Miletitsch History

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Translated for us by:  ALEX LEEB

 A SHORT VERSION OF THE MILETITSCH HISTORY FROM THE HEIMATBÜCHER JOHANN WUSCHT 1936, AND MARTIN SCHNEIDER 1961.

After prince Eugene’s first great victory over the Turks in 1686, and the release of the Vojvodina, a sad picture was offered to the observer – “perfect silence prevailed”. Wild animals and brushwood prevented from the progress and made the landscape inhospitable. The people however, who once lived in the flowering localities here, had disappeared.

 Now the leader of the Serbs, Patriarch Arsenic Cerno-jevic, judged the time as favorable to fight against the Turks. He suffered,- however they saw themselves in a situation which compelled them to leave the homeland to avoid the revenge of the Turks, after the murders, he pulled over 35,000 to 40,000 of the Serbian people into the Vojvodina. Since after the peace treaty of Karlovci 1699, Serbia remained in the hands of the Turks, they were taken up as subjects of the Austria- Hungary monarchy and remained in the Vojvodina.

In those days we also found our municipality boundry, their Mamen the individual plots of our fields also our municipality Pussten, today still lead Seleschtje (Scheleschtwiesen), Obsenica (Obssnwiesen), Stara Pussta (old field). Hard at that Mostonga however was the Pussta Mileta. The inhabitants of these Pussten were partly borderbeen awake assigned, partly however operated them cattle breeding, however hardly agriculture.

 When the Vojvodonians, were released from the Turks, first some great Hungarian land owners searched around 1723, however the Hungarian federal state parliament with the emperor permission of realm-German colonists. But one did not come further over individual attempts. Thus, later using the prelude had happened at the settlement, which got new impulses only after dissolution of the Hilitaer borders. The settlement activity got a real upswing however only by the settlement of Maria Theresia 1755. It experienced a short interruption by the seven-year-old war however a renewed upswing in the year 1763. In 1748 – 49, Csatalya and Apatin were settled, and in 1759 in Hodschag the first Germans and after 1763 in the municipalities Batsch Sentiwan, Filipowa, Kernei, Gajdobra, Palanka, Gakowa, Bukin, Kolut, Bezdan and Karawukowa. In the second settlement time, Josephini 1785 – 87, which settled the municipalities Torschau, Bulkes, Jarek, Kula, Siwatz, Brestowatz, Veprowatz and Kiletitsch with Germans.

Naturally it is appropriate for us to question whether already there were some Germans before the time in Miletitsch. Since Miletitsch is aforementioned in no settlement list, cannot be said for sure, since the church book records of the first Germans in Miletitsch where kept in the Hodschag parish., however the entry starting from 1784 indicated are from Miletisch, so it can be said only with difficulty, which entries before 1784, refer to those in Miletisch. A tax list of 1784, as before the actual settlement, also leads on other 62 Germans.

 The actual settlement of Germans in Miletitsch took place 1786 - "second 1791, and also isolated in 1795, and 1798, which can be proven on the basis on the investigations to this local kinship book, although no list about the settlers or other documents gave information, probably the data of Professor Verner Hacker, in his books concerning the emigrations from the Black Forest, which itself with the entries in that Miletisch church books of the time did fully cover everything. The majority that Miletisch settlers came from the Black Forest, in other cases, a smaller part from the Pfalz and North-Baden, some from the area Mainz, Trier and some from Lorraine and the Saarland, also from Hohenzollern Sigmaringen." (the author)

While the first Germans in Miletisch before 1786, were registered in the Hodschag church books, the censures of the settlers from 1786, were registered in Karawukowa, until April 1787, in Miletisch some church books were available.

The German inhabitants in Miletisch increased rapidly; in 1829, already there were 1898 inhabitants and already 2,216, in 1836 and in 1936, Miletisch was hundred percent a German municipality, with 765, houses and 3,837, inhabitants.

 The important question with their moral and social weight, also can we ignore the question, which induced our ancestors to the emigration, in order to look for a new homeland, or not treat with equal courage, because before the answer the resolution hung the same off and not primarily of the settlement patents of empress Maria Theresia and emperor Joseph II. No homeland researcher essentially overlooked to meet the principal reason - restaurant economics, also surveys it.

So it also is to be understood, if these settlement patents had a large influence on the decision for emigration. In careful planning the settlement had been prepared - 15 houses already had been stamped by the German residents and 5 were before stamped. The remaining 20, finished in the summer 1786, and still could move in.

 They were simple, one window colonist houses; and nevertheless it must’ve fulfilled our ancestors with an inconceivable joy to be able to draw after the unhappiness in the homeland and the strains of the far journey into their own home. Despite the many privileges our ancestors had, those experienced them at the beginning of no good times - laborious work and patient bearing of the manifold strikes of fate was a lot. A majority of the colonist consisted not of farmers, but actually of craftsmen and day laborers, who knew few very little about working the land; also the land was not cultivated but with brushwood and grown reeds and swampy fields, whose cultivation laborious work requirements but also strong, also nature’s conditional preparations, in order to assist the defiance to the swamp diseases.

In order to adjust itself and complete the measure in 1786, - 1790, ground water completely destroyed the seeds. They had to fight and struggle heavy, their whole life long, but their diligence and its tenacity did not remain unrewarded - they put the foundation stone to the religious and economical structure of our municipality. In addition, the grandchildren of the settlers had to fight and lead a heavy life.

In 1836, our municipality was afflicted by the Cholera and in one month took 87, of inhabitants away. On 26. April 1865 came a new misfortune over our municipality. Conflagration disaster in 1786 nearly completely destroyed the new developed street and set back many inhabitants economically for many years. In the years 1872 – 73, the groundwater was again as high that the seed spoiled, and the same in the following year. In 1836, another Cholera epidemic broke out which affected a number of our ancestors again. Then the First World War came, from which 151, sons and fathers never returned home again.

 Regarding getting our own minister and a place of worship for our ancestors had to have patience. The municipality church was created in 1782, but with the installation of a minister and the building of a place of worship it did not go very fast. In 1786 already a request was placed to get its own minister but in 1787, a chaplain was established first, which existed until 1798, only then they got their first minister. With building the church they had to wait for a long time. In the year 1810 a request was placed for building a church, but some difficulties prevented them from building and only in 1816, did it finally begun. In 1824, it was inaugurated, and then it became the most beautiful place in the area. Nearly 50 years our ancestors had to wait for this moment and be content with a simple chapel. - what a happy event for these strong religious people. According to the former administration of our municipality, researching the vouchers was poor. Thus, we know only that the first community center was probably already built in 1745, and also the notary quarters. In 1880, it was still is standing where it was built. From individual documents, it is evident that the local executive committee did not only have the economic affairs of the municipality, but in local controversies also spoke of valid judgments. For guarding the crops, the domestic animals as well as the house and devices, the land and its borders, a guard was hired. This lasted up to the introduction of the police, in the year 1890. The postal traffic was serviced from the community center until 1868, in which Miletitsch got it’s post office completed. The only telegraph office was established in 1884.

A paved road between Hodschag, leading to the railroad station and ship port and Bogo- jewo became available in 1889 – 91 and brought a large relieve for the transport of the goods, above all the hemp goods. In 1911, the notary building was again developed and the telephone service was introduced. In 1914, the railroad line was build to Hodschag – Sonta, traffic service brought a further large ease for the entire transport of the goods and people. In 1920, current lighting was already introduced to Miletitsch, where the other stronger neighbor municipalities was prominent. The public education of the German settlers was from the outset closely connected with the church, which explains itself from the historical development of the public education, which already lay from the early middle age in the hands of the priests. However, on the other hand the relationship of the school and the church would be different and did not agree with the colonists, since no one was there , except the priests to read and write and to maintain the church clerical work. As teachers usually retired, soldiers or simple craftsmen, required training was needed at the beginning for their education. Only later trained forces could be used than teachers. At first, the school was used for the prayer house, in the teacher house a schoolroom was later furnished and only in 1823, the first school building was established. Only under these improved conditions the public education could develop, which found a precipitation by the education of a school committee in the year 1869 and itself by the establishment of a repetition school in 1872- 1874 and school continued. This good development experienced in 1890, by a Ministerial Development a handicap, which awarded the administration of the school ability of the political municipality, while the internal administration was left to the school committee, which under any circumstances for the advantage of the school and the pupil. In 1902, a refresher school for agricultural was established and a point further development out of the public education, which however by the First World War again under again a continuation found. The incorporation of the parts of a territory of the former Vojwodschaft by the Southern Slavic state also brought for the German school a more recent and better time - the lead of nearly hundred percent instruction in the Hungarian foreign language was taken of it and it returned to its ancient task to prepare the children for the practical life in its native language. Before the Germans established themselves, only little was to be noticed, by 132 sessions was cultivated hardly 10 in the place of agriculture, which might have been enough for their own need; the principal occupation of the Serbian inhabitants was always the cattle breeding. Only the German settlers operated more agriculture - usually wheat, dock and oats, in addition, something barley and above all hemp were cultivated. As general, also with us the agriculture was operated at first with the simplest devices. Restraining was also the situation of our fields, which is satiric to one and on the other hand 8-9 came from the place far away. Only with the introduction of modern agricultural devices the agriculture experienced large easement, particularly 1879 by the first threshing machine. In 1890, were accomplished the first canalization, which by the drainage of 629 Kat. Joch (acres) a large benediction meant for the farmer’s enterprises. In 1892, the first SAE machine was used and in 1900, the first mower, and this modernization brought further upswing. When in 1907, the consolidation of farmland of properties was accomplished; the agriculture came into high bloom, particularly the building of hemps. The mental-informal life in the farmer conditions took only in 20. Century, at the beginning, when the "South Hungarian agricultural farmer association" originated in to the 1900, by which the union was created in 1907, created "Comities agricultural association" an influential body became an educated manner, which served the agriculture within all ranges for the promotion. In the Serbian Miletitsch, there were only such industrial concerns, which stood for fruit canning, cherries and weaving of wool with the cattle breeding in connection -. bricklayers, carpenters, wagon makers and blacksmith were missing completely and only the German settlers brought these occupations after Miletitsch. Already at the beginning 19, century, nearly all branches of industry were represented and in 1842, already it gave the first guilds, which were active up to the dissolution of the guilds 1872. The craftsmen had to fight the farmers at first with equal difficulties and advanced only slowly. The reason was usually because of the fact that the first settlers before 1786, procured its need in Apatin or Hodschag and this custom also continued thereafter for a long time. Some labor enterprises, like a carpenter factory, a vinegar-factory and the milk-association could no hold themselves for a long time. In place other factories came along, the stocking and jacket weaving the cherry production and the coloring and a small specialty of Miletitsch, the flower production. Also the Ross-mills had to yield the upswing and to make two modern steam-mills, which possessed a strong efficiency and areas of the state and supplied the foreign country. To the main trade, as also to the trade the hemp fields supplied the raw material. Although the building of hemps was computed for the house requirement only, this culture developed gradually to the largest yield for trades and trade and contributed the share to the economic upswing of Miletitsch. Although the center of the farmer hemp market always was and is in Hodschag, in Miletitsch, nevertheless the hemp industry developed in such a manner that our breaking apart and hackle lying, dry houses, 3 hemp factories and the rope making, also the first in this area. If one regards it correctly, the hemp, its cultivation, the treatment and processing the rope the goods the only product, which Miletitsch, brought a large upswing and over all helped crises. Those were an informal impact on Miletitsch. After the hard work, on Sunday and on holidays, they loved the discussions with the neighbors and the acquaintance.

As genuine Danube Schwaben, those in Miletisch faced all new in the economy. From the very beginning they had to adapt themselves to the unusual in their new homeland, because they were 35 together and depended on each other. These two characteristics, the economic open-mindedness and striving for sociability, connected with a pronounced sense for the solemn, expressed themselves most strongly in the customs and in association filters. From the developed community the associations and cooperatives grew out. This community offered not from the outset condition for its emergency and its growth. Our ancestors had to work with difficulty, they were not wealthy, the economic life was not arranged, the desire and satisfaction of the soul and the spirit in the land, first in the religion and in their customs; besides the right of the free combination only came in the year 1848. However then a bad time came - cultural, religious and a supporting group developed in large number and witnessed from the public believe and striving for a more beautiful organization of the celebrations. As pioneers of the cultural associations the 1901, created "agricultural farmer association" is to be regarded. The carrier of the entire cultural association life in Miletitsch was and is the "trade and tradesman's union" of 1908, and all trade and manufacturing was united. In 1927, the workers were association and are based in the condition consciousness of the workers by numerical strong ones. This association released a kind workers' movement in the surrounding environment of Miletitsch and found many imitators. In 1929, the farmer aimed at the creation of a common home for the agricultural interests serving the cooperatives and associations. In 1928, the association of the "volunteer fire-brigade" was created, which in 1931, could achieve the first price during the district fire-brigade exercise. In 1938, a modern fire brigade home was built. Where the whole world changed itself also the sport became modernized and changed over, and the youth of Miletisch could not stand back and so in 1930, the Miletisch establishment of the sport association took place, which dedicates itself to the branch of sport football, (soccer). In 1920, the Schwab’s German culture federation was created. It is not an association in the usual sense, because it represents not an individual group of conditions, but covers everything, because it serves not only other occupational group, but also the people-as a whole in its cultural characteristic. The federation stands thus, to a certain extent over the associations, which finds all in it, if the same does not stand with the "state-faithfully and people-faithfully" in contradiction. The actual development of the culture federation began in 1926, where an active activity in all areas began. The groups of young people maintained the German public song and the people danced, played theatres and accomplished many other meetings, because the cultural objective was the care of the native language and the stimulation of people consciousness. This work closed the 1934 in Miletitsch new established local group in 1935, already proved on the culture federation with a harvest celebration, which was an important role in the cultural lives, and it was the village community’s request. Still more strongly this showed up with that which plays important role in the cultural lives, and that it was the village community’s real request. Still, more strongly this showed up at the 150-anniversary celebration. In 1936, the first Miletisch settlers celebration which were held in the memory of German settler in 1786. This celebration became one of the worthiest community achievements in the history of Miletitsch. But all life means development, and this development went fast. Which through generations had remained alike, the customs and use, the function in the agriculture, stood at the beginning of a deep transformation. In the year 1944, came the end of our village community. We would’ve liked to imagine what would’ve become, and the way it was and writes it all down, before the pictures in our memory fade or the memory of humans disappear.