Writing the hisotry of Transylvania is a challenge, but of course added to this fact that it is also a transfer of oral history to written hisotry this makes is all the harder. Here are a few ideas for an intoroduction to my book:
The Second World War almost ended before it began for the Saxon men of Transylvania. The men worried for good reason at the start of the conflict between Germany and Poland, as farmers in an isolated land, they stood to lose more than their lives. Adolf Hitler, the leader in Nazi Germany, lusted for power and land for his vision of Germany.
In September of 1939, Hitler's army invaded Poland. He needed more manpower for his German army soon, as with this invasion, France and Britain declared war on Germany. The men of Transylvania knew Hitler needed bodies to fight with, and as Volksdeutsche, their loyalty to the German Reich was automatically assumed. These ethnic Germans or Volksdeutsche were not citizens of Germany, and often never lived in Germany. They were Germans who by their origin came from Germany, but lived in other countries. Although they were ethnic Germans, they did not have the same status in the army, or as citizens of Germany.
Does this make sense? is it fun? interesting?
Update: nearly three years after this post this book is now out for people to read In Search of the Lost Ones on Amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk, and you can buy the English version on amazon.de
The Second World War almost ended before it began for the Saxon men of Transylvania. The men worried for good reason at the start of the conflict between Germany and Poland, as farmers in an isolated land, they stood to lose more than their lives. Adolf Hitler, the leader in Nazi Germany, lusted for power and land for his vision of Germany.
In September of 1939, Hitler's army invaded Poland. He needed more manpower for his German army soon, as with this invasion, France and Britain declared war on Germany. The men of Transylvania knew Hitler needed bodies to fight with, and as Volksdeutsche, their loyalty to the German Reich was automatically assumed. These ethnic Germans or Volksdeutsche were not citizens of Germany, and often never lived in Germany. They were Germans who by their origin came from Germany, but lived in other countries. Although they were ethnic Germans, they did not have the same status in the army, or as citizens of Germany.
Does this make sense? is it fun? interesting?
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