THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 28
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND GENEALOGY
(issued biweekly by Gerald Berghold)
January 31, 1998
(all rights reserved)

This newsletter contains articles on the villages of Luising and
Heiligenbrunn (the Father Leser Series), Burgenland Wine, Story of Two WW-II
Trips, Deutschkreuz and Oberwart Jewish Records, a Transylvanian Question,
Data Concerning Burgenland Gypsies and Some Member Comments.


BURGENLAND VILLAGE DATA FROM THE PATER GRATIAN ANTON LESER, O. F. M.
(1873-1949) EXCERPTS (continued from newsletters nos. 21-27; by Albert
Schuch)

14) Luising: Oldest known surnames (from the Heiligenbrunn baptism records
1745-55):SCHRANZ, GRATZER, HAIGEL (HAIGL), FÜRST, FRENTZ, SAJER, HAGL, VENI,
PAAL (PALL, PAL), PEDL, VOLFF, SNAKEL (SCHNAKL), TUNST, LUKA (LOCA), FÜRHÖSL,
SCHWARZHOFF, VAGNER, VIENER. In 1797 the following Luising families owned
vineyards in Heiligenbrunn: FÜRHAISL, SCHRANZ, SCHNAKL, GRAF, HAIGL, LIENDL,
WIENER, PAAL, WOLF, DRETL, LAKY, DALL, SAYER, SCHWARTZHOFFER, LUKKA, GREINZ.
In 1875 and 1891 the whole village burned down. In 1929 four families were
known to have emigrated to America. L. has always been part of the parish
Hagensdorf (1656-1788 with Hagensdorf part of Heiligenbrunn parish). Children
attend school in Hagensdorf. (source: V+H Nr. 5-7/1957)

15) Heiligenbrunn: Old settlement, known to have already existed in 1198.
Farmer families in 1750: KRAMER, TRAUTMANN, LUKA, DEUTSCH, KOLLER, KUMMER,
FANDL, LORENZ, MENDL, HOFFER, HADERSVOLFF, WAGNER, GARGER, MARX, SCHALLER,
TRINKL, KOLMANN, KULETZ, GRATZER, ULRICH, SAYER,SCHMIEDT, HITTER, HASZ.
Söllner families: KOLMANN and MART. Additional surnames as found in the
church records: MILLNER, DIR, DÖR, KO, KOCH, LEVICS, HAIGL, STRANZL, FIEGER,
STUKITS, SUKITS, KOBER, RECKER, GEIR, HADEN, SCHALCER, HOAR, PELTZMANN. In
1698 the Heiligenbrunn parish included: Hagensdorf, Luising, Strem,
Sumetendorf, Deutsch Bieling, Deutsch and Kroatisch Reinersdorf. (Hagensdorf
and Luising left the parish in 1788.) Until around 1800 the dead of the whole
parish were buried in H-brunn (the cemetery was surrounding the church until
1833). Priests: Ignaz HATZEL (-1756), Jakob SUMLICZ (1756-), Michael Josef
WAGNER (1769-84), GENSZKY (1785-88), Philipp RIVOSITS (1795-1806), Johann
ZADROVITS (1809-10), Ignaz KOVATSITS (1810-28), Lukas KORBATSITS (1828-33),
Ferdinand LENDL (1833-39), Johann JANOSY (1839), Matthias MARKOVITS (1839-
42), Georg OSZTOVITS (1853-54), Franz HATZL, Karl BAUMGARTNER (-1873), Franz
BARKOVICS (1873-76), Kaspar PAVDY (1876-1918), Matthias MITNYEK (1918-23),
Vinzenz KOSS (1923-24), Josef MISCHINGER (1924-26), Gregor SCHIE (1926-29).
Teachers: Stefan SAJER (1757), Paul PAZMAN (1810-52), Anton PAUER (1852-56),
Johann MAYER (1886-1923), Franz PULKER (1923-24), Rudolf SCHNEIDER (1924-25),
Leopold WIEDERMANN (1925-). (source: V+H Nr. 7-9/1957)


REPORT OF TWO COINCIDENTAL WW-II TRIPS (from Bob Loeffler)

"My mother was born in Kukmirn and my father in Zahling in the Burgenland.
Their two villages were in close proximity yet they did not know each other
in their early years. When the "great migration" of the early 1900's was
underway, my parents, as teenagers, were shipped to relatives who lived in
Allentown, Pennsylvania. There they met, were smitten, got married, and
raised a family. Both became naturalized citizens. As time passed, my mother
longed to visit her mother and other relatives in the Burgenland. With the
storm clouds brewing in Europe during the 1930's, she thought it might be a
good time to make a trip before it was too late. Austria was already occupied
by the Nazi's (1938) at this time. She was able to enjoy her visit with her
mother and family for several months until Hitler invaded Poland on September
1, 1939. For the second time in her generation, her mother encouraged her to
leave for the United States immediately. After some checking, she found out
that the last American ship was to leave an Italian seaport (don't know which
one) and she was able to book passage. The vessel was the George Washington,
a ship that was also to play an important role in my life.

As the George Washington set sail for the United States, and was passing
Gibraltar, the British stopped and boarded the ship. They examined the
passports and other documents of every passenger on the ship. Many passengers
were removed and, as we found out later, were interned in England for the
duration of the war. If my mother had not been a naturalized citizen of the
United States, she might well have been interned with the other people. After
the British completed their interrogation of the passengers, the liner George
Washington was allowed to proceed on her voyage. Because she was flying the
United States flag, she was not harassed by the German U-boat "wolf packs"
roaming the Atlantic at that time. The rest of the journey was uneventful.
You can imagine how happy our family was when she returned to us.

I was just about to start high school school at this time. Somehow the war
seemed so distant to me, but then December 7, 1941 brought it home to me in
no uncertain terms. As I neared the age of eighteen, with the war raging, it
began to look like I would soon play a part in the war effort. Once I
graduated from high school, I was inducted into the Army within days.
Received my basic training which was cut short. Before I knew it I was on
board a ship, with about 5,000 others, in the Hudson River for three days
while we waited to slip out of New York harbor in the dark, past the German
U-boats which were lurking just outside the harbor.

You guessed it! The ship was the same one my mother was on when she returned
to us - the George Washington. Because the George Washington was faster than
the U-boats, she made a solo run across the Atlantic. We zig-zagged across
the stormy North Atlantic in the dead of winter for ten days. My berth was in
the bow of the ship several decks below. It was like being in an elevator,
going up and down a 20-30 story building, -non-stop!

We eventually landed in Liverpool, were immediately herded from the ship
onto a train, and rushed to the Southhampton "Repel-Depel" (Replacement
Depot) where we were assigned to our army outfits. Then we boarded another
ship for the journey across the channel, then by jeep to our combat infantry
outfit. Up to now, I thought I was having quite an experience, but that was
nothing compared to what was to come. I came within an estimated 400 miles of
the Burgenland - but that's another story!

To make a long story short, I lived to write this little episode in the lives
of my family. But that was nothing compared to what our relatives in the
Burgenland must have gone through. A good reason for us all to research our
genealogy and stay in touch with our relatives."


DEUTSCHKREUTZ & JEWISH RECORDS (from Maureen Tighe-Brown)

I would like to join the Burgenlander Bunch and receive the newsletters. This
is a remarkable web site. A member of H-Sig, which I just joined, gave it
to me. I have downloaded all the newsletters and articles. I am not doing
genealogy as such. I am writing a dissertation on the household forms and
membership, occupations, and demographic aspects (age and sex ratio, marital
status, age at first marriage, conditions for remarriage, illegitimacy rates
and unwed mothers' status, causes of death, cholera death rate, and such) for
Christians and Jews in Deutschkreutz, c. 1700-1914.

For comparison, I am using some of the data I have for the other 'Siebengemeinden'
and the several villages with substantial Jewish populations added later. These
villages include: Deutschkreutz/Nemetkeresztur (Sopron Megye), Eisenstadt/Kis Marton
(Sopron Megye), Mattersburg/Nagy Marton (Sopron Megye), Frauenkirchen/Boldogasszony
(Moson Megye), Kobersdorf/Kabold (Sopron Megye), Lackenbach/Lakenbak (Sopron Megye),
Kittsee/Kopcseny (Moson Megye), Neufeld (c. 1670-1739; Sopron Megye). Later: Gussing
(Vas Megye), Rechnitz/Rohoncz (Vas Megye), Stadt Schlaining (Vas Megye), Gattendorf
(Moson Megye).

My sources for Nemetkeresztur/Deutschkreutz (Zelem) include copies of the
18th-century censuses of the Jewish taxpayers of Hungary, the feudal land
surveys of 1715, 1750-3, 1764, 1766, 1769, 1773/4, 1776/7, 1784/5, the
Urbariell Tabell of 1767, the 1785 first census of the Kingdom of Hungary,
the 1804/11 household censuses, the 1828 and 1850 taxpayers' census, the 1857
empire-wide census, and the aggregated data for 1819/23/24/39-42 and the
decadal aggregated data (1869-1910).

I spent last summer in Budapest doing archival work, and traveled several
times to Sopron, Eisenstadt, and Deutschkreutz. As you might imagine, I am
hoping to meet subscribers to BBunch who had relatives in Deutschkreutz. I
see two people who do: James Reumann and Peter Gieter. The Reumann name occurs
repeatedly in the census, as well as the Kohn name that Gieter is researching,
from the 19th century.

I am sending this letter via aol.com, but if possible, I would like the
newsletter via my Compuserve address.
Maureen Tighe-Brown, Doctoral candidate in History, University of Pittsburgh, PA


OBERWART & JEWISH RECORDS

My name is Gert Tschögl (Tschoegl) historian and ethnologist, living in
Vienna. My family lives in Burgenland, the family of my partner is also from
Burgenland (Her name is Eva Brunner-Szabo, Oberwart). You will find a
curiculum vitae (engl. and germ.) of us at our homepage
http://www.user.xpoint.at/g.tschoegl/museum/index.htm

As a student I wrote a work about the small Jewish community of Oberwart.
Jewish families came to Oberwart since 1820 (from the surrounding villages,
also from Schlaining). The Nazi-dictatorship expelled them in April of 1938.
Some of them escaped from the terror of the Nazis, and got a new "Heimat" in
the United States. Source of my unpublished work (I only published two
articles about the Jewish families of Oberwart) was the Oberwarter Zeitung.
I can offer more information to those, who have an interest. I also would
like to contact children or friends of these families. Here are surnames of
Jewish families of Oberwart: FISCHER; GLASER; FRISCHMANN; GRÜNWALD; KOHN
(KÖVES or KOEVES); KORNFEIN; LÖWY (LOEWY); SCHLENGER; WEIGL; ANGELUS;
WÜRZBURGER (WÜRZBURGER); FIEGLER; FROMMER; HEINRICH; KONSTANTIN; WEISS
(WEISZ). Yours sincerely, Gert Tschoegl.


TRANSYLVANIA QUESTION

<< My name is Myer Roszler. Most of our immediate family seems to come from
Transylvania/Hungary. Specifically the towns of Bistritz. I think the name
may be German for a small horse. We are Jewish. roszler >>
Well hello Myer. Roszler (Rossler) defines a little better than just horse.
G. F. Jones in "German-American Names" says it derives from "carter". "Ross"
in southern Austrian German does mean horse as "Pferd" does in north German.
Putting an "ler" to it changes it to "one who uses (has) a horse" (in his
work!). It is one of the Germanic occupational names like Schmeid, Zimmerman,
etc. A carter being an old term for "teamster". It can well signify that
your people settled early in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (of which
Transylvania was a part), since the name is more Austrian in content than
Northern Germanic. My Catholic-Lutheran Rosslers all come from the south
Burgenland around Heiligenkreuz-Eltendorf, at least post 1690 AD. That's in
the southeastern province of today's Austria, formed from Vas Megye, Hungary
following WW-I, when most of Transylvania also became Romanian. Your area
would be far east of the Burgenland, on the other side of today's Hungary. I
can't find "Bistritz" in my Hungarian Autoatlasza, so it must be in Romanian
Transylvania of which I know a little. Bistrita or Bistritsa may be your
"Bistritz". It is in NE Romania, Nasaud County, on the Bistrita River about
40 miles N of Tirgu-Mures. Population today (1969) is 24M. (I haven't used
the Romanian diacritical marks.) Transylvania was settled by Germanic Saxons
as early as 1200 AD. They were very productive farmers and skilled artisans.
They maintained their language and customs until the present day. It was a
prosperous area even during the time of the Turk. The Transylvanian
aristocracy (of which Vlad Tepes {Dracula the Impaler} was a member, now world
known for his ferocity, resulting in the vampire myth) was able to always gain
a modicum of independence. Jewish settlers could have come at any time as the
political climate waxed and waned so you're looking at an 800-year
genealogical window. You may know that Jews did not take Christian names
until late in the 15th Century (like most non-royalty). Prior to that, they
used their biblical (Hebrew) names based on parentage and tribe, in the
conventions of which I'm not too well versed. Anyway, both the crown and the
church required surnames and all non-aristocratic types had to take a
name, mostly for tax purposes. Place names, landlords, occupations, physical
descriptions, nationalities, etc. all served as models. If you didn't select
one, it was given to you. There is a story about some officials assigning
derogatory names. If you wanted it changed, it cost a bribe!

You may know that, in the recent years of the Communist regime in Romania,
Transylvanian Germans, Hungarians and all "non-Thracian" types were forcibly
evicted from Romania. Many fled elsewhere. There are eastern European Jewish
records in the files of the LDS (Mormon) Library in Salt Lake City. You can
find them in any Family History Center under Country-County-City-Church
Records. I'd try Romania-Transylvania-Nasaud-Bistrita-Church Records-Jewish.
There are also some very good Jewish genealogy groups who have done some fine
ethnic research since WW-II.

One of the finest genealogical stories I've read recently is "When the World
Was Whole", by Charles Fenyvesi, Viking (Picador-Pan Books) 1991. The author
writes for US News & World Report and the Washington Post. He traces three
centuries of his family in the region I've mentioned. Quite an achievement
and a fascinating story.

I don't know to what extent you are interested in genealogy and I'm sorry I
can't help you more. You may wish to scan our homepage or download some of
our archives (see signature). Doesn't extend to Transylvania but lots of good
general Austro-Hungarian material. Gerry Berghold


GERMAN LANGUAGE PUBLICATION (from Tom Glatz)

My cousin found info about the Deutsch-Ungarischer Familien Kalender on the
Internet, URL: www.feefhs/banat/dufk. Actually this is a link to the site.
However no single library holds a complete collection of the Kalender. Here's
a list of who has what:

Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies, Philadelphia 1937 & 1952 Available
through interlibrary loan

Indiana State Library, Indianapolis 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, 1948, 1949,
Not available via interlibrary loan

Library of Congress 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1952, Not available via
interlibrary loan

Institute für Auslandsbeziehungen, Stuttgart, Germany 1932, 1933, 1934,
1951, 1953, 1954, Naturally not available for loan

All of the members of BB seem to know what places their immigrant ancestors
are from. I don't know how useful this would be for them. But it is
interesting to see it. I'll send you copies of the incomplete one I have
eventually. The advertisements for old Chicago German businesses that are
long gone are interesting. It is also possible to get a feel for the
neighborhoods where these people lived that are long gone. I would like to
see some complete issues.

David Dreyer of San Francisco is in the process of extracting Banaters (Banat
-Yugoslavia Settlers) from the publication. There is also a link from FEEFHS.
I am seriously thinking about (forming) a BBIP (Burgenland Bunch In Person),
if Chicagoans continue to join (the BB). I would enjoy getting together with
these people perhaps 3 or 4 times a year. It would be very stimulating.


BURGENLAND DISTRICT (BEZIRK) BOOKS (from Tom Glatz)

(The Kirsner & Peternell book) Berzirk Oberwart finally arrived! They also
threw in Bezirk Oberpullendorf for good measure. Well maybe they feel I
deserved it. I was one of the first people to order the other books and I
really pushed them at the dances and meetings. Hopefully, others in Chicago
also purchased the books. I like the latest books better than the first ones.
Their address is Kirsner & Peternell, Spezielle Publikationen, Kapellenweg
14, A-8502 Lannach, Austria. Price is 396 s ($40.00) plus postage. Books
issued so far are Der Bezirk Jennersdorf im Wandel der Zeit, ditto for
Güssing, Oberwart, Oberpullendorf. Mattersburg, Eisenstadt and Neusiedl are
pending. (Ed. note: while in German, the pictures and their captions are
revealing. These are well made books. Anyone with an interest in the
Burgenland should have at least the book covering their particular district
(Bezirk).


NEW AUSTRIAN LINK (Stegersbach is sister city to Northampton, PA)

<<Hi! Actually I'm not doing research on a village as such, but I am
responsible for the official homepage of Stegersbach im Burgenland, a market
city with approximately 2700 citizens. I would very much appreciate your
placing a link to the pages at
http://unet.univie.ac.at/~a9100377/stegersb.htm I will also place a
link to your pages. Yours respectfully, Michael NEIDINGER >>

<< From: Hap Anderson; To: Michael NEIDINGER,
Hi. The link to your page has been added to the Burgenland Bunch site.
The Stegersbach site looks great. Hap Anderson, BB home page editor


GYPSY QUESTIONS (from Robert Loerzel)

<< .....I didn't notice any references in the newsletter to a Gypsy
population in Burgenland. But I've run across information that there were
(and are) Gypsies in the area. A great-aunt of mine (who is no longer alive)
married a man named Englebert Horwath. She told me she hated the name
Horwath. "It's a Gypsy name," she said. According to your newsletter, it's
actually the Hungarian word for "Croatian." Perhaps my great-aunt was using
the word as a general pejorative, or maybe she didn't like people of Croatian
descent. Someone else told me they had taken a tour of a cemetery in Chicago
where there were many Horwath graves, and the tour guide said the Horwaths
were descended from Gypsies. Another story about Gypsies happened when I was
visiting my other great-aunt, who still lives in Burgenland. As we were
walking through Mischendorf, she pointed to a village that was probably a
mile away but visible in the distance (I think it was Kleinbachselten). She
told me "schwarz" people lived there. At first, I thought she meant blacks,
which seemed rather odd. But then she pointed to her hair and said, "Schwarz
haar." She struggled to think of the English word for the ethnic group she
was talking about. Finally, it dawned on me, and I asked, "Gypsies?
Zigeuner?" And she yes, that there were Gypsies living over there. A few days
later on the same vacation, I was in Munich, and I visited the museum at the
former site of the Dachau concentration camp. One of the photographs on
display is of a group of Gypsies from Burgenland, who the Nazis shipped to
Dachau and imprisoned there. Do you know how many Gypsies (or descendants of
Gypsies) live in Burgenland? Do certain family names indicate a connection to
the Gypsies? >>

ANSWER- Thanks for the question, it triggered this article for the
newsletter. To fully understand the Burgenland area we must certainly be
concerned with the predominant races found there. They are, in order of
greatest numbers, Germans, Croatians, Hungarians, Gypsies and Jews. I've not
as yet addressed the "tzigane" of Hungary (German "Zigeuner"). First I'll try
to answer your question. Some Gypsies carried the name Horwath, which does
have the connotation "Croatian", but not all Horwaths are Gypsies or
Croatians. There are even aristocratic Hungarian branches of Horwaths. Years
ago you'd have been in trouble calling them Gypsies! I have one Horvath
branch in my family dating from 1805. They were German speaking Catholics of
long standing from Rosenberg-Langzahl (Güssing). I have another branch from
1690 who were Hungarian speaking Catholics from Torodfa (Hungary, east of
Güssing). There is no evidence in the church or civil records that these
Horwaths were Gypsies or that they came from Croatia. I believe your aunt was
twisting things a little to pique your uncle. The term "Zigeune" or "Croat"
or "Magyar" was sometimes used as a racial slur by German speakers in the
Burgenland because those races were a minority or they had an adversarial
relationship.

Gypsies were among the last to take surnames (and then only because they had
to) and they probably took (or were given) them from whatever source was
easiest. Gypsies were recruited early as frontier soldiers (the men made
fierce cavalry fighters), as were the Croatians, and I believe it was this mix
that eventually caused some of them to take the name "Horvath". In other
words they were identified "with" Croatians. Some Hungarian words in use are
"horvat"-Croat, "Horvatorszag"-Croatia, "horvatul"-Croatian. There are some
sources which contend that Hungarian Gypsies arrived in Pannonia before the
Magyars (before AD 800) and may even have been there in the Bronze Age
(bringing bronze working skills). Others say they came later. Certainly they
came to the Burgenland before the first Croatians (ca. 1524). They could have
come through Croatia, which may also be why they are identified as "horvat".
Regardless, Gypsies have been living in the Hungarian plain for centuries.
What is fairly certain, however, is that they originally came from north
western India (the Punjab), probably of the same origin as the Jats or Sudras
who live there now. Why they left is fraught with myth and conjecture, but
leave they did, akin to the Jewish Diaspora. Also like the Jews they went
everywhere. Unlike the Jews, however, they have always been nomads, with a
few exceptions when the Austro-Hungarian crown forced them to establish
communities. Also like the Jews, there has been much intolerance. An early
Hungarian pogrom had them fleeing from Hungary to Germany in 1417 AD, Swiss
Cantons-1418, Italy-1422, France-1427 and Spain-1447. In Germany they told
everyone they originally came from Egypt, hence our name Gypsy (from
Aegypter).

They've always considered themselves a superior race in which possessions and
duty are meaningless words. They rarely washed since they say their blood is
pure. They held to ancient pagan beliefs. None of this endeared them to
others although early Magyars considered them kindred spirits until the
Magyars gave up their nomadic existence and settled in one place! Like the
Jews, Gypsies suffered terribly during the Holocaust.

In the Burgenland of our ancestors, the Gypsies were tolerated because of
their music, expert knowledge of horses, expertise in fortune telling and the
occult, crafts, dancing and colorful appearance. They were skilled metal
workers. They were distrusted and mistreated because of their habits of
thievery, begging, kidnapping of young children, prostitution, being unclean
and pagan as well as charges of cannibalism (completely unfounded). Young
Gypsy women were very attractive and much in demand for parties and casual
affairs which didn't endear them to wives or mothers. Gypsies embraced
Catholicism (although they remained pagan at heart) and you'll find many
"Zigeune" baptism references. There is rarely a father listed. In a very
class-stratified society, they were on the bottom of the ladder. When not
roaming the countryside, they lived in hovels at the edge of towns or
villages, children clad in rags and often barefoot. To their way of thinking,
national borders meant nothing and were just barriers to be circumvented.
Both Empress Maria Theresia and her son Joseph II attempted to change their
way of life by Imperial decree, but were not successful.

I don't know how many Gypsies can be found in Burgenland today. I know that
some cross the border from Hungary to play as musicians. I had two contacts
with "modern" Gypsies recently. A Gypsy group was playing at a fine
restaurant in Jennersdorf. They wore traditional costumes and were artists of
the violin, cello, guitar and zymbalom. The Lutheran Pastor having dinner
with us invited their leader to join us for a glass of wine. She asked him to
quote a price to play at a future fete. He spoke Hungarian, German and some
English. He mentioned a price, but then gave a sizable discount when he found
out it was for a church function. Introduced to us, he bowed to me, kissed my
wife's hand and played a special request for her. He had a young Gypsy boy
give the ladies a rose (for which he expected and received a tip). In
Mürbisch, two Gypsy musicians (bass viol and zymbalom) played following
dinner. After some desultory modern music, I requested some old folk pieces.
They came alive and responded with very spirited music. As I tipped them when
leaving, the older musician said "our children will bless you". A romantic
anachronism perhaps, but Burgenland wouldn't be the same without Gypsies. I
believe there may be a little Gypsy in each of us, at least in our hearts. If
we were of Gypsy descent, our ashes would be at someplace like Dachau or we'd
probably still be roaming the world. You may wish to read "Gypsies", K.
Bercovici, Crown Publishers, 1983. Gerry Berghold


MEMBER COMMENTS

Subj: www.austrianstore.com; Date:98-01-09 02:57:43 EST From Bonitamaus
This is a great site I found a few days ago with fabulously congenial
customer service and top quality Austrian goods. I just thought I'd let you
know in case you wanted to mention it. Ed. note: Well worth an internet
visit, ask for a catalog and try the "pumpkin seed oil" (Kernl). You haven't
lived if you haven't tasted "Mozartkugeln" (a very expensive Viennese
confection).

END OF NEWSLETTER-EDITED & DISTRIBUTED BY GERALD J. BERGHOLD

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 28A
DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND GENEALOGY
(issued biweekly by Gerald Berghold)
January 31, 1998
(all rights reserved)

This edition of the newsletter contains a list of German language newspapers
in Western Hungary.

Editor's Introduction:
When we've exhausted the more fertile sources of genealogical information
like church and civil records, local newspapers are among others that come to
mind. I've often wondered how many there were in the Burgenland region and
pondered the availability of their archives. Fritz Königshofer helps answer
these questions by providing the following. Our thanks for sharing the
results of his important work.

Author's Preface:
To: Editor, Burgenland Bunch Newsletter. Please find below an edited and
sorted listing of former German papers published in Western Hungary which
cover the area of today's Burgenland. As you will see, the write-up uses
excerpts from a book by Heinrich Réz, published in 1935. I hope you find it
helpful.


GERMAN NEWSPAPERS and JOURNALS COVERING WESTERN HUNGARY
(Today's Burgenland) From the Beginning Until 1918.
Prepared for the Burgenland Bunch by Fritz Königshofer, Bethesda, MD, Jan 1998

The following collection is excerpted from the book "Deutsche Zeitungen und
Zeitschriften in Ungarn von Beginn bis 1918" by author Heinrich Réz, which was
published in Munich in 1935. A helpful librarian at the Hungarian National
Library (i.e., the Széchényi Library located in the Buda Castle, Budapest,
Hungary) advised me of this little book. It can be found on a shelf in the
Historical Reading Room. Its much worn-out reference number appeared to be
2.352,1.

The book lists about 1,300 German newspapers and journals, and about 400 more
bilingual (Hungarian/German) ones. My excerpt focused on papers covering
Western Hungary, today's Burgenland. I was less rigid in my search regarding
the far north (especially Pozsony, Pressburg, Bratislava county) and
obviously may have missed some entries altogether. Therefore, the
authoritative recourse has to remain the book by Réz itself. One needs to
also keep in mind that there were newspapers and journals in the Hungarian
language which covered events in Western Hungary, especially official papers
of government, churches, and trades. So far, I have managed to identify
those only in a very limited fashion.

For some of the German and bilingual papers listed below, I have tried to
establish whether the Hungarian National Library has any holdings. In the
cases where I have already checked this question, the following entries list
the microfilm (FM) or paper (H or "signature") catalog numbers. I am not
sure whether there is general public access to the paper copies. There are
ample numbers of microfilm reading stations at the library which is open
Mondays through Saturdays, 9AM to 9PM. In 1997, a one day visiting pass was
HUF200 (about $1), and a yearly pass HUF2,000. Besides the newspaper
holdings, the library has many German books about and from the Western
Hungary region, and has continued to collect such books after 1918 (e.g.,
books published in Austria), until relatively recent times. Ordering a book
or film from the stacks to the reception desk takes up to one hour, but one
may reserve unfinished material overnight and resume work on it within up to
one week without any pickup delay.

In some cases, archives of the same newspapers may also exist at, e.g., the
Austrian National Library and the University Library in Vienna, the
Burgenland County Archives in Eisenstadt and, possibly, the separate Archives
of the Diocese Eisenstadt/Burgenland. Since the archives of the Burgenland
were created after 1918, I heard that they suffer from a dearth of earlier
material. However, the county archives of Szombathely, Sopron/Moson/Györ and
Bratislava may have holdings, as well as the Diocesan Archives in
Szombathely, Györ and/or Bratislava. I do not know about possible holding in
Reformist, Lutheran or Jewish archives, but these might also exist. My
knowledge is only from the Szchny Library in Budapest.

PART I
Southern Burgenland (Former Vas/Eisenburg County)

Oberwarther Sonntagzeitung, weekly, Oberwarth 1879-1918; FM
3/9954; signature 18911. This newspaper continued after 1918,
and the Széchényi Library holds issues up to 1921. There are also
holdings at the Burgenland Archives in Eisenstadt, and of
post-WW-I issues in Vienna.

Der Vereinsbote, monthly, Oberwart, 1899-1903.

Güssinger Zeitung, weekly, Güssing 1913-18; was continued after 1918.

Szent-Gotthárd, bilingual weekly, Sankt Gotthard 1895-1914; FM 3/966; H 835.

Der Volksfreund, weekly, Steinamanger 1883-1916; FM 3/4038; H 1.486.

Eisenburger Nachrichten, weekly, Steinamanger 1873-77.

Eisenburg, weekly, Steinamanger, 1897-1901.

Anzeiger, Szombathely, before 1898?

Jenseits der Donau, weekly, Steinamanger, ?

Günser Anzeiger, weekly, Güns 1874-1918; FM 3/3851; H 1.381.
This newspaper apparently continued after 1918 since the holdings
of the Széchényi Library include also years 1921-1938. According
to Albert Schuch, there may also be holdings of the paper in the
Burgenland County Archives in Eisenstadt.

Günser Zeitung, weekly, Güns 1882-1918; FM 3/5987; H 10.686.
Might also have continued after 1918 as there exists a holding of
1933-38 under signature 10.686/Z.

Evangelische Glocken, twice weekly, Pressburg-Güns 1889-1918.

Ungarische Volksschule, Oberschützen 1879-80; FM 3/4077; H 1.593;
continued as Npiskola - Volksschule, see next.

Npiskola - Volksschule, bilingual, Oberschützen 1884-89; FM
3/3452; successor of Ungarische Volksschule.

Westungarischer Landwirt - Nyugatmagyarországi Gazda, bilingual,
Steinamanger 1906-13.

Vasvármegyei Tuzrendészeti Közlöny (Vas County Firefighters' Gazette),
monthly, Hungarian with German supplement; Steinamanger 1894- 1903.

PART II
Middle and Northwestern Burgenland (Former Sopron/Ödenburg County)

Eisenstädter Zeitung, weekly, Eisenstadt 1882-82, 1886-98; merged
with Kismartoner Zeitung, see next.

Kismartoner Zeitung, weekly, Eisenstadt 1896-1908; absorbed the
Eisenstädter Zeitung in 1898.

Kismartoner Wochenschrift, weekly, Eisenstadt 1903-04.

Sauerbrunner Kur- und Localzeitung, bilingual, weekly, Sauerbrunn 1913-14.

Nezsider-Ruszter Seeuferbote, see under Northeastern Burgenland below.

Ödenburger Nachrichten, twice weekly, Ödenburg 1868-7/1875; FM
3/2517; H 2.423/2517; continued as Ödenburger Zeitung, see next.

Ödenburger Zeitung, daily, Ödenburg 1875-1918; later continued
till 1944; FM 3/2517; H 10.441/2517; successor to Ödenburger Nachrichten.

Ödenburger Rundschau, every two weeks (or: twice weekly?),
Ödenburg 1895-1900; FM 3/2655 (not sure); continued as Radikal, see next.

Radikal, twice weekly, Ödenburg 1900-13; FM 3/2655; H 2.902/2655;
successor to Ödenburger Rundschau; continued as Grenzpost, see next.

Grenzpost, weekly, Ödenburg 1913-18; successor to Radikal.

Ödenburger Volksblatt, weekly, Ödenburg 1893-94; FM 3/1209; H
3.218; continued as Westungarisches Volksblatt, see next.

Westungarisches Volksblatt, three times per week, Pressburg-
Ödenburg 1894-1918; FM 3/1209; H.308/1209; successor to
Ödenburger Volksblatt.

Amtsblatt des Komitats Ödenburg, Ödenburg 1901-18, FM 3/5615
(1920 holdings only).

Ödenburger Intelligenz- und Anzeigeblatt, Ödenburg 1855-62; FM
3/4825; signature 2616.

Ödenburger Bote für Stadt und Land, weekly, Ödenburg 1881-83(?); H 2.558.

Ödenburger Post, Ödenburg 1892-93; FM 3/4544; H 3.057.

Express, weekly, Ödenburg 1896-1901.

Volksblatt, weekly supplement to the Ödenburger Zeitung, see
above, Ödenburg 1897; FM 3/3979.

Neue Zeitung, twice weekly, Ödenburg 11/1898-1904; FM 3/2399; H 982/2399.

Ödenburger Volksfreund, weekly, Ödenburg 1898.

Allgemeiner Anzeiger, weekly, Ödenburg 1902-03.

Allgemeine Wochenschrift, Ödenburg 1903.

Der Freie Bürger, weekly, Ödenburg 1906-09.

Westungarischer Volksfreund, weekly, Ödenburg 1910-17; FM 3/3462; H 1.201.

Millenium Gedenkblatt, Ödenburg 1896, one issue only.

Ödenburger Nachtblatt, Ödenburg 1896, one issue only, FM 3/10602.

Wochenschrift für die Liebhaber der Geschichte, Erdbeschreibung,
Naturkunde, etc., Ödenburg 1779-87 (yes, 18th century).

Journal des Freistdtischen Theaters Oedenburg, Oedenburg 1846.

Ödenburger Lokalblatt, previously Harmonia, belletristic paper,
Ödenburg 1864-67; FM 3/4685; signature 3631; 3632.

Der Morgenstern, twice monthly, Ödenburg 1869-70.

Das Variet, weekly, Ödenburg 1902-03.

Illustrierte Sonntagszeitung, Ödenburg 1899-1900; supplement to
Ödenburger Rundschau, see above.

Der Reisekromer, quarterly, Ödenburg 1908-09.
Evangelische Blätter aus Ungarn, monthly, Budapest-Ödenburg 1898-1914.

Soproni Kereskedők Lapja (Ödenburg's Business Paper), bilingual,
every two weeks, Sopron 1903-05.

Handelsanzeiger, monthly, Ödenburg 1906-07; previously (1891-1905)
published in Vienna.

Népiskolai Lapok (Newspaper for Schools), bilingual?, Sopron 1881-90; FM 3/1969.

Landwirtschaftlicher Anzeiger, Oedenburg 1880-88.

Landwirtschaftlicher Anzeiger - Gazdasgi rtesit, bilingual,
Ödenburg 1880-90; could this be the same paper as the entry before?

Erste Ungarische Bauernzeitung, Ödenburg 1892-95.

Nachrichten des Ödenburger Comitats-Agricultur-Vereins, Ödenburg 1900-07.

A Gazda - Der Landwirt, bilingual, Ödenburg 1908-18.

Westungarischer Weinbergsbote, every two weeks, Ödenburg-
Pressburg 1897-1908; FM 3/4128; H 1.203.

Aesculap, twice weekly, Ödenburg 1903-06.

Die Militrische Welt, monthly, Ödenburg 1906-08.

PART III
Northeastern Burgenland and Further North (Former Moson/Wieselburg and Pozsony/Pressburg Counties)

Nezsider-Ruszter Seeuferbote, weekly, Nezsider (Neusiedl am See) 1910.

Wieselburger Zeitung, weekly, Wieselburg 1901-04.

Mosonmegye - Mosoner Komitat, bilingual, Ungarisch Altenburg (Magyarövár) 1902-10.

Westungarischer Grenzbote, daily, Pressburg 1872-1918; FM 3/4017; H 1.338.

Westungarische Volkszeitung, weekly, Pressburg 1896-1902; FM
3/1639; H 2.351/1639; continued as Reform, see next.

Reform, weekly, Pressburg 1902-13; successor to Westungarische Volkszeitung.

Westungarische Volksstimme, weekly, Pressburg 1902-18; FM 3.1301; H 2.907/1301.

Albert Schuch (BB Burgenland Editor-see email address in signature) knows of
a Pressburger Zeitung of which there are holdings in Vienna. Please also
refer to Evangelische Glocken under Southern Burgenland above, and to
Westungarisches Volksblatt and Westungarischer Weinbergsbote under Middle and
Northwestern Burgenland above, which all had Pressburg as their co-location
of publishing.

PART IV
National Papers of Possible Regional Interest

Volksschullehrer Blatt, weekly, published by the Ministry of
Education, Budapest 1868-73; FM 3/8311; H 8.415; H 1.534.

Neue Ungarische Schulzeitung, Budapest (?) 1886-89; FM 3/3513.

Post-Zeitung, weekly, Budapest 1875-90; FM 3/2610; H 3.073/2610.

Postmeister, Fachblatt des Ungarisch-Kroatischen Post- und
Telegraphenwesens, Budapest 1879.

(Many other trades such as bakers, chimney cleaners, beekeepers,
had their own papers as well.)

Landesgesetz- und Regierungsblatt für das Königreich Ungarn, 1850-59.

(end of list)

A few appropriate remarks from Albert Schuch concerning availablity:
Güssinger Zeitung: 1911-1938 (not published 4/2/1922-2/8/1923); vol. 1923-1938
are in Vienna (National Library). In the 1920's the priest of
Tschantschendorf was the editor; featuring many historical articles written
by Father G. Leser. Stopped in 1938, probably because the Nazis didn't like
this Catholic paper. Occasionally included information on emigrants, but not
as much as the "Oberwarther Sonntags-Zeitung".

Günser Anzeiger: Hans Hahnenkamp quoted from a few volumes in his book "Die
Burgenländische Industrie 1885-1921", so I thought maybe he was able to use
them in Eisenstadt (Landesbibliothek/Landesarchiv).

Eisenstädter/Kismartoner Zeitung: at least partly available in Eisenstadt
(reason I think so same as above); was - according to the
"Landesbibliographie" - published until 1917

Pressburger Zeitung: started towards the end of the 18th century. Available
in Vienna (National Library). Owners/editors and contents changed very often.
I have looked at some of the 1840's (issued 2-3 times a week) and the 1860's
(daily). Occasionally included obituaries of the city of Pressburg (name,
age, occupation), also lists of promoted/moved civil servants (one can find
names of customs officials at the Austro-Hungarian border here, I spotted
names for Rudersdorf, Kukmirn, Pinkafeld, etc.). These civil servants lists
can also be found in other papers.


END OF NEWSLETTER-EDITED & DISTRIBUTED BY GERALD J. BERGHOLD