27 May 2008
Internet Cafe
Stuttgart, Germany
We arrived safely in Stuttgart from Odessa, Ukraine, evening of 26 May.
Today we visited the headquarters of the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland and the Bessarabiendeutschen Verein. Ingo Isert, head of the Bessarabian German society visited with the tour group about the history and culture. The Bessarabiendeutschen Verein is preparing for their Bundestreffen or National Gathering for Sunday, 1 June where Horst Koehler, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, will speak. I am looking forward to attending this important event on Sunday.
Tour members will take a day trip to Alsace, France on 28 May and then they return to USA and Canada on 30 May.
Here are some memories from tour members of their visits to their ancestral German villages near Odessa, Ukraine between 23-25 May 2008:
Esther Opp Mertz, Napoleon, North Dakota
“One of the highlights of this trip was definitely the search for the Neu Glueckstal village. The place where the former Glueckstal church stood was replaced by a school house.
Then it was a search for the cemetery where the Mertz ancestors had been buried. We searched where there was a big grove of lilac trees or tall bushes. There was a stone of cement in the form of a tree trunk as some later marker. Lilac bushes on grave sites was so common of early German settlers. After walking around, we found one tall monument in the grass but could not read the writing on it. Also in the thick bushes were several more grave stone markers but could not be read them. This was the highlight of my trip and I am convinced it is where my great grandparents and roots of my ancestors on the Mertz´s are buried in Neu Glueckstal, today in Ukraine.”
Sylvia Feiock Frahm, Florida
“This trip was a dream come true visiting and walking on the soil of my grandparents was a remarkable experience. We spent overnight in Glueckstal with a wonderful family who were so gracious with fresh fruit and vegetables from their garden as well as eggs from their chickens. Leaving the village of Hoffnungsburg, I met an old woman who told me all about the
cemetery of my ancestors.”
Emil Eberhardt, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with roots to Eureka, South Dakota
“I was impressed by the church buildings at the center of the villages. I was saddened by the disrepair of most churches. I was stunned how some of those churches were used for storage of grain. Some churches have been used for more respectful uses such as schools and community centers. As I looked at the church buildings in severe disrepair, I kept remembering, the church is not a building, the church is a people who call themselves followers of Jesus. That church will continue to exist and repair well in the future.”
Allean Mertz Boschee, Crookston, Minnesota, with roots to Napoleon, North Dakota
“It was an experience of a lifetime to walk and visit where my ancestors came from. I better understand that many were hesitant to talk about their lives before coming to America. I can see many resemblances to the Dakotas such as beautiful valleys. But I felt a sadness that many of the churches were gone and so much destruction.
It was a joy to share this tour with family members and to make new friendships.”
Penny Kramer Eberhardt, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with roots to Eureka, South Dakota
“I better understand why our ancestors missed some parts of their life in Russia. The fertile soil, the large fields of wheat, the vineyards and fruit trees, where greatly missed when compared with the hilly rocky soil, no trees and endless wind in the Dakotas.
When I consider all the hardships our ancestors endured, first in Germany, then the long trip to Russia, the hard difficult years in Russia, the long ship ride to America, and finally the settling of the Dakota prairies, disease, childbirth complications, so forth - it is miracle that any one
of us was born. I am grateful for each and everyone of my ancestral family.”
Julie Opp Burgum, Casselton, North Dakota, with roots to Napoleon, North Dakota
“The journey to our homeland helped me to understand my heritage. Visiting in the home of Marta Kammerer in Glueckstal reminded me of my grandmother - dress, apron and kerchief. I was surprised at the primitive conditions with no hot water or indoor bathroom. This trip helped me to appreciate the strong desire of our ancestors to improve their lives.”
Dorothy Roth Rapson, Alberta
“The highlight of the trip was to visit Speier where our mother was born and lived until she was 26 years old. The good part was that the church was still there and the cemetery. My sister, Isabelle, and I sprinkled our Alberta soil at the Speier cemetery and at the Kandel cemetery. I was moved to tears visiting Kandel and Speier as I was always close to my parents. Thank you for this great experience.”
Note: Additional memories of tour members will be included with a future web page at the website of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, NDSU Library, Fargo.
With best wishes from Stuttgart,
Michael M. Miller
