrade to
Sofia and
Constantinople.
This second
campaign against
Serbia put
Surtschin in
jeopardy again.
Operation plans
indicate that on
the broad front
against Serbia
the assembled
Third
Austro-Hungarian
Army (six
divisions) were
to cross the
Sava and Danube
with their
strongest drive
towards Belgrade
and others to
the west at the
Kupinovo
crossing.. The
German Second
Army in the
Banat would
cross the Danube
between
Semendria and
Ram with their
major forces
heading towards
Weisskirchen.
The operation
was to begin no
later than
October 6,
1915. As the
battle raged
along the rivers
the wounded were
sent to
Surtschin where
the school
served as a
hospital. The
Sava River was
crossed on
October 12th
during a
thunderstorm.
The local Serbs
were molested by
the
Austro-Hungarian
forces and men
were taken to
the fortress at
Peterwardein and
women and
children were
sent to Vukovar
to stay with
their own
countrymen.
When they came
home their
houses and
property were a
mess. This was
due to the
quartering of
the troops and
horses in their
homes. But
truth be said,
some of the
Swabians helped
themselves at
their Serbian
neighbour’s
expense. In the
future Surtschin
was no longer in
danger.
In October 1918
peace came but
the future of
the Danube
Swabians looked
grim. The
Austro-Hungarian
Empire was no
more and
Surtschin was
now in the
Kingdom of the
Serbs, Croats
and Slovenes
which became
known as
Yugoslavia.
Many took
revenge on the
Danube Swabian
population.
They usually
came at night
and plundered
their homes and
beat them, both
men and women.
Fortunately this
did not last too
long and life
together between
the Serbs and
Swabians
normalized. But
the right to
vote was not
given to the
Swabians until
1922.
With the
founding of the
new state of
Yugoslavia the
other minorities
sought to
maintain some
rights of their
own. This was
especially true
of the Danube
Swabians,
Slovaks and
Hungarians in
particular. The
Croat masses
were opposed to
a “union” with
the Serbs which
led to disputes,
threats and
beatings in
parliament
itself. The
basis of the
conflict was the
aspirations of
Greater Serbia
that saw the
Serbs at the
head of the new
state. They
used terror
against the
nationalities
who opposed
them. The
Croats desired
an autonomous
state of their
own. They
pointed out that
they had more
rights and
autonomy under
the Habsburgs
than they did in
the new state.
The conflict
would not be
resolved and the
other minorities
including the
500,000 Danube
Swabians awaited
the
implementation
of the minority
rights
guaranteed at
Trianon.
The Danube
Swabians were
given the option
to resettle in
Hungary or
Austria up until
January 22, 1922
and as a result
they could not
vote until after
that date. Only
a few did; often
intelligentsia
who had majored
in Hungarian as
their language
of education or
commerce.
Political
turmoil would
follow in the
years to come
and then Adolph
Hitler came upon
the scene and
the fate of the
people of
Surtschin was
sealed with no
one really
realizing it at
the time.
With the start
of the Second
World War in
September 1939
Germany sought
to win
Yugoslavia as an
ally.
Yugoslavia
sought to remain
neutral and yet
maintain its
lucrative
economic
connections with
the Nazi state.
But the
“nationalities”
were restless
again.
Yugoslavia built
up its border
defences during
the
non-aggression
pact between
Germany and the
Soviet Union.
Bulgaria and
Romania their
neighbours had
joined the Axis
Powers. As the
government
sought a re-approachment
with Germany and
considered an
“alliance” the
Serb
nationalists
were vehemently
opposed to it.
An agreement was
reached with
Germany on March
25, 1941 in
Vienna. Before
the delegation
could return to
Belgrade the
radio reported
that Air General
Simovic had
taken power in a
military coup
and King Peter
and his advisors
had fled the
county and that
Yugoslav would
ignore the
recently signed
treaty.
The first order
of the new
military
government was
the arming of
the Serb
civilian
population.
Extreme
nationalist
organizations
sent out roving
bands into the
Danube Swabian
areas to
terrorize the
population. A
general
mobilisation was
ordered
including the
Danube
Swabians.
Strangely enough
the Danube
Swabians
complied. They
did so also in
terms of
supplies and
requisitions of
horses and
wagons. There
were no acts of
sabotage on the
part of the
Danube
Swabians.
In Surtschin
armed Serbian
civilians did
sentry duty day
and night on the
streets where
the Germans
lived. Curfew
was in effect as
well as
blackouts. Many
Swabian women
were afraid to
sleep at home
alone with their
men gone off to
the army. They
stayed with
friends or
relatives. The
old men took
turns keeping
watch. Pillows
were stuffed in
the front
windows to
cushion
bullets. More
men were taken
as hostages
including Pastor
Lohmann and put
in jail. The
Lutheran church
and schools were
closed and the
population
became more and
more afraid of
what would
happen next.
Everyone
breathed a sight
of relief when
the pastor was
released on Good
Friday and
allowed to hold
a service to
comfort and
strengthen his
flock for what
lay ahead.
Another ray of
light was that
the other
hostages
remained in the
local jail and
were not taken
to Peterwardein
like the
Swabians in
other
districts.
On April 6, 1941
without a
declaration of
war Belgrade was
bombed by the
Luftwaffe. The
Yugoslavian
forces were in
disarray. On
Easter Day the
German troops
passed through
Surtschin. It
was all over.
And so was
Yugoslavia. It
was
dismembered.
The occupation
of Yugoslavia by
the Third Reich
and its
Hungarian allies
gave the Croats
the opportunity
to be free of
Serbian control
after 22 years.
On April 10th
the Independent
State of Croatia
was declared in
Agram (Zagreb).
The German Army
were greeted as
liberators as
they marched
into the city.
On April 15th
Pavelic returned
from Italian
exile and was
declared
“Poglavnik” of
the new
government, the
minister
president.
The new state
included:
Slavonia,
Croatia,
Syrmien, Bosnia
and Herczegovina.
Most of
Slovenia,
Istrien,
Dalmatia,
Montenegro and
southern Bosnia
were occupied by
Italy.
Macedonia was
occupied by
Bulgaria and
Hungary annexed
the Batschka.
The rest of what
remained was a
very small
Serbia to which
the Banat was
attached. The
new “Serbian”
government was
under the
control of the
German military
and a military
governor.
The Croats began
a reign of
terror against
the Serbian
civilian
population. The
Ustaschi began
to torment the
Serbs and
deported many of
them to the new
Serbia. They
were the
fortunate ones.
The Serbs saw
the Croats and
Germans as their
enemies and
organized
resistance
against them.
They fled to the
forests and
mountains and
became
Partisans. Soon
Slavonia and
Syrmien were
insecure as
Partisans raided
the villages,
blew up train
tracks,
disrupted
communications
and shot members
of the Ustaschi
and members of
the occupying
German Army.
This led to
hostage taking
of Serbian
civilians on the
part of the
Croats and
Germans many of
whom were
executed in
retaliation for
Partisan
actions. The
Partisans
responded with
rather bestial
reprisals.
Slavonia became
the scene of
bitter warfare.
This cost the
lives of many of
the Danube
Swabians called
up to join the
Waffen-SS and
used in the
campaign against
the Partisans.
In Surtschin
things remained
quiet as the
local Serbs were
cooperative and
responsive to
their Swabian
neighbours. In
1944 some minor
shootings took
place but there
were no
casualties. The
older Swabian
men who had not
been conscripted
into the army
stood sentry
duty at night on
each street.
They would have
been no match
for a Partisan
attack. On one
occasion two men
were wounded.
That nothing
worse occurred
must have been
due to the
Serbian
inhabitants of
the village.
The road to
Semlin and
Belgrade was
open if flight
became
necessary.
But four men
were missing,
kidnapped by the
Partisans and
they were never
heard from
again. In the
neighbourhood
random killings
became routine
and the
scattered
Swabian
population
headed for
Surtschin and
Neu Pasua for
refuge.
As the Russian
Army advanced on
Belgrade in 1944
the Swabians
wondered if
flight would be
necessary for
them as it had
during the First
World War. Many
began to bury
their valuables
just in case.
At the beginning
of October there
was a canon
barrage. Flight
was necessary
but where? The
Batschka and the
Banat had
already been
penetrated by
Russian troops.
On October 5,
1944 the flight
began in
Surtschin.
With the
capitulation of
Romania on
August 23, 1944
a catastrophe
for the Danube
Swabians was
unleashed. In
the Banat only
very few were
able to escape
but more were
able to leave
the Batschka
before the
arrival of the
Russian Army.
In Slavonia and
Syrmien the vast
majority of the
civilian
population was
evacuated in
October 1944.
The leader of
the German Folk
Group
organization,
Brandimir
Altgayer asked
for information
on an evacuation
of the Danube
Swabians in
Croatia. The
Reich ambassador
in Agram,
Sigfried Kasche
spoke against
such a move. He
felt the Croats
would get upset
and would see
the flight of
the Danube
Swabians as a
collapse of the
south eastern
front.
Ferdinand
Gasteiger was
sent to Berlin
by Altgayer to
ask for
clarification of
the possibility
of an
evacuation. He
flew from Semlin
to Berlin on
September 11th.
He was able to
gain the support
of the Reich
government for
the evacuation.
He returned home
on September 14th.
Planning began
for an organized
evacuation and
orders were
distributed to
the local
organizations to
plan to leave
with the
assurance that
they had the
consent of the
Reich
government.
This took three
weeks. On
October 3rd
the SS Führer
Kammerhofer
informed the
Folk Group
leaders that a
telegram had
been received
for them to
leave. On
October 4th
at 8:00 am
Gasteiger was in
India, at noon
in
Franztal-Semlin
and in the
afternoon he was
in Belgrade to
arrange for
trains and
locomotives to
transport the
city dwellers in
Semlin who were
without
transportation.
On October 5th
the first column
of the wagon
trek left
Surtschin
heading to the
west. They
passed through
Semlin, India,
Irig and Ruma
and were under
constant
artillery attack
by the
Partisans. They
headed across
the Drava River
at Essegg on a
pontoon bridge
and then crossed
Hungary on to
Austria.
On their way
through
Yugoslavia they
passed through
Partisan
infested areas
that attacked
the columns both
day and night.
People died
every day.
Almost
miraculously
120,000 of them
escaped the
coming terror of
the Partisans on
the Danube
Swabians who
remained behind
or had been
unable to join
the evacuation.
The people of
Surtschin had no
knowledge of an
evacuation plan
being prepared
by the Folk
Group
leadership.
They paid
attention to
both the
political and
military
situation. The
frontlines were
coming closer
and the sounds
of artillery
were distinct.
Then came
October 5, 1944,
the last day
Surtschin was
the home of its
Danube Swabian
population.
Early in the
morning between
4:00 and 5:00 am
people were
awakened by
rapping sounds
on their windows
and told the
village had to
be evacuated by
noon. Each
family was to
send one person
to the Deustche Gasse to get
more
information.
They were told
to get wagons
ready to head
for India or
Ruma. There
they would be
transferred to
trains. But no
one knew their
destination.
Families with no
transportation
would be
provided with
wagons. Jakob
Klauser, the
mayor, was to be
in charge
assisted by
Andreas
Scheuermann.
Many Serbs
offered their
wagons to needy
families.
People were to
take supplies
with them but
not to overload
their wagons.
Young boys and
girls were to
herd pigs, cows
and sheep to the
railway station
in Semlin.
People rushed to
their houses.
Some stopped to
find out if some
were staying
behind. The old
people who had
survived the
flight during
the First World
War counselled
the young people
to leave the
future battle
zone. The fear
of retaliation
by the Partisans
was another
incentive to
leave.
By noon, 250
loaded wagons
assembled on the
main street.
Several families
stayed behind.
They just could
not leave their
homes. The trek
started out at
5:00 pm and they
headed for
Beschanija the
birthplace of
their bishop.
It was damp and
cold. Next day
they headed
towards Neu
Pasua. One of
the women died
on the way.
It was fortunate
that almost the
entire community
left. This was
not true of the
communities
through which
they passed on
the way who
would become
victims of the
extermination
camps of Tito
and the
Partisans. It
was because of
Pastor Lohmann
that almost the
entire Danube
Swabian
population of
Surtschin left.
In reality he
led the trek
column. He was
an inspiration
to his people
and at his
urging the local
Orthodox priest
and his family
joined them.
Arriving at both
India and Ruma
there were no
trains to take
them any further
and so they had
to go on.
Somehow they
were able to
avoid Partisan
raids and
entered
Hungary. They
endured bombing
raids and
eventually
reached Austria
in the Linz
area. It had
taken four
weeks. The trek
was most
difficult for
infants and
toddlers and
their mothers.
There were over
50 of them and
they had no
regular milk
supply. Most
wagons did not
have a covering
and rain was
constant.
Adults and the
older children
walked to lessen
the load the
horses had to
lug.
Arriving in
Austria they
were met with
hostility on the
part of the
local
population.
They were called
Gypsies. They
were dispersed
throughout the
area. After the
surrender in
1945 the
Austrians were
even more open
in their
hostility and
displeasure at
the presence of
refugees. They
were not allowed
to use buses or
trains and in
most schools
their children
were refused
enrolment. As a
result many
began leaving
for Germany.
Most of them
registered as Ungarn Deutsche
(German
Hungarians) and
were allowed to
leave Austria.
Those who had
remained in
Surtschin found
the deserted
German quarter
of the village
unnatural and it
made them feel
awful. The
livestock left
behind bellowed.
Cows had to be
milked. Cattle
and pigs were in
need of pasture
and grazing.
Abandoned dogs
howled in their
yards. The
remaining
Swabians became
more fearful day
by day. The few
men who remained
and some German
troops patrolled
the German
streets. Few
ever slept. On
October 9th
six families
decided to leave
and try to catch
up with the trek
from Surtschin.
They were
successful in
doing so at
India.
Several old
women remained
at home along
with ten
families who had
no wagon or
other kind of
transportation.
Most of them
were picked up a
few days later
by the German
military who
took them by
lorry to India
and Ruma where
they boarded
trains for
Austria. Some
of them ended up
in the
Sudetenland
while others
were sent to
Lower Austria.
After the
capitulation in
May 1945 those
in the
Sudetenland were
forced to
leave. They
came back to
Yugoslavia by
train as far as
Subotitza where
they were thrown
into an
internment
camp. After two
weeks of hunger,
suffering and
fear all of
their belongings
and other
possessions were
taken from them
and they were
herded on foot
towards the
Hungarian
border. The
families
scattered to
different
villages along
the frontier.
In March 1946
they joined the
Danube Swabians
from that area
of Hungary in
cattle cars
during the
expulsion
ordered at
Potsdam.
The families in
Lower Austria
were forced to
leave following
the entry of the
Russian Army and
were sent to
Yugoslavia.
They formed a
small column of
wagons along
with some people
from Dobanovci
and headed for
home. They had
to report to the
Russians in
every area they
entered. They
crossed the
border to
Yugoslavia at
Vilanj and were
driven on foot
into a camp. As
of June 17, 1945
the Yugoslavian
border had been
closed and no
one was allowed
to enter. That
was their great
fortune. They
escaped the
death camps and
managed to save
their meagre
possessions. On
March 12, 1946
they were also
deported along
with the local
Danube Swabians
of Hungary to
Austria and
finally
Germany.
All that
remained behind
in Surtschin
were a few older
women and two
families. The
two married
couples:
Neumann and
Renner were shot
by the
Partisans. The
Renners left
five children
behind who were
sent to an
extermination
camp and no
trace of any of
them has ever
been found. Of
the older women,
all of them
widows, we only
know they were
shot at some
time: Mrs.
Lapp, Spinner,
Greilach and
Weber.
Elisabeth Gayer
was also taken
to the
internment camp
in Semlin along
with the five
Renner children
and was able to
escape in 1946
to Germany to
rejoin her
family. She
came alone.
