Anna and Franz Sommer

This photo is of Anna and Franz Sommer parents of Katharina Arnusch and Regina Sommer Los.   Katharina was born in Setschan, Yugoslavia on 23 March, 1915.  Regina was born in Klek Yugoslavia on 13 September, 1917. 

It appears that Anna may have been pregnant at the time this photo was taken, possibly shortly before Franz left for the war.  He served in the Austrian Hungary Army in Italy.  We know that he died in Italy but do not know the location or exact date.  Katharina believed that he died in 1917.

Franz Sommer and Karl Muhr

This is a photo of Franz Sommer with his brother-in-law Karl Muhr taken prior to 1917.  The photograph appears to be from the same time period as the earlier post showing Franz in his military uniform. 

Sommer and Muhr Family

Within our family we seem to have the fewest details and photographs from the Sommer and Muhr branch of the family.  Anna Muhr Sommer and Franz Sommer were the parents of Katharina Sommer Arnusch.

We are lucky to have any photographs this old.   Between the wars and family members forced to flee the country to save their lives most possessions were lost. 

Franz Sommer was born in 13 March 1885 in Setschen, Yugoslavia.  He was the son of Franz Sommer and Anna Fendt Sommer.


Anna Muhr Sommer was born 23 August 1891 also in Setschen, Yugoslavia.  She was the daughter of Michael Muhr and Margaretha Lech Muhr.

America at Last!

The Arnusch family was finally on their way after paperwork and tearful good-byes.  First there was the train ride then photos before boarding the ship.

  Before leaving Bremerhaven at least two photos were taken. The first shows the Arnusch and Steffans families. Back row, left to right: Nikolas Arnusch, Andreas Arnusch, Katharina Arnusch, Mrs. Steffens, a Steffans daughter, Mr. Steffans and the only Steffans son. Front row, left to right: Hans Arnusch, Franz Arnusch and another Steffans daughter.

The second photo was of the three Arnusch boys.  Left to right are:  Nicholas, Franz and Hans.
  

They traveled aboard the General C C Ballou arriving in New York on 12 April 1952.  Leaving from the port of Bremerhaven, Germany the Arnusch family traveled with some friends, the Steffans family. Although the families were not able to stay in touch it is believed that the Steffans' settled in the east, possibly New York.

From New York the Arnusch family was scheduled to travel by train to Nebraska then on to Colorado by bus.  They had a job working on the farm of the Adolf Lebsack family. 

Our family tells the story that their tickets were to travel by train to McCook, Nebraska then get off the train there to go by bus.  Since they did not speak English it took a few minutes to recognize the name at the stop and the train began to move.  Before they could jump from the train a conductor stopped them, looked at their tickets and told them to stay aboard.  The train would be traveling through Keenesburg although it was not a scheduled stop.  The only day in many years that the train had stopped at Keenesburg was to let the Arnusch family off.

The Beginnings of the Donauschwaben Banat

Many people in the United States today are of German heritage.  Some of them trace their roots back to Russia and call themselves the Volga Germans.  Their history includes stories of immigration and broken promises.  Our history is very similar but we come from an area to the south, the Banat province of Austria-Hungary.

The history of the Banat is as difficult to explain as it must have been, at times, to live there.  Over the years it has held many names in many languages. Today you will find our ancestral home, Georgshausen, is Velida Greda in the South Banat District of the province of Vojvodina, Serbia.  

Schwabia was one of the provinces of the southern and western part of Germany where the German who traveled to the Banat originated.  They were called Schwabians. Later the term Donauschwaben came to be used to distinguish the Schwabins from southeastern Europe.  Donau meaning Danube (as the river Danube) and Schwaben meaning the people of Schwabia.

There was much to attract these hard working Germans to the Banat.  Land was free, they were promised self-governance and were guaranteed protection under the Hapsburg Emperor.  They became the first free peasants in Hungary if not in all of Europe.

In three Schwabenzug, or Schwabia Migrations, our people traveled to the area north of the Danube river to establish settlements.  The first Schwabenzug was from 1722-1726.  The second, under Empress Maria Theresia, from 1762-1769.  The third, under Emperor Josef II beginning in 1780.  By that time descendants of the first and second migrations were forming  new villages.  Georgshausen was established in the winter of 1787 through the spring of 1788.

Heading Away From Home to a New Land

The Andreas Arnusch family leaving for the United States.

Sometimes you must leave a place before you can look back and appreciate it, question your life there and move on.

In our family this photo is famous.  It has come to represent everything that has happened since their arrival in the United States.  It also represents the bravery and strong will of people who choose to make a new life in a new land.

This photo was taken of the family aboard a train at Bremen, Germany.  Left to right are Andreas Arnusch, his sons Nikolaus, Hans, Franz and his wife Katharina.  In their eyes you can see many of the emotions they were feeling; a little joy, a little apprehension, and certainly hope.  They were leaving behind them, as much as anyone can, the fear and uncertainty of World War II, but also family and friends many of whom they would never see again. 

I often wonder what the boys must have been thinking, but they don't talk about the past very much.  Nik was 16, Hans 10 and Franz just 2. 

This is their story.  Through pictures and words I will share what I know of their past and where this train trip ultimately led them.