Michael Fritsche / Maria Kliegel

INDEX

[185] Michael Fritschie is the First generation known ancestor of the Fritsche family in Europe.
He purchased the Fritsche family farm in Hain in 1763

[186] THE SILESIAN VILLAGE OF HAIN
The Silesian village of Hain lies in the upper Grafschaft Glatz in Circle
Habelschwerdt about 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of Mittelwalde, the southern
town in Glatz Bergkessel. As you look southeast of the village of Hain
you notice a chain of snow-covered mountains. The view to the west is of
the Habelschwerdtner Mountains. The town lies in the middle ofthe
mountains and Hainer Creek flows through the town from these mountains.
In the beginning of the 1900's the town had 250 inhabitants, but because
of the decline of business in the area, the number dropped off to 200
before World War II. There were 42 houses. There were 7 large farms
with over 80 "morgen' of land. There were 10 medkium sized farms with
over 20 "morgen", and the remainder were smaller parcels of land. The
town had a mill, a nursery, a general store and a handwork shop. It dod
not have a church as the people belonged to the church at Schonfeld. Hain
did have a one-room schoolhouse. In the story of Hain, Schonfeld has a
definite part.
The manor belonged to the family of the old Austrian Count Althan, the
leader at the time of the Schlesian War and money was given for the war
effort and om returm he received Schonfeld and other places.
The town of Hain had one street that stretched out 1 1/2 Km in length.
It was settled in the 1500's by German colonists, most of whom came from
Mainfranken (France). The style of thir homes betray's their French
ancestry. The name Hain means woods or grove of trees and points out the
original condition of the land which was cleared and transformed into the
1200 "morgen" of farm land.
To this peaceful town locked away from the rest of the world came the
World War. In 1944, trucks and trains came bringing people from Hungary as
well as Scwabish Germans who found a place to stay in Hain. By the end of
March they were transported to Bavaria.
The Russians came in May 1945 and occupied the town. It ws a sad and
terror filled time. The farmer Elsner had to clear out his farm in 1/2
hour and two officers and a regiment of 42 soldiers took over the place.
They threw out the good furniture etc. The same procedure was followed on
other farms. In the west side of town they erected barracks for the
troops. The occupation lasted 4 weeks. During that time they plundered,
not only animals, food, vehicles and all nice items of jewelry, but the
women and girls had no peace. They spent many nights hiding in the
cornfields. Later, the Russians brought in the first Poles. Before they
arrived, the Russians had disposed of 200 animals taken from their stalls
and done away with.
In March 1946, the Poles drove away secven families from their farms.
Those that remained harvested the crops and after that they all were forced
to leave. They were allowed 80 lbs of goods and 500 RM. But all still
hoped that somehow they might still be able to stay.
Early on Friday, August 23, 1946 armed men went house to house forcing
all to leave quickly. They brought vehicles for the baggage and for those
who could not walk. With heavy hearts and tears they left their belovced
homeland and the graves of their ancestors. No one was permitted to stay
for they were all Germans.
In September they arrived at the train station in Castrop-Rauxel in
Germany and were met by town officials and Red Cross sisters. They were
given different places to stay, sometimes as many as 30 in a classroom
What happened to the former citizens of Hain ?
Seven families went to Munsterland and resumed farming. Joseph
Fritsche went to Nordkirchen. Alfons Fritsche became a town worker in
Castrop-Rauxel. Fifteen (?) inhabitants of Hain lost their lives in World
War II.
Little is known now of the status of the town of Hain. Some of the
wooden houses were town and used for firewood. The grove of trees
surrounding the town has disappeared.
Many other east German Villages suffered the same trauma and fate.
However, although the people were forced to settle in distant places, they
never forgot their homeland and hold the memory of it in their hearts
This account about Hain was written by Julius Elsner and Alfons Fritsche
and was translated by Ella Rita Nicko, April 6, 2000.
Frederick Hotho and his son Michael along with Wolfgang Fritsche and his
son Christoph made a trip to the USA and Arkansas and visited with a large
group of the descendents of Joseph Fritsche in early April, 2000.
They then revealed that some of the Fritsche descendents who had been
expelled from the1r home in Hain had gone back to Hain and even met with the
present residents of the old Fr1tsche homestead in Hain,
The homestead was not destroyed after WW II as first believed, but it is
now occupied by a Polish family. However, buildings of the homestead suffer
from lack of maintenance and repair. The title of the present occupants to
the property is questionable and they are reluctant to spend money to keep it
in good condition because they also may have to leave it. (C E Wolf)

[187] Second generation known ancestor of the Fritsche family in Europe
Kaspar obtained ownership of the family farm in Hain in 1812

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