The time after the Second World War

(1945/1946)

 

1. Refugees in Hagau:

• The mayor looked for accommodation for refugees in Hagau.

• More refugees had to be quartered than there were residents of Hagau (about 70 Hagauer and about 80 refugees).

• Examples of accommodations: - on our property: (for approx. 10-15 years)

                                                   → Outbuilding (house for retired farmers):
                                                                                  Family with 9 children

                                                   → House: 2 couples

                                                   → neighbouring house: 20 refugees

• Types of refugees: families (adults / children), widows, grandparents

• Status of the refugees: very poor, grateful and hardworking

                                                   → cooperation on farms. As servant / maid.

                                                   → looked after children and pets

                                                   →  worked as day laborer

                                                   → learned a profession

                                                   → children visited school

• Later: - Some refugees seek for places to stay in (big) cities.

             - Other refugees build their own houses in nearby places

• General consequences of the war for Hagau: very many refugees, but no destruction

 

2. Escape of my grandad from the Sudetenland:

• escaped as a 4-year-old with his mother, cousin, and aunt from the Czech Republic

• men were at war, women and children were chased out.

• We drove to Augsburg by cattle car, then to Donauwörth.

→ Refugees were distributed to farmers.

• Journey: clothes attracted layer by layer (as much as possible taken)

                 very tiring, little food

• Accommodation: 2 rooms (for 1 year)

                              When ma grandad was 5 years old they moved to another house.

                              At the age of 17 they built their own house.