The Danube Swabian Foundation of the U.S.A., Inc.
Die Donauschwaebische Stiftung der USA, Inc.
The Oma Abt Youth Heritage Award
6th year’s (2019) essay topic was:
What does it mean to be a Donauschwabe?
OMA ABT YOUTH HERITAGE AWARD RESULTS 2019
1st place: Ava Fabian Cleveland Donauschaben 2nd place: Stephanie Mayer Chicago Donauschwaben 3rd place: Mathew Slabinger Chicago American Aid Society
Their Entries:
Ava Fabian Cleveland Donauschwaben
Wo Dein Herz Ist, Bist Du Zuhause
The words “Donauschwaben” and “Heimatland” are not ones that can be easily defined by a simple internet search. They are two complex words that are given meaning by those who have known struggle and conflict. The people that give the two words meaning have been able to create better lives with their culture close to their hearts despite their hardships. One of these people is a family member who I had the chance to interview. She is someone who remembers the heimatland and lives a life filled with joy because of her family and her culture. Lia Krentz agreed to share her story and show her perspective of the events in her early life. With her story, she created a clearer perception of the Donauschwaben identity for me. In our interview, Lia Krentz recalled a string of memories that spanned from her childhood experience to adjusting as a new immigrant in the United States. In a very relaxed conversation, she spoke about as many details that she could recall in between that time. What we had planned to be a short and sweet interview turned into an extended conversation that I found to be unbelievably enriching. Her story portrayed the strength of her family to make the journey from Yugoslavia to Germany and eventually to the United States. Some of the topics of the story became too emotional for Mrs. Krentz to expand upon but the stories she was able to talk about influenced the way I think about the Donauschwaben identity far more than expected. My previous perception of the Donauschwaben identity had already evolved from my views as a younger child. I used to believe that being Donauschwaben was just a label, a category that I fit into that had simple meanings. Donauschwaben meant wearing traditional dress on special occasions, participating in the dance group, and listening to my oma with no questions asked. Over time, the word became more to me, it became a sense of belonging and knowing that there is a rich history in my lineage. And now, after speaking with Mrs. Krentz, I see that the Donauschwaben identity is a way of life, a state of mind, and a feeling in my heart. One of the recurring themes of Mrs. Krentz’s story was family, which now means more to me than ever. Mrs. Krentz’s family was a force to be reckoned with and stood by each other when they had to flee for their lives, endure a near impossible journey and create a new life from the ashes of an old one. I now see that the very foundation of the Donauschwaben identity is family and community. The way that my ancestors and all of the Donauschwaben people relied on each other was what pulled them through their difficult experiences and what brought them joy. Today, family and community have the same function and are what will keep the Donauschwaben identity alive throughout generations. The embracing family that is Donauschwaben community is what raises children to keep traditions alive. From birth, connections start to be made with one another and values are instilled. Values of dedication, respect, courage and passion towards the thing that connects us all. No matter where we are in the world, if someone is Donauschwaben, we are connected by our ancestral roots and our hearts have a home in that place. The Donauschwaben identity is not abandoning the culture that nurtured us through life with and abundance of love and steadfast loyalty. As Donauschwaben descendants, we identify as strong willed people that like our ancestors, thrive despite obstacles in our way and hold those around us close. The Donauschwaben identity through the lens of family is one of true belonging. I have come to see how family and community allows each individual to have a home for their hearts through shared passion and culture. This culture is one of spirited music, joyful dancing, rich language and strong values. A person who grows up with the Donauschwaben identity is a person who is raised to appreciate ancestry, value hard work, believe in the power of faith, and dream of preserving all the blessings of life. My hope is that my current perception of the Donauschwaben identity will continue to grow stronger through the love and support of my own family and community because everything that they are to me is heimat.
Stephanie Mayer Chicago Donauschwaben
My Donauschwaben Identity.
I am fortunate enough to have two Omas who are still living and are able to share their amazing stories with me. Oma Hildegard is from northern Germany, and Oma Waltraud is from southern Germany. Oma Hildegard was born in Oberschlesien which is now Poland. During the war, the Russians came, and her family was forced to leave the farm and get on cattle trains. Her cousin had already moved to America, and told her to come. She left her family at the age of 22 to see what America had to offer. In 1958, she boarded a freight ship with 40 other passengers in Bremerhaven. She took night school classes to learn English. Now at the age of 83, she continues to enforce her values and German culture in her grandchildrens’ lives. Oma Waltraud came from Czechoslovakia, which is now called the Czech Republic. She left Czechoslovakia to go to the Baltic sea with her mom when she was 1 year old. Her father fought in World War II in the German Army. For many years her family thought he was killed in the war since they didn’t hear from him for a very long time. Fortunately, the Red Cross reunited them in Schwabenland after the war was over. She was only 18 when she was married and came to Chicago. I can’t imagine getting married so young and leaving my family like she did. Both of my parents were enrolled in the Donauschwaben Wochenendschule. My parents enrolled my brother and I to keep the language and culture alive. Unfortunately my Opas passed before they could see us graduate from the Wochenendschule, but you could see how proud my Omas were when we graduated. I was in Kindergruppe, and I am currently in Jugendgruppe. I have made amazing friends through this group, and we all have a common thread through being descendants of the Donauschwaben and other parts of Germany. Each of us has a story of where our families came from. We have connected through our ancestors’ common struggles, obstacles, tragedies, and sadness. We also shared the joy and happiness in who they became and the new experiences they had after coming to America. Their hard work and sacrifices are the main things that have created my impression of the Schwobs. Their bravery in leaving behind possessions as they were forced to move West during the war makes me feel more gratitude towards their accomplishments. Through all of this, I see that no matter what good or bad experiences they have gone through, they never forget who they are and where they come from. I am reminded every day of my culture, morals, and values through both my parents and my Omas. I will continue to share their experiences so that their stories will never be forgotten. It is a huge part of my life that will never fade away. I am a Schwob and I am proud.
Matthew Slabinger ChicagoAmerican Aid Society
What does it mean to be a Donauschwabe?
According to the dictionary, it means…well it’s not actually in the dictionary, but it should be. Being a Donauschwabe is such a unique word that it has different meanings for every single person who calls themselves one. Each definition is associated with a life-altering story. Hearing my Opa’s story changed my perspective about my life and the world. I can’t imagine living a life where people just storm into your town, kick you out of your home, take all your belongings, and starve you to death. One thing I will always remember from his multitude of stories is Opa risking his life for the family photo album. The photo album was in a heavily guarded storage unit. I have seen that album a hundred times before and never realized how lucky we are to have it and that my 11-year-old Opa was smart enough to grab the photos instead of toys or clothing. Most people take family photos for granted but I don’t anymore. It makes me stop and think of how lucky I actually am based on my family’s past. Asking for anything now makes me feel guilty knowing how little my relatives had and knowing howhappy they were to have that. After interviewing Opa, being a Schwob means something entirely different to me. I was fortunate that I was able to go and visit my Opa’s hometown of Gudritz, Yugoslavia. Going from an affluent suburb of Chicago to a village in the middle of nowhere was a once in a lifetime experience. The roofs were caving in on the house; there was one store in the entire town, and the cemetery was so overgrown that when we were hunting for our relative’s graves, the grass was taller than me and we could not find any. It was sad that our ancestors are treated with so little respect. My only regret is that I wish that I could have been a little older, so I could appreciate the enormity of it all. Before we went to visit “da heim,” my understanding of what a Schwob meant was very limited and came mostly from history books. However, the knowledge gained from listening to Opa’s past and visiting his hometown has redefined my notion. Being a Donauschwaben is an honor and a privilege. The situations presented to the Donauschwaben and the hardships they endured granted traits like bravery, persistence, empathy, and a whole lot more that would take me days to list out. It is why every time you go to Oma and Opa’s house you are stuffed with food and sent home with enough cookies to feed an army. Now I know that being a Donauschwaben defines you as the kind of person everyone wishes they could be. That is what Donauschwaben means in my dictionary.