Wroclaw History - A Brief Retrospective
Wroclaw is a town with a more colourful and torrid history than most. Located at the crossroads of Central Europe it has found itself embroiled in more than its fair share of fracas and power struggles. Today it is a town rising from the ashes of World War II and Communism, and once again is emerging as a cosmopolitan centre of commerce - a face that has defined its character through so much of history.
The first permanent settlers in Wroclaw were the Slavic Slezan tribe, who built a stronghold on the island of Ostrow Tumski sometime in the 9th century. (Ostrow Tumski is no longer an island since an arm of the river Odra was filled in 1810). Later this settlement was absorbed into Czech territory from where the name Wroclaw is thought to have been derived - after a Czech leader by the name of Wrocislaw. It wasn't until around 990AD that Prince Mieszko I, of the Piast dynasty and founder of the Polish state, seized control of Wroclaw and incorporated the region of Silesia into Poland.
By 1000 Wroclaw must have already been a town of some prominence as King Boleslaw the Brave established one of three bishoprics here, the other two being established in Krakow and Kolobrzeg: as a result the town became the religious centre of Silesia. Wroclaw continued to grow in the next two centuries mainly due to its thriving trade economy and craftsmanship; however in 1241, along with most of southern Poland, the city fell foul of the marauding Tartar army and was razed to the ground.
The town leaders used this misfortune as an opportunity to rebuild the city around a massive Market Square on the south side of the river - the same Market Square that you can still see today. This ambitious building program was a success and soon Wroclaw was enjoying a healthy revival; however in 1336, the last of the Piast Princes died and the duchy of Silesia was annexed to Bohemia - despite the efforts of King Casimir III of Poland to hold onto it. His failure to do so meant that it was six hundred years until Wroclaw was returned to Polish hands.
Wroclaw, or Prezzla as it begins to be known as, continued to flourish under Bohemian rule and in 1387 gained admittance into the Hanseatic League, a powerful conglomeration of trading cities (think of it as a medieval version of G8!). The winds of change picked up again in the 16th century when King Ludwig died in battle, leaving no heirs, and the Bohemian estate elected Duke Ferdinand, of the Austrian line of Habsburgs, as King. Now Wroclaw was under Austrian rule.
The early 17th century saw a marked downturn in fortunes for Wroclaw, as both the Thirty Years' War (1618-48) and the plague took their toll on the city - indeed this period saw the population reduced by half. However when the warring factions of Europe eventually signed the Treaty of Westphalia and brought an end to the fighting, it was business as usual for Wroclaw and an economic and cultural revival began.
The next chapter in the city's colourful history began in 1741 when King Frederick II seized Lower Silesia and brought it under Prussian rule. It was he who officially gave the city its German name of Breslau (or Prezzla), although it had been used for many centuries before by the large ethnic German population. Wroclaw spent the next two hundred years in German hands and by the end of the 19th century it was the third largest Prussian city behind Berlin and Hamburg, and began to be heavily industrialised.
When the Nazis seized power in 1933 the last vestiges of the city's Polish origins were all but gone, and the 20,000 Poles still living there (along with the Jews) were politely asked to leave. Wroclaw, or Breslau as it had then been known for 200 years, was so Germanised by that time that it eventually became the last stronghold of the Nazis. It was the last town to surrender to the Soviets, after a 14-week siege, on May 6th 1945.
After the war, as a result of the Potsdam conference, Wroclaw was handed back to Poland as the whole country was effectively shifted westwards. The remainder of the German residents were expelled and the city was re-populated by Poles from Lwow (now the Ukranian town of Lviv), which was lost to the Soviet Union, Wilno (now the Lithuanian town of Vilnius) as well as many arrivals from Warsaw and Poznan. The new settlers, or 'pioneers' as they were called, inherited a foreign city that was 70% destroyed.
In the sixty years since the war Wroclaw has had to undergo a painful rebuilding process, as well as having to survive and recuperate from the terrors and hardships of Communism and Soviet oppression. In 1989 however, when Poland held it's first elections and saw off the Russian regime, the city put the dark times behind it, and the last decade has seen its successful re-emergence as the economic, cultural and academic centre it has been for so much of history.
Comments
I was in Breslau on a couple occasions when my mother went from Wilkau to Breslau on buying trips for or Grocery and Sundry Store for supplies, during 1944 and expierenced some of the Air raids. Thunderstorms bring back some of those bad memories. Was around 6 years old, but walking down into the Air Raid shelter, you never forget. My Great-grandfather Christian Wegehaupt was a Math Professor at Breslau now Wroclaw University and my Grandfather Karl Emil Wegehaupt was the Postal Inspector for the city of Breslau until he retired to Karlsruhe Schlesien a few years before the end of the War. Both my father Gerhard und mother Martha Schwarz Wegehaupt were born in Breslau. They met at a youth function at one of the ‘Old Lutherischen’ Churches in Breslau. There were a couple of them, and I don’t remember the name. One of things, when they would talk about those days, I should have taken notes.
ReplyHello. I am tracing my family heritage that came out of Breslau in 1912. Two Families of not are the Scholz family ( Herman and Gertrude Scholz) and Poikhurt (not sure about the spelling) . My grandmother (Anne-liese Scholz) and her younger sister Heartha Louisa Clara Scholz both left Breslau for Brisbane Australia in 1912. Anne was about 11 years old at the time. There is a connection with the Sanatorium Friedrichshohe (Bad Obernigk) . I have found pictures and letters from this era. And my father says that the family owned the Sanatorium before leaving for Australia, but they may have worked there as management.
ReplyJust looking up my grandmother's student report card I guess which led my here, dob January 2 1923. Her name was Anneliese Bleisch. Know she lived in Worclaw up until being forced to leave, guessing 1945ish.
ReplyHi Christopher, My Scholz family are also from Breslau area , but left in 1869 for Brisbane by himself . He married a German widow with two young girls they then moved to Stanthorpe where they had three sons . One of them was my great grandfather who followed the gold rush to NZ and never returned. So there was a disconnect with his History so I am now trying connect the dots and using DNA , I have found relatives in South Australia and the USA . Have you done a DNA Test as its the only way to make real connections . I have also used Genealogists in Poland but a lot of Church records were lost during the War so its not easy. All the best with your journey of discovery. Regards, Ken Scholz
ReplyMy father , Walter,(Wolfgang), Prause, was also born here in 1943, and forced to come to Australia with his mother Dorothea Prause around the same time. Would love to know more and if we have relatives who were also made to escape. I know some went to Canda and France
ReplyHello Ken. Sorry for the late reply. I just don't know how to keep track of all of these different platforms. My great grandfather Hermann Scholz had a "brother" or an "Uncle" by the name of Karl ( Carl Scholz) he owned the gunsmith store in George street Brisbane. I believe he had property in Stanthorpe for a while. He also did some prospecting in Western Australia if recollection serves me correctly.
ReplyTo answer your question about DNA test, I believe my sister has done a test. Adding to my earlier reply, I believe Karl Scholz was going to be drafted into the Prussian Army, but bolted for Western Australia instead. This was probably back in the late 1800's . He married a girl of Irish decent ( Sarah) . I remember dad talking about an Aunty Sarah who could not speak German. When her husbands brothers came to visit, she thought they were talking about her. So she took and axe and cut into some furniture. The men thought it was such a joke, that they smashed up the rest. Ken, my email is chris.clausen1967@gmail.com . Until I work out how to jump onto this Local-life.com better, it will be easier to communicate via email.
ReplyYes that is what my mother and uncle mentioned about what happened to Breslau/Wroclaw also our ancestors to Saint Hedwig and her husband Henry I the Bearded. Thank you for the information about Wroclaw history.
ReplyAlso my Ancestors to Saint Hedwig and her husband is Henry I the Bearded. I learned that the Statue of Saint Hedwig there. Wow! I feel so proud!
ReplyI saw a comment about the Geister family forma wroclaw, but couldnt find it any more. Please contact me al jvasquezgeister@gmail.com , we are forma Chile.
ReplyMy grandmother was from Breslau and came to America after WW1 as did some others in her family. She lived on Bahnhofstr. Her mother ran a stall in the market . Their name is Krause. After WW2 they were forced to leave. Most of her family was lost in the war.
ReplyIts cuz ussr had strict policy on who lives where. My grandad was froced to lwow (lviv , ukraine) and forced to go to newaly aquired polish territory of silesia , wroclaw
ReplyI've been to wroclaw. As a an english guest of a polish lady. An I loved the place and the people. I was taught many things by my friends father but I was accommodated warmly and taken in asa friend of the family. I'll never forget it......and it was only round 2009. Beautiful people and hospitality and history and..........memories
ReplyWrocław to historyczne miasto trzech narodów zamieszkiwanych przez Czechów , Polaków i Niemców. Pierwsze wzmianki historyczne dotyczące terenów obecnego Śląska mówią o plemionach germańskich , ale samo miasto czy osada łączy się historycznie z pierwszymi Piastami. Mieszkam we Wrocławiu od 60 lat i jestem szczęśliwy że jest takie piękne. Czas II wojny pozostawił wiele zniszczeń i śladów po dzień dzisiejszy.
ReplyLove your comments.
ReplyInformation on the name Heimann
ReplySeeking information about the Polte family who lived in Waldchen, about 40 miles south of Wroclaw. Had the privilege of visiting the city two years ago. Hated to leave - the city and country side are beautiful. Looking forward to my next visit. dcpolte@yahoo.com
ReplyI learned the Wall downed in between Berlin and Poland in 198- and my Oma her sister was so excited to see her face for first time in more than 60 years and my Oma was lay in the bed and few days later she dead. Praise the Lord that both of them kissed and hugs each other. Then I started to wonder where are my great mother and father? Then few months ago I heard that you are researching and search people their ancestors.i It brings me to my attention! Now here I ask you would you find my Great Grandfather name and where he was, his name is Volkmar Krause he was Mayor for that Town Winzig-Breleau his wife is Helen Anders Krause. I love to know more about him. He was MAYOR there for 14 years and I keep ask my mother and Volkmar his daughter my(Oma) her full name is Cecilie Whilhemine, Elisabeth,, Heinrett, Luis,Sara Krause married add Weidner to name. I would like to know what happened to her parent there? Thank you. I am looking forward answer and I can E-Mail to my mother is old and might not live longer. Please help me to answer my ask you. Hope in the future I came to Wroclaw to honour my great-grandfather in buried somewhere. He was once important man in Winzig- Wroclaw.
ReplyHi Patty, What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing. You can try visiting the website yourrootsinpoland.com, they are experts in tracking down family history in Poland. Contact them and they should be able to help you find more information about your family
ReplyAn interesting read of all the well intended comments, of the ones I had time to read anyway. My grandfathers line of ancestors goes back to Barthold of Thueringen who in 1240 followed the call of Duke Henry II for German farmers to settle the immense forests of western Poland and transform them into agricultural profitable land. In the 1241 battle of Wahlstatt against the 10000 strong Hun army of Baidar Khan he was one of the many German knights and simple farmers who fought for and under their Polish liege the Duke and died with the Duke. Berthold survived and his ancestors farmed the land almost steadily, close to Breslau, in the same area until 1945. I know all the terrible war horror stories of that time that had to be endured by the Polish, Czech, Russian and yes, also German population. Visiting Breslau with my family from Canada in 1998, I saw only friendly people and wish them only the best. I took pictures of our former homes in Bernstadt, Wilkau and Lauben, (Bierutow, Wilkow and Luban) interesting for my wife and son, but a memory sad occasion for me.
ReplyI can hardly believe that it when you said Wilkau and Brrnstadt. My name is Sieglinde Wegehaupt Paulsen, and my Fatger GerrhardcWegehaupt, owned the Gricery store in Wilkau. While he was on the Russian front, my Mother Martha Wegehaupt and grandfather Friedrich Schwarz ran the Store. There was also a Bank in our House that my mother managed. The store was on the Main Road that went from Namslau to Bernstadt. That is were we went to church and I got baptized in the Lutheran church. Our store was next to my Aunt and Onkel Richard Und Liesel Dude. Richard was a furniture maker, and they also had a gas station on their property, That eventually was hit by gunfire when the Russian Army came from the East and the German Army from the West. That blew up the whole block, our store and the Dude Haus included. I was back to visit in 1992 after the wall came down, and found very little had changed. Would love to hear from you and tell me we’re in Wilkau you lived etc.. my email address is dicksieg@aol.com. Mit vielen Grüßen Sieglinde Wegehaupt Paulsen
ReplyMy Reply is below Sueglinde Wegehaupt. Paulsen
ReplyMrs. Wegehaupt Paulsen i was surprised to come across this interesting post again, i had forgotten about it. My grandfather Reinhold Goldert had owned Nieder Wilkau, Middle Wilkau and the Freiwerk Wilkau in wilkau. In addiotion the Kotoffelflocken Fabrik close to Nieder Wilkau and the Ritttergut in Lauben. We lived in Lauben but a number of years before the end of the war in Bernstadt on Bahnhofsreasse 1 , a house he owned as others in Bernstadt. He left several of his writings, 'The records of Reionhold Goldert, My time as a soldier', Autobiography of R. G. ' 'History of Nieder Wilkau'. He died 1952 in Hanover. Nieder Wilkau is falling apart but the fields between Wilkau and Lauben with poor drainage he improved. he build houses, the stone bridge in Lauben over the Weide. The buildings my have fallen, but the wheatfields between Wilkau and Lauben, when we saw them in 1998, still as they always were, a see of beautiful yellow. i wrote my own biography since then, but to really get the feeling of Wilkau and the end of the terrible war i recoment to enter the name of Helmut Statkiewits Flight and Expulsion.' i discovered the German version, translated it and since then found an English version on the internet. I turned eight in 1945, he most likely twelve, thirteen then. with a much better memory. is he still alive? I would have been thrilled to meet him. Best wishes to all, to the people who live there. You deserve it, but please take care of what is yours. People sacrificed greatly.. God bless, Sueglinde.
ReplyHello Mr. Levan, I have a question for you - how are you aware of your family history back to the 13th century? My great grandfather immigrated to the US just before WWI. Two of his sisters remained in Breslau until in spring of 1945, were forced to leave their home (as others have described). Because his sisters lived in Breslau during the third reich, we have a copy of their Ahnenpass. We can trace our family to around 1635 in Olesno (Rosenberg). I assume my family were part of the Ostsiedlung since they lived in Silesia before the state of Prussia. Is your family history oral or can you guide me to sites I can find older records. Thank you
ReplyHello KO, I am pleased to read your story. There are thousands and thousands and each one interesting and each one represents a life or many. Our ancestors on my mothers side were mostly farmers and these tend to one homstead or to farms close by for many centuries.. Their births and deaths are recorded in the registries of the same church. In our case my grandfather was only interested in the male inheritors who carried his last name and to his luck, there was always at least one. That is at an end now. Grandfather writes in his short diary: " Following the names of our ancestors the way they were established by the Breslauer ancestry resercher Dr. Hartwig, as he found them recorded in the municipality registry of Woischwitz." I was 7 when we left that place, but certain memories stuck. Don't create an other third reich down there. Have a good day, Jonn
ReplyThank you for your response. I hope to learn more about my great grandfather and hope to visit Silesia sometime in the near future. As to the US - we are in frightening times and I hope the country survives. It is disheartening. Kristin
ReplyMy Grandma came over to the US in the War she married a US Soldier. Her name was Elfrieda Neisler she was from Breslau. She never spoke about her life before she came. The only things we know(possibilities) are that she possibly had a sister Sarah, Her mother had died and her father was a German Pilot. She may have lived with her Grandparents, possibly went to Munich to work at a soup kitchen. These might be true and might not. She never had contact with her German family again. She leaves a great legacy of 15 children and dozens of grandchildren. Anyone know any Nieslers in or from Breslau?
ReplyHi Meg Just read your piece. We had Nieslers in the family from Breslau. My great great grandmother,Anna Schmidt, born Niesler had a brother called Reinhold. Born 1878. The family business, before the war was dealing in horses ( pferdhandler) and a wagon driver (kutscher) He married klara born Hutsch both dying in the Sudetenland in 1945 at the end of the war. He was a unteroffizier in the war aged 66? I have no idea if they had children. My great great grandmother moved into germany with her children as refugees. She was married twice, her first husband was Grunert and her child, my great grandmother had married Alfred Demort who died in the war a soldier .their child Ella had married Gerhart Sundermann, my grandparents who had three children at this stage. Opa Sundermann survived the war and found his family through the red Ross after the war and all lived on to ripe old ages but in their new located home near Hamlin in Germany. One baby daughter died whilst the family were moved around and a fifth child, a son was born after the family re united. My mother, their eldest child, born in 1938 went on to marry a British soldier and her sister married an American GI and there are about twenty cousins in California. My siblings live in England but I married the first time to an English woman and we have a daughter called Holly and then I married Agnieszka , my Polish wife and we now live in Lublin in Poland, a few hours down the road from Breslau so important to my past. It’s been so hard to get information from elder family members whilst they were alive. In the past, any adult who came home were called uncle and aunt and the interest in family history seems a modern thing as every one seems to have been displaced around the world. Happy hunting Rein Hilton
ReplyThank you so much for the message. My Mom is right here, she just told me that my Grandma ElFrieda Niesler had 1 sister who was named Anna(not Sarah like I thought). She was born in 1927 her sister Anna was younger. My Grandma had 15 children. The first was born in Germany and guess what his name is? Reinhardt! What a coincidence! Could this be the same family? My email is ethereal52766@gmail.com , If you could respond that way, that would be great! This has given us more information on the family than we have had in years, we are so appreciative of your time!
ReplyIn my research of my Wegehaupt family, I have read that a Christian Wegehaupt, who I think was my great grandfather, founded the Math Department at the University of Breslau, now Wroclaw. I have looked in some places, but have not seen anything further. If anyone knows anything about that, I would appreciate hearing from you. SiegL index Wegehaupt Paulsen, at dicksieg@aol.com. Thank you in advance for your help
Replylove to have contact with you but no result with this address
ReplyPetra, sorry about not contacting you sooner, things have been rather chaotic in my life. Try my email address, dicksieg@aol.com and leave me a message Sieg Paulsen, I am also on facebook
ReplyPetra, have you tried contacting me? I am sorry if I had not replied, but during that time I was taking care of my husband who was dealing with multiple health issues, and died May 1 of this year. I am just now working to get back to some normalcy and have been trying to find out more information about my family. So please try my address again. At dicksieg@aol.com Thank you, and I look forward to hear from you.
Replywroclaw is oldest and richest region in poland country and it has good econommic and nice cultural and accademic center. i love wrc0l;aw town. . wroclaw has the best education systems in the world.
ReplyPS- (Alan Kousen). My mother said she was from Breslau and spoke German - not Polish and the one photograph I saw of her as a child was standing in front of a nice house in the suburbs, she was well dressed. The photo is lost. In the US, she was using the name "Jean Newman" but no 1930 census records can confirm this. Ive pieced together everything in the US since she was married in 1937. Any information would be huge help in assembling her early childhood and her family.
ReplyIn 1922 my mother, age 7, "Regina Heckel" taken to NYC to live with a US family in NYC. She never discussed her childhood. Her US family changed her name but no record of adoption exists. I am searching for any European roots or records. Everyone is deceased, I am remaining son from a painful marriage trying to put the pieces of her life together.
ReplyHave you considered a DNA test to trace your ancestry? You may be matched up with cousins who will have more information about your background.
ReplyYes, I have; the results are posted on several sites, including GEDmatch which has a sophisticated DNA search process. I also uploaded my DNA to "LivingDNA", results will not be available until August. So far no Heckles or Hackle appear.
ReplyIf your mother was adopted in NY there should be documents, though they would likely be sealed. Email me if you'd like: blazar@rocketmail.com
ReplyMy maternal grandfather was Michel breslau.
ReplyI am an American of partial German descent whose paternal German grandfather was born in Breslau as Wilhelm Heimann. He was a businessman who eventually moved from Berlin to New York in 1935 with his wife Charlotte and his only child, my father, who rarely mentioned this part of his past. I rediscovered the Breslau connection after reading Microcosm by Prof. Norman Davies of Oxford Univ. For those who wish to know more about the history of Breslau, please read this marvelous book. In it I discovered via footnotes reference to Bankhaus E. Heimann, perhaps a connection, perhaps not. I will probably never know. My grandfather was an only child and never mentioned his family or happened to them. Much digging ahead to unearth this past. Perhaps there are people out there reading this with the same family name. Prof. Davies does make reference to a family named Arndt one of whose descendants was or still is a professor at Dartmouth Univ. in New Hampshire. He had a brother who ended up an academic in Austrialia. So many scattered to the wind......
ReplyHeinz Wolfgang Arndt born in Breslau 1915 eldest son of Fritz Georg Arndt and Julia(nee Heimann) Arndt lived in Australia died a number of years ago daughter Bettina Arndt
ReplyHi, my grandfather was also from Breslau. He was a medical doctor and his name was Alex Simon Heimann. I don't have any knowledge of his family and would be very happy if anyone new him or could tell me about him/ He was married to Mitzi and they had 2 children: Ursula and Klaus-Peter who is my father
ReplyI'm sorry I also forgot to mention, Clara Simon/Simmon's father, Albert Simon, was a surveyor for the French government. If anyone knows any more about the Simon/Simmon's (spelled differently on different pictures) or the Schlicht family I would love to learn more. Txs.
ReplyI have just begun the search for more knowledge of my ancestors on my father's side. I know his mother's family lived in Breslau in 1907, because we have a photo album of my Grandmother, Elsa King Fair and her mother Agnes Schlicht's trip there. Agnes was born there (or nearby?) and she immigrated to England as a young woman, than to Canada and then to the US in the mid'1800's. Agnes and Elsa came home to stay for about 2 years in Breslau, after the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Agnes's father's name was Albert Schlicht. He married Clara Sim(m)on of Trier, France. I'm learning the names of these towns have changed over the years. Albert Schlicht was a station master, but his passion was music. He was supposed to be able to play virtually any instrument. He also wrote band music. My Grandmother, Elsa, wrote that he died at age 42 (struck by lightening). Albert and Clara had 6 daughters and one son. I have their names. Also Clara Simmon's father's name was also Albert. Albert Simon (it is spelled two ways on different pictures) was born in "freimel"-spelling may be wrong-having trouble reading the name. I don't have Clara's mother's name yet. But Clara Simmon's parents had 13 children. Would love to learn more. I do know that at least one of my great-grandmother's (Agnes Schlicht) sisters was still in the area during WWII and at that time, the return address on those letters say Poland as the place of origin. I'll will be getting them out again. I would love to learn more! About the area and about family. Someday I hope to also visit. If anyone has any ideas as to how to learn more. I would be very grateful. I have recently joined Ancestory.com as well.
ReplyAfter I reread my comments I realised I forgot to write down the full name of my grandfathers. Carl Emil Wegehaupt and Friedrich Schwarz. Both my parents had awesome step mothers of which I new very little. So much of th
ReplyMy parents and grandparents were born in Breslau. My father, Gerhard Wegehaupt in 1908, my mother Martha Frieda Schwarz in 1910. My grandfather Wegehaupt worked for the Postal Service and was born in 1872. When he retired he moved to Karlsruhe. He an my grandmother were shot to death by the Russian Army in 1945 when they decided not to flee. I was born in Namslau,in 1938 and lived in Wilkau, were my parents had a grocery store and small bank. My mother and I fled the Russian Army in Jan 1945. Several days later our house/store was blown up. Walked most of the time, like most refugees, thru Breslau, the Czeck, Republic to Bavaria. After my father escape Russian prison camp, we immegrated to the US were we have relatives. My son and I went back to Wilkau after the wall came down.We took the train from Breslau to Wilkau. There was very little I remembered from Breslau, even though I visited often with my mother on buying trips for the store, and also visiting relatives. On one of those trips went through a night long airraid. The ground were our house stood is an empty lot. But there was a mother & daughter selling sundries in a kiosk. They were supper friendly and invited us to their home for lunch. Had a great time. Hope to go back once more to Silesia especially to go to Karlsruhe and visit my grandparents grave. They buried in a mass grave in the church cemetery. If anyone reading this has heard of the Wegehaupt or Schwarz families, I would like to hear from you. I can be reached at dicksieg@aol.com
ReplyMy mother was born in Friedensruh in 1927 (Klein Wilkowa), Kreis Trebnitz, Silesia, Germany, approximately 20 miles north of Breslau.. She also fled the Russians in January 1945, on foot through Czechoslovakia to Selb, Germany. I am currently writing her story down for my children. I have many details of her trek and some recordings, but since her passing in 2015, I have so many more questions as I continue writing. How much do you remember of your trek, and the conditions once you reached Bavaria? My mother's name was Edeltraud Hecker. Her mother's name was Klara Fiebag (Fiebak?) and she was from Breslau, and my grandfather's name was Richard Hecker.
ReplySorry, but I have not heard of Klein Wilcowa, but you were closer to the Czec border than we were. But apparently we took the same way, and I feel blessed that we did. So many people decided to go Northwest and right thru the large cities like Dresden. Since I was only 6 1/2 years old I remember very little of the small details. But I do remember that most nights we slept on the floor in school gymnasiums. Once in a while we were taken in by some nice people who also fed us, probably our on,y meal of the day. When er were housed in gyms, we usually got a slice of bread, or sometimes food that was meant for the pigs. Don’t remember much of what we had to drink. Also remember that most of the time we walked, except one night we could not find accommodation and we walked all night. One that night it was extremely cold, and I got to ride in a carriage with my Oma. My mother would come and see if I was still alive every so often. After I read some books about the Slesian flight, I read that there were a lot of children and old people that had frozen to death. They found so many bodies after the snow thawed. Also remember on that particular night, how the sky behind us was bright red. Later we learned, that when the Russians came into a town or village they would burn the houses down, and kill those people that stayed behind, like my grandparents. We also had trouble crossing the Oder river. As so many refugees were fleeing West, and had to cross the Oder. We were fortunate and only had to wait a day to get across. We also stopped in Waldenburg, right on the Czeck border, to see if any of our other relatives had made it out. We left Willkau in late January and got to Bavaria in April. Ended up in a refugee camp near Regen, and eventually the Red Cross resettled us in Grafenau Bayrischen Wald, If you have any more questions you can reach me at dicksieg@aol.com. Always glad to hear from a fellow Silesian Sieglinde Wegehaupt Paulsen
ReplyAfter some digging i have found out that my Great Grandfather changed his last name. it was Rheinhardt (Reinhold) Winzig. He married Ida Hauski (Hansekke). they had family and friends in Breslau. they had 4 children Arthur, Ida, Alfred, and Rheinhardt (Reinhold) Jr. Does anyone have any information on this family?
ReplyInteresting as others have commented. Like many others my family were born in Breslau but we cannot find any birth or marriage certificates for them. For instance my Great Grandfather, Hermann Frederick Jung was a businessman who lived in 28 Hermannstrasse in 1880s. I cannot find his birth anywhere. He was born 1851 or 1852. I also do not have his parents names or birth dates. Nor can I find the birth certificate for my grandmother Marie Elfriede Helena Elsie Jung who was born in Breslau in 1881 or 1882! I found the birth certificate of her brother Georg but not hers. Can anyone help? It would be lovely to know where they lived in Breslau and any information about them. They eventually lived in the UK and died here too.
ReplyInteresting info on Breslau, Wroclaw. I wonder if anyone knows anything about a young German soldier, HANS LIESS, from there in 1945 who was captured in Ireland (no idea why he was there) and while he was being held at the police station he drew a very good portrait of my uncle who was in charge of guarding him, Would love to know more about him.
ReplyMy grandfather was born in Breslau-Wroclaw in 03-09-1897(Mr. Leopold Lazarus Brieger) and left to Brazil in 1940. He left his mother and father ancles and cousins. Is there any way I can find out more about him?
ReplyThis is an interesting historicl review of my birth- city.
ReplyMy great grandfather Reinhardt Wenzig Sr. was born in or near Breslau-Wroclaw about 1850. As a young man he and his brother worked in a tannery. Reinhardt had to leave around 1890 and came to the US. He left his wife, Ida (Eda?) and 5 children behind. Is there any way I can find out more about him?
ReplyI agree with you. They organised fantastic tour for me. In Canada prices for such services are definitely much higher, that’s why my friend from Poland recommended it to me. And I wasn‘t disappointed.
ReplyThe best travel agency which organises tours around Wroclaw and from Wroclaw to other cities is Wratislavia tour. It is my tested company from Poland.
ReplyI have a beautiful, carved arts and crafts cabinet made by Koch und Wallfisch, Breslau. I am very interested in finding its origins
ReplyThank you, Trying to find my German roots. Wondering if there are any Geisters there still. My grandfather's name was Rudolph Geister and his family also lived in Lichtenthal, Poland. Information that the family name came from Breslau, led me here.
Replyhello Michele, we are the only Geister familiar living in Chile and our ancestros came forma Breslau too. If you want to contact me, my mail es jvasquezgeister@gmail.com
ReplyMy mother was born 14/12/1924 Her name is Katherin Hedwig Agnus Knorr Her mother was surname Bleil born 1889 Breslau now Wroclaw Has any one any info if there may be family memebers with the name Bleil still there My E Mail is topshamman@hotmail.com
ReplyBreslau has been rebuilt (what was destroyed) beautifully, love the city of my birth, visited it the first time in 1991 and again in 1999 have done lots of family research and not finished yet so another visit might be possible.
ReplyA very nice short history of beautiful piekna Wroclaw. I worked in nearby Dzierzoniow for around 2 years and totally loved my time in Wroclaw and Dolno Slaskie. This was mainly due to the many lovely kind people I meet. . . .many thanks. I hope very much that I can continue 'trying' to learn terrible lovely Polish and would love to return there to live one day. Wroclaw is now a really great City to visit and spend time in. When I read how it was 70% destroyed after WW2 and how it is now, the people of Wroclaw must be very proud and rightly so. Additionally, I am very aware how things have also moved on since the early 1990's. I am sure that this dynamic city can move forward in the same way during the next 25 years. Best Wishes to Wroclaw, Najlepsze zyczenia dla Wroclaw i twoje ludzi (przepraszam bardzo za moj jezyk ;-P)
ReplyI have just returned from Wroclaw (November 2012), and it is a wonderful city! So much so, that I plan to move there when I retire. It the university center of all of Poland, a modern city of 500,000 with a new airport and train station (thanks to this year's Euro Cup which Wroclaw helped to host), yet still filled with historic buildings that go back nearly a thousand years. The Centrum Miasto (center square) is one of the loveliest in Europe, and the 13th Century Town Hall is an architectural masterpriece. The city is well landscaped, and instead of being dominated by oppressive Soviet era apartment buildings, there are many simple yet lovely private homes in the unique Polish style. The people struck me as upbeat, friendly, and the populations is young. By the way, to English speakers not yet aware: somehow those letters in Polish are pronounced something like "Vrats-waff," so don't make the same mistake I made the first time I was in Poland (2001) and ask where "Row-claw" is! :-)
ReplyMy great grandparents, Samuel Black, a tailor, born 1841 and Rosalie Frankel Newman, born1840, immigrated to U.S. in 1876 from Breslau to California. Rosalie's brother, Edward Newman, born 1843, immigrated to San Francisco about 1860. I am looking for information about their families of origin.
ReplyMy family names were Berman and Galewski - my grandfather owned a department store with the name Berman on the building - We are Jewish - those of us whom could fled Breslau pre WW2 - does anyone have any recollection of this family ?
ReplyThis page is so interesting. I am searching (with my 2 sisters and 1 brother) for more info on my great great grandparents who emigrated from Breslau in 1884 to Sheboygan, WI, USA. August Zimbal was born 3/31/1816 and married Ernestina Kuhnert in Brelau in 1844. Does anyone have more information on Zimbals (Zimble) or Kuhnerts in Breslau? Would these be German names? not Polish. And would they be Catholic or perhaps Jewish?
ReplyI have questions of anyone who is interested in the history of the area around Wroclaw. I am in the early stages of writing a book about my father's life. He was born in 1902 in Schmiegel, half-way between Wroclaw (then Breslau) and Posen. I am interested in information about the region from the end of WWI through the years of the Weimar Republic. My grandfather, Heinrich Zimmermann, owned a ziegleri around the Schmiegel area, possibly in Czacz. If anyone knows anything, can point me in a promising direction, or knows of someone who can, please let me know. I'd ask my father, but he passed in 1987 ... before I came to my senses and realized how important this is to me. Thank you.
ReplyWhat is a ziegleri? Hope you've been able to write your book by now. My great-grandfather was born in Breslau in 1859, last name Ziegelmeyer. I know a ziegel is a brick or tile so we must have been brick masons somewhere along the way. Maybe a ziegleri is a place where they made bricks?
ReplyIs there any special in Wroclaw to remember Edith Stein, the Jewish/Catholic convert philosopher and Carmelite who died in Auschwitz? I should like to visit any places associated with her. Any help appreciated.
ReplyYes, there is the house where her family used to live- now the seat of some ecumenic foundation, a meeting place and a conference hall; a street nearby is named after Edith Stein; in a Catholic church in the neighbourhood, there is her symbolic tomb. I could send you some photos if you like. Much better, however, if you come here to Wrocław to see the places ! Anna
ReplyHi, It's beautiful city living in peace. Wonderful to see. Pictures of what this city looked like after the 82-day siege are shocking. As an aside, while visiting in Russia, I became friends with a man who was born in Wroclaw. I was born there in 1937 because my father was stationed there with the German army. 10 years later my friend was born there because his Dad was stationed there with the Russian army. That terrible war and that terrible time. Glad to see that the terrible animosities of that time have passed. I visited another section of Poland where I had lived near Gdansk and found that citizens of Poland were very kind to German visitors and American visitors. Hope to see this city some day again. It looks beautiful. The people who rebuilt this city must be very proud.
ReplyI was in Breslau in August of 1989, and was very impressed and thankfully how well the Polish people have rebuilt the city. I was there during some of the bombing and saw first hand the damage it made. It has amazed me very much of how well and accurate Germany and Poland have been rebuilt. If in you’re research or travels you ever run across the name of Karl or Christian Wegehaupt. Please let me know. My newer email is sieglindehp@outlook.com. I think my great grand father, Christian Wegehaupt was in charge of the Math Department at Breslau( Wroclaw) University.
ReplyMy family's estate was in Kleinoels, Olesnica Mala. That is south of Brelau, Wroclaw. I have been very fortunate to visit it twice. I hope to go there again.
ReplyMy Aunt and Cousins lived in Öls and spent many happy times there with them. Her name was Frieda Koffmahn and she was married to Max Koffmahn
ReplyHi, I'm Sharon and my greatgrandfather Ehrenfried Reinholdt WARTHOLD - was born on the 27th May 1884 at Breslau, Silesia. Warthold emigrated out of the Deutsch Reich by way of the life of the sea, and found interim refuge in teh U.S.A. for four years and then in Great Britain for two years, from which country he embarked at the Port of London with passage on the Australian-route vessel 'WILCANIA" to arrive in Australia at the Port of Adelaide on the 11th November 1911. We still dont know who my grandfathers mother was; I believe she was Polish Jewish and I am struggling to find any information of either of their pasts.Can you offer any suggestions? I'm in Australia
Replymy name is Alan, trying to contact more family i have in poland, im from winnipg MB and know very little of my family, anyone can help i would greatly be thankfull...nazywam się Alan, próbując skontaktować się z większą rodzinę mam w Polsce, im z winnipg MB i niewiele wiem o mojej rodzinie, ktoś może pomóc to ja bardzo się thankfull
ReplyHistory! We all know what we read. somethings appear to be true or resemble fractions of true. This article is a very simple and brief review of a city. Its quite nice to see the polish people smiling as they go about there work here. They are polite and gentle people. lacking in anger and supremacy. Thank God is Polish. From An Englishman.
Reply"20,000 Poles still living there (along with the Jews) were politely asked to leave". hahaha you must be joking! surely! My grandfather, who was a Jewish Dr. of law, was taken to a concentration camp and when released (after 6 months and a heavy fine was paid) suffered a permanent disability due to the beatings by the Nazis in the camp, was given 48 hours to leave Germany! with nothing but a couple of suitcases! The big villa in Karlowiz the office in the main square...all taken over by the poles, with not a penny paid in reparations!
ReplyHi, Yasha, if you look under: """http://wroclaw.hydral.com.pl/test.php?ulica=MDEyNjY=&start=120&tend=128""" you may find what you are looking for. There are many photos. Otherwise try a Google Search for "podwale wroclaw". Good luck!
ReplyI benefited immensely (flooded with emotion) reading this blog' -especially the historically sensitive and understandably painful commentary -which prompted this reply. My parents immigrated to Wroclaw /Breslau in the late 1950s (from Lwow/Lviv)and my childhood recollections are spotty but I remember (as if it was a Parent mantra recited in Polish)living on "Podwale #61". At the time there was a German Family living and sharing the multi-dwelling apartment with us. Eventually, they repatriated to Germany I recall going on many countryside outings and playing with their children in the large interior courtyard (probably communicating in Russian/Ukrainian or tiny German). If any of you should know this address (across the street was the Odra River where in winter I ice- skated) or can take few pictures of the locale; I would be forever grateful Yasha (Jack)
ReplyJust wanted to see information about the area my Schoengarth family came from. They left in the 1870's. Don't know who remained, nice to have a little history. Thanks
ReplyWe have also been working on a family history with the last name of Schoengarth. I would be very interested in talking to you and share what we each have found.
ReplySchoengarth Family tree. Please contact me.
ReplyInteresting site! My dad, Julius Rocks, was born in Breslau 3/1892, & his family moved to Canada in 1897. My great grandparents were left behind, & I know nothing about them. It would be great to find out more.
ReplyIt's an excellent article and there are many interesting comments on a city that has embodied most of the positive and negative aspects of the human condition. Perhaps when people matter more and are simply measured by the content of their character instead of their ethnic or religious identity, national boarders will mean a great deal less and if we are just a bit lucky, this world will know peace.
ReplyHi everybody. My Grandfather was called Joseph Deynert or dienert and was born in Breslau in 17-09-1875. He had a sister called Hedwig and a brother that I don't know the name of, but he was a fireman. My Great Grandfather I believe was the head of a fire station and may have been called Joseph also. I believe that his wife or my Great Grand Mother was called Dorothea. The were members of the catholic church but lived in the Jewish quarter. I have found a Joseph Dienert who was a fireman in an old address book who lived at Stockgasse 6 (H11) in 1868. This could possibly be my Great Grandfather. I know that both my Great Grandparents died from cancer and were buried in Breslau. If there are any relations sill living there, or people that can help me trace my ancesters please contact me.
ReplyI'm hoping one of your readers can assist. I have a late 17th Century Piano marked Julius Mager, Breslau. It was made prior to the time when serial numbers were entered in piano's or for some other reason the serial number which identifies the maker was left off. It has 6 octives + 5 keys. I'm trying to research who Julius Mager was and any history from this piano. Can anyone assist?
ReplyI found this article by accident. I, too, was born in Silesia/Slonsk, though not in Wroclaw. [I don't mind whether it's "Breslau" or "Wroclaw"-- English-speaking countries call "Wien" "Vienna" and "Koeln" "Cologne"--and who cares?) I am now a grateful, proud, and very patriotic Canadian. I found the article interesting, though historically a little murky. Be that as it may, I am appalled at some of the comments. SLAV: the Poles did not just expel Nazi criminals--my grandfather and other family members were among the expelled, but while they were Germans, they were not Nazis. (I know you will say: "They all claim they were not Nazis," but Silesia actually was very Catholic and had relatively few "native" Nazis!) My mother and I escaped from Silesia a month before the Russians arrived.) I bear no grudge--Germany as a whole had been responsible for the war and its terrible crimes! Besides, through those events, I ended up in my wonderful new country, Canada. Last but not least, such are the happenings of history. ANTONIO: Poles did NOT kill millions of Germans from those areas! They expelled them, but there were few killings. Those that occurred were probably the sad results of retaliation or were done by sick minds. MICHAEL AND DANIEL: your way of thinking is exactly what may lead to another terrible war and/or genocide. It is utterly primitve, to put it mildly. Besides, perhaps you both ought to improve your English grammar before exposing your lack of it on public sites again? Daniel: There is no "Forever," except in eternity. But here I am, throwing stones myself--my apologies! Can't we all live together in peace and harmony? That's what I love about Canada. We have our differences, too, but we make it work.
ReplyHow could I have been a Nazii? I was 6 1/2 years old when I with my Mom and Grandparents fled Wilkau in order not to be killed like my other Granparents were? I do think, that Dome if that negative belief has changed by now. I give the Polish government and people credit for having rebuilt Breslau close to its former self. Was there in 1992, and it was thriving great city. Would love to go back to Schlesien again, to visit my Grandparents grave in Karlsruhe, the mass grave that they and 65 others where buried in. Also still trying to find any information about my Great-grandfather Christian Wegehaupt, and any other Wegehaupt Family. If you know of any, please contact me at dicksieg@aol.com Sieglinde Wegehaupt Paulsen, thank you
Replyi live in Cape Town South Africa ,was born in Germany and my fathers family came from Breslau/Wroclaw -my grandfather was an architect(trained in Breslau)(he was taken prisoner by the russians) and also my father who trained in Germany(after esacping with my grandmother)-I am a Interior Designer and I very much believe in Genetic Memory and am hoping to visit this very interesting place so I can learn more about where my father grew up and why I am drawn to ancient historical towns
ReplyPaul, the Address again: URZAD STANU CYWILNEGO, ul. WLODKOWIKA 20/22, 50-072 WROCLAW; c/o STANOWISKO DO SPRAW OBSLUGI ARCHIWUM NIEMIECKIEGO, II PIETRO, POKOJ 27
ReplyHallo, Paul, you may like to write to the Registry Office in Wroclaw-Breslau as follows:: Urz¹d Stanu Cywilnego, ul. W³odkowica 20/22, 50-072 Wroc³aw, and address your request to:: Stanowisko do spraw Obs³ugi Archiwum Niemieckiego ( = Archiv der deutschen Standesurkunden) II piêtro, pokój 27 tel. (0048 71 777-91-53)Whether they speak English I do not know. Apparently one may be able to deal with them in German. There is also a web site for the Staatsarchiv in Breslau: http://www.ap.wroc.pl/ with the address at ul.Pomorska 2, 50-215 Wroclaw. They appear to have birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates from 1909 onwards.I have copied these details from the internet site www.breslau-wroclaw.de - If you can read German, that internet address may be of use to you. I hope that all this may be of help to you.
ReplyHelloe evryone, Can someone help with access to birth marriage and death records please? Looking for records relating to: DEINERT,Joseph,Feuerwehrmann, Stockgasse 6,H.II I beleive that Stockgasse is now known as Wiezienna. Any help or advice on how to get access to birth marriage and death records for this person would be very helpful. Please can someone help?
ReplyDid you get any response? Ans if so, do you have info about Deinert family?
ReplyThree things, in my view, are difficult to deny: Wratislavia was originally a Slavic city and part of the first Polish state; Breslau was ethnically a predominantly German city for most of the 700 years until 1945; Wroclaw has been a Polish city since 1945. Poles have restored the city admirably. It was a harsh peace for Germany, but Germany had unleashed a harsh war. As an Australian of Silesian descent I regret Silesia's loss to Germany. However, I believe most German Silesians accept its loss and want nothing more from Poles than a just recognition of the area's German history. I believe this is now happening, in contrast to the nationalist myth-making of the Communist era. Personally, I find the reconciliation between Poles and Germans a beautiful thing in a world where there is too much hate and unforgiveness.
ReplyA good comment. Regrets, but bygones be bygones and live in peace respecting the history of the peoples who built the land
Replyyes i believe so as well that forgiveness and moving on is a good thing, the new polish generation do not carry so much hate towards the Germans as the older people, are much more open and welcoming, I found the city of Breslau or Wraclaw a very vibrant town on my visits having been born there.
ReplyI agree with you for the most part. I went back to my home town in Silesia in 1992 after the Wall came down, and my house, in Wilkau, Kreis Namslau had been blown up during a skirmish between German and Russian soldiers. The empty lot is still there. When we got there a lady and her daughter manned a Kiosk there, and were very curious why my Son and I were so interested in that. They spoke a smattering of German, and invited us for lunch at their home. Her father in law spoke more German , and we communicated quite well, using the UN form of translation. My son spoke English to me, I spoke German to the Grandfather and he spoke Polish to his daughter in law, and then we reversed it Had a lovely afternoon with some great people and very good food. Found out that this family was kicked out of their home in Poland on the Russian Border, because their home was given to the Russians during the Potsdam agreement and were resettled in Silesia. They were just as unhappy about their circumstances as we were.
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