Bericht und Anmerkungen zum Zustand der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchen in der Bezirk Suwałki
1915-1916
von Pastor August Gerhardt
Präsentiert dem
Warschauer Evangelisch-Augsburgisches Konsortium
Januar 1916
Veröffentlicht mit Genehmigung der
Internationaler Verband der Deutschen aus Litauen
Transkription von Claas Jenderny und Owen M. McCafferty II
Bearbeitet von Cynthia Spurgat Jacobson und Grit Linster
Danksagungen
Die IAGL möchte den Personen, die dazu beigetragen haben, diese Veröffentlichung möglich zu machen ihren aufrichtigen Dank aussprechen:
Pastorin Kristin-Luana Baumann, der Urenkelin von Pastor August Gerhardt, für die Bereitstellung des Originaltextes und die Erlaubnis an die IAGL, ihn zu übersetzen und für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich zu machen sowie für ihre Hilfe bei der Übersetzung.
An Class Jenderny und Grit Linster, die bei der Transkription des handgeschriebenen deutschen Originaltextes und bei der Übersetzung in die englische Sprache geholfen haben.
An Cynthia Spurgat Jacobson, Chefredakteurin der Zeitschrift „Die Weite“ und Grit Linster, deren Bemühungen den Text von Pastor Gerhardt für den modernen Leser verständlich gemacht haben.
Und zum Schluss unser posthumer Dank an Pastor August Gerhardt für die Erstellung dieses Berichts und an die Familie Gerhardt für seine Bewahrung und die Zustimmung zur Veröffentlichung.
Vorbemerkung
Vor etwa 25 Jahren schenkte mir meine verstorbene Mutter eine Sammlung von Familienpapieren zur sicheren Aufbewahrung. Unsere Familiengeschichte mütterlicherseits ist geprägt von deutschen Siedlergemeinschaften in Litauen und Rumänien, der Vertreibung der Volksdeutschen aus Osteuropa nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg und der Einwanderung nach Nordamerika und Hawaii in den 1950er/ 60er Jahren. Die Sammlung enthielt Briefe zwischen Familienmitgliedern in Deutschland und den USA, Zeitungsausschnitte und andere Erinnerungen an bedeutende Familienereignisse sowie einen sehr alten, zerkratzten Ordner, an dessen Rändern sich vergilbte Papiere wellten.
Ich erinnere mich an den Moment, als ich den beschädigten Ordner zum ersten Mal öffnete. Es enthielt eine Vielzahl von Dokumenten, die meisten davon handschriftlich von meinem Urgroßvater, Pastor August Gerhardt (1875-1947). Ganz am Ende war der „Bericht und Anmerkungen zum Zustand der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchen im Bezirk Suwałki 1915-16“ eingefügt. Das Warschauer Evangelisch-Augsburgische Konsortium hatte meinen Urgroßvater beauftragt, in die Gegend zu reisen, pastorale Dienste zu leisten und über den Schaden zu berichten, der den örtlichen Gemeinden durch die Kämpfe zwischen der russischen und der deutschen Armee während des Ersten Weltkriegs zugefügt wurde.
In diesem Bericht lesen wir die Namen von Menschen, die in ihren Kirchen und Gemeinden aktiv waren. Wir sehen die Namen von Menschen, die vertrieben, deportiert, gehängt oder erschossen wurden. Wir erfahren, wie viele Bauernhöfe und Dörfer niedergebrannt wurden, wie viele Familien und Gemeinschaften geschrumpft und zerstört wurden. Wir erfahren auch von den Bemühungen, die Kirchen und Gemeinden wieder aufzubauen, Samen der Hoffnung zu säen und Bedingungen zu schaffen, unter denen diese Samen gedeihen und wachsen können. Wie hätte es sich angefühlt, zwei der 700 Überlebenden zu sein, die sich am 26. Dezember 1915 zum Weihnachtsgottesdienst in Wirballen oder zum Silvestergottesdienst in Wiżajny versammelt hatten
Die Bekanntschaft mit meinem Urgroßvater durch die Lektüre seiner Papiere war für meine eigene Entscheidung, Pastor zu werden, wichtig. Erst durch diese schriftliche Aufzeichnung seines Lebens und Wirkens wurde mir die lange und tiefe Glaubensgeschichte und die Verbindung zur lutherischen Kirche bewusst, die das Leben meiner Vorfahren so tiefgreifend geprägt hatte.
Damals wie heute ist die Kirche aufgerufen, ihre Haltung zu Krieg und Frieden zu definieren. Allzu oft wird Religion als Mittel genutzt, um Zwietracht zu säen und Gewalt auszulösen. Im Ersten Weltkrieg wurden viele Predigten gehalten, um den Krieg zu rechtfertigen. Viele Predigten werden heute mit dem gleichen Ziel gehalten. Aber für mich besteht kein Zweifel: Jesus ruft uns dazu auf, Friedensstifter zu sein. Menschen des Glaubens sollten Visionen von Gerechtigkeit und Frieden hochhalten, insbesondere in Zeiten des Krieges.
Der „Bericht und Anmerkungen zum Zustand der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchen im Bezirk Suwałki 1915-16“ ist eine wichtige historische und genealogische Aufzeichnung. Es rückt die deutschen Siedler im Osten ins Rampenlicht – ein Volk, dessen Kultur und Lebensweise nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg zerstört wurden. Ich lese den Bericht heute als düstere Warnung für uns. Wir müssen auf eine gerechte Welt hinarbeiten, in der alle Menschen und Völker zusammenkommen, um füreinander und unser gemeinsames Zuhause, die Erde, zu sorgen. Wir können nicht zulassen, dass Kriegstreiber über das Schicksal dieses Planeten entscheiden. Wir müssen sie und uns zu Friedensstiftern machen.
Selig sind die Friedensstifter, denn sie werden Kinder Gottes genannt.
(Matthäus 5:9, NRSV).
Rev. Kristin-Luana Baumann Port Angeles, Washington, 17. Januar 2024
Vorwort
Zu Beginn meiner Forschung startete ich meine Suche in Litauen mit der Zeit, in der meine Großeltern dort lebten – um 1900. Aber erst als ich tatsächlich fast alle Dörfer und Gutshöfe meiner Vorfahren besuchte, wurde mir die Notlage der Menschen in Litauen im frühen 20. Jahrhundert tiefer bewusst, die Stärke der lutherischen Kirche und ihre Beharrlichkeit, die bis heute anhält. Der Bericht von Pastor Gerhardt beschreibt einiges von dem, was ich vorgefunden hatte.
Er hilft dem Leser zu verstehen, welch immensen Verluste ein Krieg für die Menschheit mit sich bringen kann.
Forscher wissen, dass ihre Quelle für Geburten, Heiraten und Todesfälle der Deutschen aus Litauen von etwa 1840 bis zum Ersten Weltkrieg die Kirchenbücher und ab etwa 1875 Zivilstandsregister sind – meist geschrieben in polnischer oder russischer Sprache. Selten findet man Eintragungen in deutscher Sprache.
Einige Forscher sind jedoch auf Aufzeichnungen in der im Deutschen Reich üblichen Tabellenform gestoßen. Der Bericht von Pastor Gerhardt hilft das Auftauchen der Aufzeichnungen in der deutschen Tabellenform während des Ersten Weltkrieges zu erklären.
Die meisten Forscher haben Lücken in den Aufzeichnungen „aufgrund von Kriegen und Bränden“ festgestellt. Der Bericht von Pastor Gerhart hilft zu erklären, warum im Ersten Weltkrieg so viele Aufzeichnungen „in Kriegen und Bränden“ verloren gingen.
Auch wenn einige Unterlagen „verloren/Status unbekannt“ sind, wie die IAGL-Website berichtet, hilft sein Bericht dem Forscher, mehr als nur den Verlust von Aufzeichnungen zu verstehen. Es sind die Einblicke in den Alltag der Familien, die wir durch unsere Recherche kennengelernt haben und die uns beim Lesen seines Berichts zu Herzen gehen. Jetzt verstehe ich einen Teil eines Briefes besser, der über Generationen hinweg in einer Nebenlinie meiner Familie weitergegeben wurde. Eine junge Frau aus einer Familie, die nicht ausgewandert war, schrieb an ihre Angehörigen in Michigan: „Als sie eines Tages zur Schule gingen, wussten sie nicht, in welchem Land sie nach Hause kommen würden. Sie erinnerte sich auch daran, dass sie im Ersten Weltkrieg in der Nähe ihres Hauses das Donnern der Kanonen hören konnten.“
Sein Bericht verleiht dieser Erfahrung Glaubwürdigkeit. Stellen Sie sich den Schrecken vor, den diese junge Frau empfand.
Und auch wenn es nie seine Absicht war, steigert sein Bericht meine Wertschätzung für das Opfer, das meine Großeltern gebracht haben, weil sie fortgegangen sind. Da das Haus der Familie Spurgat in der Zeit von 1894 bis 1941 so nahe an der ostpreußischen Grenze lag, müssen sie einige der in seinem Bericht erwähnten Familien, Bauern, Schulen und Kirchengrundstücke gekannt haben. Ich bin mir sicher, dass meine Großmutter Gott für ihr Überleben gedankt und für die Verlorenen gebetet hätte
Cynthia Spurgat Jacobson
IAGL Vizepräsidentin und Chefredakteur in der Zeitschrift „Die Weite“
30. Januar 2024
Einführung
Es ist viel über die Ereignisse an der Ostfront während des Ersten Weltkriegs und nach seinem Ende vor über 100 Jahren geschrieben worden. Leser können eine endlose Menge an Informationen über den Krieg aus fast allen Aspekten und in fast jeder Sprache finden. Für den Genealogen oder Familienhistoriker, der seine deutschen Wurzeln im Südwesten Litauens erforscht, gibt es jedoch nur sehr wenige Berichte aus erster Hand aus der Perspektive der Deutschen aus Litauen. Wie Cynthia Spurgat Jacobson im Vorwort dieser Arbeit erklärte, sind die darin enthaltenen Informationen für viele von unschätzbarem Wert, insbesondere aber für die Nachkommen der deutschen Minderheit, die in diesen Gebieten lebte und die mehr über die Erfahrungen der damaligen Bewohner und den Zustand von deren Heimat in diesem schrecklichen Kapitel der europäischen Geschichte erfahren möchten.
Ziel dieser Einführung ist es, dem Laien, der möglicherweise nicht weiß, wer die Deutschen aus Litauen waren und warum diese Gemeinschaft für das Warschauer Evangelisch-Augsburgische Konsistorium und Pastor August Gerhardt, der ihm Bericht erstattete, von Interesse war, einen Kontext zu bieten. Ich habe versucht, weite Teile der Geschichte dieser Region zusammenzufassen, um den Lesern einen historischen Kontext für das darin enthaltene Material zu bieten. Aber es sind weitaus mehr Details bekannt.
Beim Lesen dieser Einleitung und des Berichtes von Pastor Gerhardt möchte ich den Leser ermutigen, die Karten auf den Seiten 11 und 12 zu beachten, um den geografischen Kontext zu verstehen.
Südwestlitauen
Heute grenzt Südwestlitauen an den Oblast Kaliningrad, an Polen und Weißrussland. Allerdings hat sich die Karte Europas im Laufe der Jahrhunderte drastisch verändert. In der Vergangenheit gehörte Litauen zum polnisch-litauischen Königreich, einem der größten Reiche Europas. Durch eine Reihe von Teilungen wurde das polnisch-litauische Königreich Teil der drei führenden Mächte Europas: Preußen (später bedeutender Teil des Deutschen Reiches), Österreich und Russland. Das Gebiet, das das heutige Litauen umfasst, wurde schließlich zwischen diesen drei Reichen aufgeteilt. Zwischen 1795 und 1807 gehörte Südwestlitauen zu Preußen und hieß Neuostpreußen. Im Jahr 1815 wurde der heutige Südwesten Litauens jedoch als Teil von Kongresspolen von Russland kontrolliert.
Durch die dritte Teilung des polnisch-litauischen Königreiches im Jahr 1795 hörten Polen und Litauen auf zu existieren.
Südwestlitauen gehörte zum Gouvernement Suwałki – einem Gebiet, das Teil des größeren Kongresspolens war, das vom Russischen Reich regiert wurde. Von 1815 bis zum Beginn des Ersten Weltkriegs blieb es unter russischer Kontrolle. Während des Ersten Weltkriegs waren verschiedene Teile Litauens von Russland und dem Deutschen Reich besetzt, die meiste Zeit des Konflikts jedoch vom Deutschen Reich. Siehe The Ober Ost – Deutsche Besetzung Litauens unten.
Nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg erlangte Litauen die Unabhängigkeit und wurde zur Republik Litauen. Diese Freiheit war nur von kurzer Dauer. Bereits seit Juni 1940 bis 1941 wurde es von der Sowjetunion kontrolliert und dann erneut nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg und erlangte seine Unabhängigkeit erst 1991 wieder.
Die Deutschen aus Litauen
Vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg war Südwestlitauen die Heimat einer blühenden deutschen Minderheit, die in den Gebieten nahe der Grenze zu Ostpreußen, dem heutigen russischen Oblast Kaliningrad, lebte. Obwohl Wissenschaftler das genaue Datum, an dem Germanen zum ersten Mal in das heutige Litauen kamen, nicht bestimmen können, begannen einige der frühesten deutschen Gemeinden nach Anwerbungen durch die Fürsten Mindaugas und Gediminas im 13. Jahrhundert in den größeren Städten wie Kaunas und Vilnius zu florieren. Es gab auch Preußen-Litauer, die das einst als Memelland bekannte Gebiet um die Stadt Klaipėda (Memel) in Litauen bewohnten, das historisch zu Ostpreußen gehörte. Schließlich gab es noch die Deutschen aus Litauen im Südwesten Litauens, deren Herkunft besser nachweisbar ist.
Die Deutschen aus Litauen begannen mit der ersten bedeutenden Migration nach Südwestlitauen, südlich der Memel, als die Region zu Neuostpreußen gehörte (1795-1807). Als das preußische Königreich 1867 das spätere Gouvernement Suwałki regierte, förderte es die preußischen Siedler, hauptsächlich aus Ostpreußen, um dieses neue Gebiet „preußisch“ werden zu lassen. Allerdings begann erst Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts, nachdem das Gebiet an das Russische Reich zurückgegeben worden war, eine beträchtliche Zahl von Ostpreußen nach Südwestlitauen einzuwandern. Diese Migration hielt bis zum Ende des 19. und Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts an und ließ kurz vor und nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg deutlich nach.
Die meisten Deutschen aus Litauen waren Bauern und Handwerker – Zimmerleute, Stellmacher, Metzger, Schmiede, Schneider und Brauer. Sie lebten in ländlichen Gemeinden im Südwesten Litauens und gründeten evangelisch-lutherische Kirchen in den umliegenden Städten – um nur einige zu nennen: Kalvarija (Kalwaria), Marijampolė (Mariampol), Sakiai (Schaken), Seirijai (Serey), Vilkaviškis(Wilkowischken), Virbalis (Wirballen) und Vištytis (Wischtiten). Mit dem Bevölkerungswachstum wurden viele der kleinen Dörfer rund um diese Städte fast ausschließlich deutsch. Neben der Gründung lutherischer Gemeinden im Südwesten Litauens eröffneten die Deutschen auch Schulen um den lutherischen Glauben aufrechtzuerhalten und die deutsche Sprache zu lehren, und gründete außerdem während der Unabhängigkeit Litauens verschiedene deutsche Sozial- und Wohlfahrtsgruppen.
Am Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs und dem Beginn der erneuten sowjetischen Besatzung flohen fast alle Deutschen nach Westen und beendeten damit die mehr als 150-jährige Existenz deutscher Gemeinden in Litauen endgültig.
Nationalität und Militärdienst
Da Südwestlitauen während des Ersten Weltkriegs Teil des Russischen Reiches war, waren die meisten Deutschen aus Litauen russische Untertanen und mussten (wie alle anderen männlichen russischen Untertanen) die Wehrpflicht in der russischen Armee absolvieren. Obwohl diese Regelung auch während des Ersten Weltkrieges galt, wurden viele Deutsche von den russischen Behörden als Spione verdächtigt. Einige der Deutschen aus Litauen, die hauptsächlich im Grenzgebiet zu Ostpreußen lebten, wurden ins Innere Russlands deportiert. Andere wurden erschossen, gehängt, gefoltert oder wegen des Verdachts der Kollaboration mit dem Deutschen Reich nach Sibirien geschickt.
Die Vorstellung, in der russischen Armee zu kämpfen und dabei eine Waffe auf einen Cousin, Bruder, Vater oder Onkel zu richten, der auf der deutschen Seite des Grabens kämpfte, war ein erschütternder Gedanke.
Der Ober Ost – Deutsche Besetzung Litauens
Die deutsche Armee marschierte erstmals im Herbst 1914 in die Gebiete Suwałki und Kaunas ein. Bis zum Spätfrühling 1915 hatte die russische Armee sie in erbitterten Kämpfen im gesamten Südwesten Litauens und Nordostpolens zurückgedrängt. Eine Gegenoffensive der deutschen Armee im Mai 1915 trug dazu bei, deren Sieg zu besiegeln. Die Stadt Vilnius kapitulierte am 18. September 1915 gegenüber dem Deutschen Reich. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt kontrollierte das Deutsche Reich das gesamte spätere Litauen.
Zur Verwaltung des Territoriums richtete das Deutsche Reich eine Verwaltungsabteilung innerhalb der deutschen ein. Das Gebiet erhielt den Namen „Gebiet des Oberbefehlshabers der gesamten Deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten“, der zu „Ober Ost“ abgekürzt wurde. Dieses neue Verwaltungsgebiet bestand aus dem heutigen Litauen, Nordostpolen und Kurland (heute Teil Lettlands). Der litauische Teil umfasste ganz Südwestlitauen sowie das heutige Nordostpolen – Suwałki, Sejny und Wiżajny.
Pastor Gerhardt beschreibt mehrere Fälle in den Jahren 1914-1915, in denen lokale Protestanten durch deutsche Siege „gerettet“ wurden. Dieser Eindruck ist teilweise auf die Tatsache zurückzuführen, dass die gesamte lokale protestantische Bevölkerung von der russischen Regierung als „deutsch“ eingestuft wurde, obwohl zu den Lutheranern im Südwesten Litauens und im Nordosten Polens auch Personen gehörten, die ethnische Polen, Russen und Litauern waren. Infolgedessen drangsalierte die russische Armee ständig die protestantische Bevölkerung und hängte, deportierte oder sperrte diejenigen ein, die sie der Kollaboration mit dem Deutschen Reich verdächtigten. Durch die deutsche Besetzung des Gebiets waren die Deutschen aus Litauen und die anderen Protestanten vor Deportation oder Schlimmerem sicher.
Obwohl die Deutschen aus Litauen besser mit der deutschen Armee in Litauen kommunizieren konnten als die litauische und polnische Bevölkerung, trauten ihnen die deutschen Soldaten oft nicht. Sie waren ziemlich überrascht, in Litauen eine bedeutende deutsche Gemeinschaft zu finden. Die meisten Deutschen, die innerhalb der Grenzen des Deutschen Reiches lebten, hatten nur vage Vorstellungen und Stereotypen über Russland, zu dem für sie auch Litauen gehörte. Die Bewohner russischer Gebiete wurden als rückständig, ländlich, arm und fremd angesehen. Viele der deutschen Soldaten kamen aus weit entfernten Gegenden – manche sogar aus Bayern. Die meisten erwarteten nicht, in Litauen deutschsprachige Menschen zu finden – geschweige denn solche, die sich selbst als Deutsche identifizierten. Da viele der Deutschen aus Litauen zumindest zweisprachig waren (viele waren drei- oder viersprachig), halfen sie der deutschen Armee oft bei der Kommunikation mit den einheimischen Litauern, Polen, Russen und Juden.
Zusammenfassung
Der Verbleib des Abschlussberichts von Pastor Gerhardt ist unbekannt. Ich habe eine Anfrage bei der Evangelisch-Augsburgischen Kirche Polens gestellt. Ein Mitarbeiter bestätigte, dass der größte Teil des Zentralarchivs der Lutherischen Kirche in Polen im Zweiten Weltkrieg zerstört wurde und nur sehr wenig erhalten blieb. Tatsächlich ist dieser Bericht wahrscheinlich das einzige existierende Exemplar.
Der Einblick in die Erfahrungen der deutschen Gemeinden im Südwesten Litauens, den Pastor Gerhardt bietet, ist für den modernen Leser angesichts der Gräueltaten, die Europa eine Generation später widerfuhren, besonders ergreifend. Die Jahre zwischen dem Ersten und dem Zweiten Weltkrieg verliefen größtenteils friedlich für die Deutschen aus Litauen, die oft ihre neue litauische Staatsbürgerschaft annahmen – viele meldeten sich sogar freiwillig zum Dienst in den neu gegründeten litauischen Streitkräften. Diese friedvolle Zeit endete vollständig, als die Deutschen aus Litauen nach dem Einmarsch der Sowjetunion in Litauen 1941 nach Nazi-Deutschland umgesiedelt und fast alle Deutschen in Litauen Teil der nationalsozialistischen Heim-ins-Reich-Politik wurden. Die meisten würden ihr geliebtes Litauen nie wieder sehen.
Owen M. McCafferty II
IAGL Gründer und Präsident
Januar 2024, Cleveland, Ohio
Maps
The following map shows the modern European borders along Lithuania’s southwest border.
The cities in Lithuania show the location of most of the Lutheran churches about which Pastor Gerhardt reported. Four cities in modern Poland that were once part of the Suwałki Gubernia are also included. The two locations in what is now in the eastern part the Kaliningrad Oblast are examples of locations in East Prussia where many Deutsche aus Litauen originated.
Locations of Lutheran Congregations
A Closer Look
A closer look at many of the congregations in southwest Lithuania and northeast Poland included in Pastor Gerhardt’s report. The larger text features the modern Lithuanian spelling while the smaller text is the German spelling.
1899 Photograph of Pastor August Gerhardt, Warsaw, Poland
Introduction
Contributed by Pastor Kristin-Luana Baumann, Great-granddaughter
Port Angeles, Washington
Editor’s Note: August Gerhardt’s Report and Notes on the Condition of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in the Suwałki District 1915-1916 was transcribed from his original 109-year-old hand-written German manuscript. Then it was translated from German to English. Gerhardt’s original text remains intact with only changes in formatting and minor editing for the benefit of the 21st century reader. A copy of his original manuscript is in Appendix B.
The Communities in the Suwalki Area
| Name of Parish | Number of Families (Previously) | Number of Families (Currently) |
|---|---|---|
| Wirballen(12) | 750 | 550 |
| Wladyslawow(13) | 203 | 183 |
| Wiżajny(14) | 557 | 550 |
| Wistieten(15) | 400 | 390 |
| Maryampol(16) | 484 | 323 |
| Kalwarya(17) | 427 | 176 |
| Wilkowyschki(18) | 275 | 183 |
| Szaky(19) | 650 | 625 |
| Sudgari(20) | 272 | 272 |
Pastor Gerhardt’s Note: All are viable. Despite all the war damage, they can pay the church contribution and partially compensate for the losses incurred if they have good will.
Editors Note: The spelling of various locations and surnames is from Pastor Gerhardt’s original manuscript. Footnotes provide alternate spellings in German, Lithuanian, Polish, and/or Russian.
Three Communities
| Name of Parish | Number of Families (Previously) | Number of Families (Currently) |
|---|---|---|
| Suwałki | 540 | 400 very impoverished families |
| Godlewo(21) | 380 | 190 |
| Preny(22) | 189 | 95 |
Pastor Gerhardt’s Note: These three are in all likelihood only viable if the relief fund actively intervenes.
The Male Protestants in the Suwałki Area along the German Border
The male Protestants – in the Suwałki area, along the German border – remained in their residence although they were already forced to leave their place of residence in November 1914 and move to the Swienzian(23) district of the Government Wilna(24) to live there for 4-7 weeks. This forced resettlement affected all males from the age of 14 onwards, including the elderly and the sick.
At the beginning of February, a second deportation order was issued on the basis of the order of the High Command(25) to deport all German colonists to the interior of the Russian Empire, “which obliged those affected to report to the district police in Kharkov(26) (or resp.(27) Poltava,(28) Orel,(29) etc.) within five days.”
The German colonists also included those who spoke Lithuanian and Polish (& Masurian), i.e. all Protestants. The Protestants were miraculously saved from this draconian measure: 2-3 days before the departure, the German troops moved into the Suwałki governorate, and the Protestants were saved!
Editor’s Note: On December 23, 1915, it appears that Pastor Gerhardt prepared three drafts of his forthcoming report to the Warsaw Evangelical-Augsburg Consistory. In the first draft (pages 4-7) the reader may notice that the content of the first two sections is very similar to the two sections in the second draft (page 8) as if Pastor Gerhardt was considering the best way to convey his findings to the governing body in Warsaw. His third and final report was written after the completion of his trip on January 12, 1916 (pages 9-13).
Although some of the information in each section is repetitive, Pastor Gerhardt’s text is left intact to preserve the authenticity of his words. For example, on page 4, in the section titled “Church Services” he records conducting six services from December 26, 1915, to January 9, 1916. In his second draft on page 8 he adds the sermon texts, number of parishioners, and communicants in some parishes. In his “final” report on page 9 he repeats the date, parish, sermon text, and summarizes the number of parishioners and communicants in the “Services” section.
In his first draft on pages 4-7 Pastor Gerhardt reviews his instructions and lists the Church Services at which he officiates. Then he summarizes the damages in three sub-sections: “War Damage to the Community,” “Devastation and Deportations,” and “Damages in the Suwałki Governorate.” Finally, he explains the January 16, 1915, Suwalki’s Governor’s Decree that almost resulted in “the resettlement of all German colonists into the interior of the Reich” and “God’s Intervention” a month later in February 1915.
12 Lithuanian: Virbalis; Polish: Wierzbołów
13 Lithuanian: Kudirkos Naumiestis; German: Neustadt
14 German: Wischainy
15 Lithuanian: Vištytis; Polish: Wisztyniec; German: Wischtiten, Wystiten.
16 Lithuanian: Marijampolė; German: Mariampol
17 Lithuanian: Kalvarija; German: Kalwaria;
18 Lithuanian: Vilkaviškis; German: Wilkowischken
19 Lithuanian: Šakiai; German: Schaken
20 Lithuanian: Sudargi; German: Sudargen
21 Lithuanian: Garliava; German: Goddlau
22 Lithuanian: Prienai; German: Pren, Prenen
23 German: Kreis Swenziany; Polish: Powiat Święciany; Lithuanian: Švenčionių rajono
24 Lithuanian: Vilnius
25 German: Höchstkommandierenden
26 Kharkiv, Ukraine
27 Respectively
28 Located in Central Ukraine
29 There are several places named „Orel“ this could refer to, including three in Russia, one in the Czech Republic and one in Macedonia.
Report from Pastor August Gerhardt, Łódż(30) about the Visit of the Evangelical Municipalities of the Suwałki Governorate on Behalf of the Warsaw Evangelical Augsburg Consistory December 23, 1915
Instructions
My stay in the Suwałki Governorate area with the instructions “to cover for missing pastors and to obtain detailed information about the war damage in these communities and any help required” lasted from December 25th, 1915, to January 12th, 1916.
During this time, I visited the following churches and branches(31):
Wirballen - Kibarty(32), Waldyslawow
Wiżajny - Wistieten
Suwałki
Maryampol - Kalwarya, Wiłkowyszki
Szaky
I made inquiries about Sudargi, Godlewo and Preny through third parties.
Church Services
Four church services with the celebration of Holy Communion and two services without Communion were conducted by me. I preached:
on December 26, 1915 in the church in Wirballen
“ “ 31 “ “ “ Wiżajny
“ January 1, 1916 ” “ ”
“ “ 2 “ “ “ “ Wistieten
“ “ 6 “ “ “ Wilkowyszki
“ “ 9 “ in a private house in Mattlauken(33)
The church services were attended by over 3,000 people, and the Lord's Supper was enjoyed by over 700 people. Three communions for the sick, nine baptisms, four weddings, one funeral, 32 thanksgivings, 16 intercessions, a series of morning and evening devotions. Visits to civilians and military people and negotiations with church councils and individual parishioners filled free time.
War Damage to the Community
The following damage can be identified in detail in the community:
| Parish | Burned down completely | Burned down partially | Arrested and/or deported | Hanged | Resettled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wirballen | 89 Farm operations | 32 | - | 17 Men, 3 Women | - |
| 4 Manors | - | - | - | ||
| Kibarty | 100 Houses | - | - | - | 200 families fled |
| Wladyslawowo | 30 Farm operations | 15 | 3 People | - | 20 Families |
| Wiżajny | 100 " | - | 1 " | 1 Person | - |
| Wistieten | 37 " | - | 7 " | 2 " | - |
| Suwałki | 120 " | 25 | 5 " | - | - |
| Maryampol | Approx. 30 " | - | 2 People, 3 Families | 6 Men, 2 Women | - |
| Kalwarya | 65 " | - | - | 2 People | 100 Families |
| Wolkowischki | 10 " | - | 14 People | 8 " | - |
| Szaki | 14 " | - | - | - | 22 Families fled, 12 partial families |
| Sudargi | - | - | - | - | - |
| Godlewo | Exact data is unknown | Exact data is unknown | - | - | 200 Families |
| Preny | Exact data is unknown | Exact data is unknown | - | - | 90 Families |
Devastation and Deportations
Completely burned down: around 600 farms, or possessions
Partly “ “ “ 75 “ “
Forced to relocate: around 450 families
Arrested and deported: “ 50 people
Hanged or shot: “ 33 men, 5 women
Have fled: “ 300 families
The towns are completely devastated and the people have been deported.
Godlewo - Alexoten(34) near the Kowno(35) Fortress [and] the northern and eastern part of Preny was subject to forced deportation right at the beginning of the war.
Damages in the Suwałki Governorate
The provinces:
Jaworow(36), Ludwinow(37), Krasno(38), Podariny(39) in the municipality of Maryampol
Andrzejewo(40) and Mackow(41) in the Kalwarya branch
The localities:
Chmielówka(42), Jarczewo(43), Rudka(44), Surpily(45), Lipowo(46), Czerwonka(47), Szury(48), and also in the municipality of Suwałki and many localities of the Augustow and Sejny(49) branches are completely devastated. Only a few owners are present here and there, most of them were sent with their wives and children. The property is owned by relatives or neighbors, often, such as in the Kalwarya district, in the hands of Catholics.
The municipalities of Maryampol, Kalwarya, Suwałki have shrunk to less than ⅔.
The municipalities of Godlewo [and] Preny to less than half of their previous size.
Damages in the Suwałki Governorate
Editor’s Note: On January 16, 1915, the Suwałki Governor’s Decree No. 580 was issued, affecting the future of the Protestant parishes in Suwałki Province. This decree required an immediate departure of the German population. The decree stated:
“The owner of this, the resident of the village and the Wiżajny Wojtschaft(50), the Suwałki district, Julian Renkis, son of Karl, goes, after having been informed of the Suwałki Governor's decree of January 16th under No. 580, which is based on the order of the highest commander about the resettlement of all German colonists into the interior of the Reich(51), has chosen the Kharkov district as his place of residence - and is obliged to appear at the Kharkov district police administration within 5 days with this pass. This pass is handed over to Renkis with a signature and seal for unhindered travel to the city of Kharkov,
(Illegible) for the district chief (signed).
Head of the office (signed) Gajewski.”
God’s Intervention
The German colonists, who included the Lithuanians and the Masurians, also included the landowners, craftsmen, and the residents of the cities, thus all Protestants.
The fate of the Evangelicals seemed to be sealed, and salvation was impossible. Then God intervened, and the impossible happened:
Through the personal efforts of Pastors Eichelberger, Loppe, and Superintendent Sroka, through requests from many individual Protestants, and through other means, an extension of the resettlement date to 8 days was achieved. 3-4 days before the new date, the Germans carried out their rapid flank movements (in the winter battle at the beginning of February 1915) and the Protestants remained in their place of residence!
Editor’s note: An additional phrase “where the trench warfare raged….” was on a torn page of Pastor Gerhardt’s handwritten original German manuscript and was most likely a reference to the winter battle in February 1915.
Editor’s Note: The short one page second draft (page 8) only contains two sections: “Travel Details and Purpose” and “December-January Report of Findings.” Both sections partially repeat information in the first draft (pages 4-7).
30 German: Litzmannstadt
31 German: Filial
32 Lithuanian: Kybartai; German: Kibarten
33 Lithuanian: Matlaukys
34 Lithuanian: Aleksotas
35 Lithuanian: Kaunas; German: Kauen
36 Lithuanian: Javaravas
37 Lithuanian: Liudvinavas
38 There are several places in Lithuania this could refer to. Likely, it is Krosna, east of Kalvarija and west of Simnas.
39 This could be „Podawinie“, the Polish name of the village of Padovinys located southeast of Marijampolė.
40 Located just over the Lithuanian border in Poland, south of the Lithuanian village of Reketija
41 Probably the Lithuanian city of Mockai, south of Kalvarija
42 Northwest of Suwałki
43 Current place-name could not be identified
44 Lithuanian: Rūdelė
45 Current spelling is: Szurpiły. Located north of Jeleniewo in Poland
46 Located northeast of Suwałki
47 Located northeast of Suwałki
48 Located northeast of Suwałki
49 German: Seine
50 Locality
51 Here meaning the Russian Empire
Report by Pastor August Gerhardt from Łódż on the Protestant Communities of the Suwałki Governorate on Behalf of the Warsaw Evangelical-Augsburg Consistory
Travel Details and Purpose
On behalf of the High Consistory, I traveled from Warsaw via Illawo-Eydtkuhnen(52) to Kibarty (Wirballen). Purpose of the trip - 1) “to represent missing pastors,” 2) “to find out about the war damage in these communities” and 3) “to obtain detailed information about any help required.”
December - January Report of Findings
My stay in the Suwałki area from December 25, 1915 - January 12, 1916.
1) On December 26, 1915, I preached about Luke 2:10-11(53) in Wirballen. There were around 700 people in the church and around 30 parishioners took part in the Lord's Supper.
2) December 31, 1915, 6 p.m. New Year's Eve service in Wiżajny. Sermon text Genesis 49:2-10.(54)
3) January 1, 1916 - service with communion in Wiżajny, sermon text 1 Peter 4:12-19.(55) The service on New Year's Eve had an attendance of around 700.
4) The one on New Year's Day had around 800-900 people, including around 350 communicants. 5) January 2nd - church service with communion celebration in Wistieten. Sermon text:
Matthew 2:13-23.(56) The number of visitors - 600 people, including over 300.(57)
[Signed] Pastor August Gerhardt, Lodz.
Editor’s Note: Several sections in the final report appeared in the first and second drafts: The first section “Three Trips,” summarizes Gerhardt’s travels within the Suwałki Governorate. The next two sections “The Purpose of the Trip” and “Services” repeat information from the first two drafts as explained above. “Status of the Communities” echoes “Damages in the Suwałki Governorate” in the first draft. “The Fate of the Evangelical Areas of Suwałki ” and “God’s Intervention” provide new information about the first expulsion order of Germans in November 1914 and then detail the February 1915 second expulsion order in his first draft (pages 4-7).
52 The Prussian Eastern Railway connected at the Polish town of Iłowo-Osada which took Gerhardt to Eydtkuhen in East Prussia (today Chernyshevskoe, Kaliningrad Oblast); this was one of the train lines that passed through Kybartai.
53 Known in German as “Weihachtsgeschichte” (English: The Christmas Story) “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
54 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel…”
55 “Suffering for Being a Christian…”
56 “The Escape to Egypt…”
57 Pastor Gerhardt doesn’t say who this 300 is, but based on similar sentences later on in his report, he probably means 300 of the 600 took communion.
Report about the Trip to the Suwałki Governorate on behalf of the Warsaw Evangelical Augsburg Consistory
Three Trips
On behalf of the High Consistory of December 23, 1915, I traveled from Warsaw via Illowo-Eydtkuhnen to Kibarty (Wirballen) on December 24, 1915.
From Kibarty I made three trips:
1) December 27, 1915 - January 3, 1916, in a southerly direction: Wistieten, Wiżajny-Suwałki.
2) January 4th - January 8th, 1916, to the east: Wolkowishki, Maryampol, Kalwarya.
3) The 10th-12th, 1916, January to the north: Wladyslawow, Shaki.
4) On January 12, 1916 I [also] traveled to Lodz via Eydtkuhnen-Thorn (58).
The Purpose of the Trip
1) “To represent missing pastors;”
2) “About the war damage” and
3) To “inform yourself in detail” about “any help required” in the Protestant communities.
Services
Other Duties
On December 27th I had a sick communion in Mattlauken (typhus), Wirball[en] parish.
On December 31st I had two visits to the sick in the Wiżajny parish.
9 baptisms, 4 weddings, 1 funeral, 32 thanksgivings, 16 intercessions.
A number of morning and evening devotions in the family circle.
Visits to civilian and military people.
Negotiations with the Superintendent Sroka with the military chaplains in Suwałki and Maryampol.
The church councils and individual parishioners took up my time and belong in this category.
War Damage
The questionnaires sent to Suwałki by the Warsaw Consistory at the end of October were only sent to the church leaders to fill out at the end of December. Military chaplain referred. Since I partly helped with the drafting of these and partly checked them, I would like to refer the High Consistory to the questionnaires that have since arrived and will only add additional information here:
War DamageStatus of the Communities
The communities of Maryampol, Kalwarya, Suwałki, Augustow, Sejny, Godlewo, Preny, Sereji (59) have suffered greatly from the trench warfare and the forced deportation and will not be able to survive without aid.
Apart from Suwałki and its branches and individual areas of the Maryampol and Kalwary parishes, the church contribution, which is less than 10 kopecks per acre in the parishes of the Augustow diocese, can be paid. Payment has so far been mostly refused because “there is no pastor in the place” and because “it is now a war.”
The Fate of the Evangelical Area of Suwałki
At the beginning of November 1914 an expulsion order was issued. Within 24 hours, all male Protestant residents should present themselves to the district chiefs concerned. Here their passports and other documents were taken away, a pass was handed out, and instructions were given to be ready to travel. Destination: Swienciany(60) County, Wilna district.
On the 10th-11th November 1914, the deportation of thousands of Protestant males from the age of 14 to old age began, not excluding the sick and infirm. Travel route: Maryampol, Olita(61), Swienciany.
After staying abroad for 4-7 weeks, almost everyone managed to return home because “the highest commander is said to have temporarily not considered the strict implementation of the deportation necessary.”
At the beginning of February 1915, a second expulsion order arrived. The Protestants were supposed to appear at the district offices again. Destination: the interior of Russia, where no Germans live. I am enclosing an original permit. The same reads in German translation:
M.I. Pass
Natschalnik
Suwałki County
Suwałki Governorate
January 23, 1915
No. 1057
City of Suwałki
The owner of this, the resident of the Fleckan(62) and the Wiżajny Wojtschaft, the Suwałki citizen Julian Renkis, son of Karl, goes after - in view of the decree of the Suwałki Gubernators of January 16th under No. 580, which is based on the order of the highest commanders about the resettlement of all German colonists into the interior of the Reich(63) - has chosen the Kharkov district as his place of residence there, and is obliged to appear at the Kharkov district police administration within 5 days with this pass.
This pass, with the required signature and the official seal, is handed over to Renkis for unhindered travel to the city of Kharkov chosen by him B.S. For the district chief; (signed) illegible head of office: - Gajewski .-
God’s Intervention
The expression “German colonists” referred to both the German craftsmen, townspeople, and landowners, as well as the Protestant Lithuanians and Masurians(64). The fate of all Protestants in the Suwałki area seemed to be sealed, and rescue was impossible. Then God intervened and the impossible happened:
Through the personal use of Pastors Sroka, Eichelberger, Loppe, through written and oral requests from many Protestant community members, and through others an extension of the resettlement period was obtained using means. Three or four days before the new deadline expired, the unexpected rapid advance of the Germans in the winter battle of February 1915 took place and the German colonists “were saved!”
Report of Damages
The towns near the fortresses were completely depopulated right at the beginning of the war.
The communities of Godlewo and Preny have therefore shrunk to more than half.
The voivodeships and towns in the districts that were in the area of the seven-month-long trench warfare were thoroughly devastated. The Germans were also resettled here. Their property is now taken over by relatives, often Catholic neighbors.
In the Protestant communities of the Suwałki governorate, at least 800 properties have completely burned down, and 150 have partially burned down; at least 450 families have been forcibly evicted; at least 350 families have fled voluntarily.
At least 50 people have been arrested, or deported.
38 people (33 men and 5 women) were hanged and shot, respectively.
The Remedy
The following pastors and cantors are absent from the Suwałki district:
Pastor K. Moczulski from Wirballen (Wladislowow and Wistieten).
Pastor S. Loppe from Suwałki (Augustow, Sejny, Wiżajny).
Pastor E. Eichelberger from Maryampol (Kalwarya, Wolkowischki, Preny, Sereje).
The cantors from Wirballen, Wistieten, Suwałki, Kalwarya, Sejny, Preny, Godlewo, Maryampol, Wolkowischki, and Wiżajny.
Since the cantors' wives stayed behind in Maryampol and some of them also try to fulfill the cantor's duties, these positions are considered to be filled and the cantors' wives are paid salaries.
Present is the superintendent of the diocese, Pastor H. Sroka from Shaki (Sudargi, Godlewo), who was separated from his diocese for a long time by the barrier line running from north to south with barbed wire, and the cantors from Wladyslawow, Shaki, Sudargi.
Due to the uncertain, often dangerous situation during the passage of the military and the lack of pastors and cantors, the Protestant population has found itself in a desolate condition. The church members were sheep without a shepherd.
During this sad time, military chaplains came to the aid of the communities.
I'll name them here
Hospital priests Palmer, Becker, Lomke, Teichgräber.
Pastors Chun from Suwałki and Meyer from Maryampol, who are still in office.
Parish priests Gerst from Eydtkuhnen, Schmöckel from Bilderweitschen(65), Färber from Schirwindt(66), Schulze from Pillupönen(67), Kunert from Groß Czymochen(68).
These pastors deserve the thanks of the church. I am enclosing a copy of a letter from Superintendent Getzuhn from Stallupönen.
Editor’s Note: The letter was likely included in the original report or is otherwise missing.
Recommendations
After consultation with the aforementioned, I advised church council members and military chaplains Chun and Meyer the following:
In the community of Wirballen, Mr. Schlüter, teacher, in Kibarty, Mr. Georg Wiemer, and in Wistieten, the sexton Matthäus Jodlauk will hold the Sunday reading service and children's teaching and carry out emergency baptisms and funerals.
In Wiżajny, Suwałki , Maryampol, Kalwarya, Wolkowischki, the teacher in question (Feldgrauer(69)) was to lead the reading service with the consent of the advising military chaplain. The hospital pastors Chun and Meyer explained that they would continue to do so until the regulation was reached. They want to look after the community.
Pastor Chun in Suwałki, Wiżajny, Sereje, Augustow.
Pastor Meyer from Maryampol Wilkowschken, Kalwaria, and Preny.
Wladislawow will be looked after from Schirwindt until further notice.
Superintendent Sroka promised to take care of the Godlewo community.
The priest from Gross-Czymochen holds a service once a month for Polish-speaking Evangelicals - Masurians.
The Posting of Pastors
1) For the communities of Wirballen, Waldislawow
2) For Wiżajny - Wistieten is an urgent need.
3) Maryampol with the branches.
4) Suwałki with its branches could initially be looked after by the hospital chaplains Chun and Meyer.
The Records
Most of the civil records have been preserved. But the last years have not been fully enrolled, and many files have not been signed. In the community of Maryampol, for example, the last act of baptism was dated April 4, 1914, the [last] act of death was dated January 25, 1914, and the [last] act of marriage was dated August 30, 1914.
There is no duplicate for the year 1915.
Since the registry office seems to have already been introduced in the Suwałki area and every case must first be registered with the district office, I have recommended that short notes be made in the individual communities about the actions in question and that pastors, who will check their own, send one to interested parties to obtain a certificate of this.
Shaki-Sugari
I was unable to eliminate a problem in the community of Shaki - Sudgari. This is the relationship of the Sudargi community to the pastor, Superintendent Sroka. Many complaints against the pastor (and recently also against the cantor of Sudargi) have been addressed in writing and orally to the Wladislawow district office! In September 1915, Pastor Sroka was forbidden by the District Captain “to go to Sudargi for church services until the end of the war!” This ban (3 days before the children's scheduled confirmation!) was lifted after 2 months! The superintendent, for his part, complains about individual agitators, including some church leaders from the Sudargi community, and is very depressed and discouraged. The friendliness of the authorities…………..(70) and interest in church affairs……..(71) Suwałki , Maryampol. Wizayny and Kibarty.
The situation is unbearable and annoying! The matter must be investigated as quickly as possible!
Travel Expenses
Ticket, luggage, and porter = 87 marks 30 pfennigs
Food, apartment, ... = 142 marks 50 pfennigs
Car for the trips = 135 marks
_____
In total 364.80 marks
52 The Prussian Eastern Railway connected at the Polish town of Iłowo-Osada which took Gerhardt to Eydtkuhen in East Prussia (today Chernyshevskoe, Kaliningrad Oblast); this was one of the train lines that passed through Kybartai.
53 Known in German as “Weihachtsgeschichte” (English: The Christmas Story) “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
54 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel…”
55 “Suffering for Being a Christian…”
56 “The Escape to Egypt…”
57 Pastor Gerhardt doesn’t say who this 300 is, but based on similar sentences later on in his report, he probably means 300 of the 600 took communion.
58 Toruń, Poland.
59 Lithuanian: Seirijai; German: Serey
60 Lithuanian: Švenčionys
61 Lithuanian: Alytus
62 Possibly means he lived on or near the market center.
63 Here meaning the Russian Empire
64 Pastor Gerhardt is referring to the ethnic Polish-speaking population from Masuria -- an ethnographic region of Poland that is today northern Poland and was once part of East Prussia.
65 Formerly in Kreis Stallupönen, East Prussia. Today the Russian town of Lugovoe in the Kaliningrad Oblast.
66 Formerly in Kreis Stallupönen, East Prussia. Today the deserted Russian village of Kutuzovo in the Kaliningrad Oblast.
67 Formerly in Kreis Stallupönen, East Prussia. Today the Russian town of Nevskoe in the Kaliningrad Oblast.
68 Formerly in Kreis Oletzko, East Prussia. Today the Polish town of Cimochy.
69 A German nickname for a soldier (literally “Field Grey” so-named after the grey colored uniforms worn.)
70 Illegible sentence
71 Illegible sentence
Report of the Wirballen Community, Wilkowischken District
1) Pastors and Hospital Chaplains
Pastor K. Moczulski: Last service on February 7, 1915, combined with confirmation.
In September 1914, regular church services stopped. The pastor lived in Maryampol. Fled February 8, 1915.
Pastor Gerst from Eydtkuhnen represented 2-3 times, Pastor Schmöckel from Bilderweitschen represented the absent Pastor Moczulski, once.
Hospital Chaplain Palmer, Kibarty, stopped many times at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Military services are held on Sundays, initially separately, later jointly, also for the civilian population. The same person also confirmed children twice.
Hospital Pastor Meyer, Maryampol, has been traveling to the community of Wirballen lately and also held a service on January 2, 1916.
2) Cantors and Teachers
Cantor Braun and teacher Hoffmann from Wirballen were taken into military service.
Teacher Schlüter, Wirballen, regularly holds reading services, but no children's services. He also promises to introduce children's services.
Teacher George Wiemer, Kibarty, plays the organ in Wirballen at the pastor's services and promises to continue to do so; also promises to resume the reading service for adults and children in the Kibarty prayer hall.
3) Church Council
1) Leopold Weiss, for 15 years, from Wirballen.
2) Josef Lottermoser, for 4 years, from Wirballen.
3) Karl Büchner, for 4 years, from Wirballen.
4) August Grubert, for 7 years, from Mazinczy(72).
Edmund Torkler, Kibarty, fled.
Adolf Wagner official from Kibarty, forced to flee.
Karl Weis official from Kibarty, forced to flee.
4) Property
Church building: The church in Wirballen was slightly damaged. The church fence was partially stolen. Damage approximately 200 rubles (Rbl.)
Pastorate: suffered from billeting. The fences disappeared. The local pastor's furniture was badly damaged. Among other things, a Jewish family also lives in the pastorate! The repair costs required to be around 800 rubles.
Churchyard: The fence was completely stolen, many crosses and monuments were damaged, around 4,000 rubles.
Prayer house in Kibarty (school) with the farmhouse buildings burned down, the garden fence was stolen about 10,000 rubles.
The school in Pojewon(73) burned down, around 4,000 rubles.
Editor’s Note: The German word “gemeinde” translates as “community” and includes the concept of belonging to a parish or congregation. The use of the word community is intended to reflect the religious cohesion of the German people in the Suwałki Governorate.
5) Community
The community had 750 families = 4,500 souls.
Around 200 families are missing.
89 innkeepers and 4 landowners in the villages were completely burned down.
In Kibarty, around 100 Protestant houses were destroyed and burned out.
Mainly civil servant families fled - 200,
14 men and 3 women were hanged or shot.
Everyone suffered, some very badly, from looting.
5b) All male Protestants from the age of 14 onwards, including old people and sick people excepted, were expelled at the beginning of November 1914. Place of residence: Swienciany, Vilnius Governorate; Most people stayed there for 4-5 weeks. Despite many requests, no one was given permission to return. When the Russians advanced into East Prussia, the refugees were able to return with the exception of those who had fled to Russia to live with their relatives and those who had since died, almost all of the residents returned unharmed.
At the beginning of February 1915 there was again an order to expel “all German colonists into the interior of the Reich(74).” The rapid, unexpected advance of the Germans in February 1915 thwarted the forced expulsion, and the Protestants were saved.
6) Civil Status Books
Unique items:
Baptism record: N. 76 from 12 Jul 1914 Duplicates: No. 76- 1914
Death file: “ 76 ” 25 Jul “ “ “ 44-28 Apr 1914
Wedding act: “ 21 “ 6 Sep “ “ “ 15-7 Apr 1914
Since 18 Feb. 1915, military chaplains have entered 6 files in an abbreviated form in German.
The duplicates from the years 1912 and 1913 have not been delivered.
7) Church Contributions
927 rubles. 85 kopecks according to the reparation.
In 1914 and 1915 the church contribution was not paid. The cantor and sexton have not received a salary since January 1915.
8) Church Utensils
The church utensils(75), candlesticks and altar clothing are present.
9) School System
The school in Wirballen. Language of instruction: German. 430 students, including 170 Lithuanian. 2 male and 2 female teachers.
In Kibarty: German. 250 students, 54 Lithuanian; 1 local and 2 Feldgrauer teachers(76).
In Kibiejky(77): German. 50 students, mostly Lithuanian children, 1 teacher
In Pojewon(78): German. 50 students, a Landsturm man as a teacher.
In Karklupiany(80) and Propolany(81) the school system does not seem to be regulated yet.
72 Lithuanian: Mažučiai
73 Lithuanian: Pajevonys
74 Here meaning the Russian Empire
75 It is very likely „utensils“ is in reference to the sacramental vessels made of silver that were secured by the Unterberger family when they fled West in 1945. These vessels were returned to the Wirballen Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2023.
76 Teachers from the German army. (See footnote 53.)
77 Lithuanian: Kybeikiai
78 Lithuanian: Pajevonys
79 The Landstrum were regiments made up of older citizenry or less skilled recruits in the German and Prussian army. The practice was also used in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
80 Lithuanian: Karklupėnai
81 Lithuanian: Prapuoleniai
Report of the Wladyslawow Branch, Wladyslawow District
1) Pastors
Pastor Moczulski held the last service on July 14, 1914.
Pastor Färber from Schirwindt travels to Wladyslawow every three weeks,
2) Cantors
The cantor Friedrich Fröhlich is present although he has already been arrested twice by the Russians. He holds a reading service every Sunday; no children's service.
3) Church Leaders
1) Karl Walinski from Storuki(82).
2) Gustav Achenbach, Wladyslawow, sick.
3) Gustav Kalweit, died.
4) Matthäus Wiemer, died.
4) Property
Church badly damaged (roof, plaster ceiling, windowpanes, shell holes in the walls); the churchyard fence has been destroyed. Around 9,000 marks [for repairs].
5) Community
Wladyslawow counted 203 families or around 1,200 souls. There are around 20 families missing or 120 souls.
The villages on the border suffered greatly from the war. 30 farms burned down completely and 15 partially. About 20 families were deported and 3 men died in prison.
The fate of the community is largely similar to that of the Wirballen community. See. 5 b above.
6) Civil Status Books
The cantor keeps the marital status books like he used to.
All files are unique, but many are also signed from 1914. There is no duplicate 1915 at all.
7) Church Contributions
292 rubles. 25 kopecks was paid for the year 1914 by about 25 people (out of 203) or 30 rubles, for the year 1915 - not paid at all.
8) Church Equipment, etc.
Church equipment, etc. available.
9) The School System
Regulated by the district office: 11 Protestant teachers are to be employed in the Wladyslawow district. School fees are collected through general taxes.
Pastor Gerhardt’s Note: The community of Wirballen and the Wladyslowo branch are viable. The church contribution is possible; some burned-out and impoverished families are excluded. A pastor based in Wirballen is an urgent need. A new election or supplementing the church faculty is desirable.
82 Lithuanian: Storiūkai
Report of Suwałki(83) Municipality, Suwałki County
1) Pastors
At the beginning of February 1915, the pastor of the parish, Siegfried Loppe, went to Lutsk(84) to his brother to get married there. He wanted to return as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Suwałki was occupied by German troops.
The Suwałki community is provided with pastoral care by Mr. Chun, the hospital pastor, and his assistants. Pastor Chun gives confirmation lessons and carries out the necessary church activities.
Pastor Kuhnert from Groß Czymochen (Germany) holds the service in Polish once a month and carries out the necessary actions.
It is desirable to regulate the travel compensation to be paid, etc.
In the Suwałki administrative region, the district registry office has been established almost everywhere. The clergy in question also keep their private books to control church actions.
2) Cantor
The cantor Riedel was arrested in September 1914 and is said to be in Tomsk(85). Family is also in Russia.
3) Church Council
1. Karl Wegner from Suwałki present.
2. Adolf Schramm from Suwałki present.
3. Jakob Gerntsch, present from the countryside.
4. Adam Reirat, present from the countryside.
5. Maciej Kaleida, present from the countryside.
6. Leopold Gene, present from the countryside.
7. Johann Nitschmann, a city official, had to leave.
4) Property
The church, the pastorate, and the farm buildings suffered little external damage; the parish fence was stolen. The total damage is about 2,000-3,000 rubles.
The Chmielowski church property, which belongs to the parish and is 150 acres in size, was also completely burned out. The damage could be about 5,000-6,000 rubles.
5) Community
The community had 540 families = around 3,000 souls. Due to the war, the number of souls probably fell to 2,000. More than 120 businesses have [been] burned out completely and almost all have been looted. The Protestants were saved from expulsion by the rapid advance of the Germans.
The persons arrested were:
Mr. Riedel, a teacher from Suwałki.
Mr. Meier, citizen of Suwałki.*
Mr. Klemm, from Uzdziejki.*
Pastor of Reformed community in Sereje - Tosio.*
Cantor Johann Gustav Mittag from Sejny.*and some others.*
*Their fate is unknown.
6) Civil Status Books
The civil status books are available and in good order until Pastor Loppe's departure: baptisms 12 NN, deaths 11 NN
Editor’s Note: NN refers to names unknown, Nomen Nescio, literally, “I do not know” in Latin.
The duplicate for 1914 leaves a lot to be desired:
Baptisms: Of 148 files, 104 are registered and only 77 are signed
Weddings: “ 13 “ 12 ” “ ” “ 8 ”
Dead: “ 105 ” 63 ” “ ” “ 46 ”
7) School System
The school question settled in Suwałki. The Protestant community has only had a 3 - class normal school with a German elementary school teacher and 2 local teachers since November 1, 1915. In Suwałki, 65 Protestant, 800 Catholic and 25 Greek-Catholic children attend the school
In Filipowo(86) (part of Suwałki) the school opened on August 10, 1915, with 191 students
8) Church Contribution
The church contribution is not paid in Suwałki and can hardly be collected given the fairly high poverty of the community. The community cannot become viable without support.
Pastor Gerhardt’s Note: I could not visit Sejny with around 70 families = 400 souls and Augustowo, with around 50 families = 300 souls. Pastor Chun agreed to take a look at Augustow and, regarding Sejny and Sereje, to speak with the relevant military chaplain from Olita, respectively and to contact Grodno and report the result to the High Consistory.
83 In Poland
84 In Ukraine
85 In Siberia, Russia
86 In Poland
Report of Wiżajny(87) Municipality, Suwałki County
1) Pastors
Wiżajny was toured from Suwałki last year. Pastor Loppe held the last service in January 1915. Since Pentecost 1915, military chaplains have taken care of the orphaned Protestants. Lastly, Pastor Chun, Suwałki. On September 12, 1915, 144 children were confirmed. Every Sunday the Wiżajny teacher, a Feldgrauer, holds a reading service in the church.
2) Cantor
The cantor Jakob Wiemer fled on February 12, 1915; his family is present and lives in the cantor's house.
3) Church Council
The church council: There are 5 church wardens. The 6th, Heinrich Schiller, died.
4) Property
The church shows no damage from the outside; the interior is badly damaged. The church interior, the gates, and the fence around the pastor and cantor's house were stolen.
The pastorate and cantorate were robbed, and the farm buildings were badly damaged; the damage is approximately 3,500 rubles.
School is held in the pastorate, quarters are held in the cantorate.
5) Community
The community had 557 families = 3,300 souls; almost everyone is present:
100 farm operations burned down.
1 community member was hanged and 1 was deported.
The Wiżajny residents were also supposed to be resettled in Russia. They were saved from this by the rapid advance of the Germans.
6) Civil Status Books
Civil status books: Unique: the baptisms for 1914 are registered, but 7 files have not been completed, none have been signed.
11 marriages are registered, 4 are missing, no act is signed.
88 death files have been entered, 5 files have not been completed, and no file has been signed.
The same applies to the 1914 duplicate.
7) Church Contributions
The church fee is not paid. However, it can be confiscated since most of the community members are able to pay.
8) School System
The school system: the school is in the Wiżajny pastorate. The teacher, a Feldgrauer, has a local assistant. Language of instruction German. Number of students 260.
Georg Graban teaches 30 students in Rakowka.
Mrs. Auguste Wiemer teaches 30-40 students in Okliny.
There are no classes in Wartellen. The teacher Kibarty has fled.
87 In Poland
Report of the Wistieten Branch - Wisztyniec, Wilkowischken District
1. Pastor and Hospital Pastor
Report from Pastor Moczulski from Wirballen, who preached for the last time in Wistieten on July 26, 1914.
Hospital Pastor Palmer preached 6-7 times and confirmed the children prepared by military teacher Schmiedel on September 19th. The last time he preached was on November 15, 1915.
2. Cantor
Enclosed is a letter from Superintendent Getzuhn.
Editor’s Note: The letter was likely included in the original report or is otherwise missing.
The cantor position in Wistieten is vacant. Teacher L. Wiemer was transferred to Warsaw shortly before the outbreak of war. Reading services were not held. After consulting with the church council, I commissioned the sexton Mathaus Jodlauk to hold regular church services, carry out emergency baptisms, and escort the deceased parishioners.
3. Church Council
1. Gustav Beyer, Wistieten, since 1909.
2. Matthäus Brink “ “
3. Gottlieb Abrameit “ “
4. Ferdinand Detschun(88) - missing.
5. August Moritz - died.
6. Karl Günther - murdered.
4. Property
Church, church buildings, church, and churchyard fence [were] not badly damaged. Damage [estimated to be] around 1,400 rubles.
5. Community
The community had 400 families = 2,400 souls.
37 farms burned down completely and 3 partially.
7 people were deported, and 2 people were hanged.
The expulsion order was not carried out as the Germans advanced.
6. Civil Status Books
Baptisms, unique: last act no. 40 - from July 28, 1914, around 15 files not registered, from No. 17 unsigned. Behind No. 40 are 2 notes in an abbreviated form from September 19, 1915.
88 Also Diszun or Didzun
Report on the Maryampol Municipality, Maryampol County (Including Kalwaria, Wilkowischken, Preny, and Godlewo)
1) Pastors and Military Chaplains
The pastor of the community Emil Eichelberger left on February 10, 1915, after the compulsory relocation order was postponed for 8 days through his advocacy but was not repealed. The last service on Sunday February 6th. In the fall of 1914, the pastor is said to have received an order to leave the congregation.
The Maryampol community was served by military chaplains: Pastors Becker, Lemke and Meyer. Pastor Lemke confirmed around 30 children on November 14, 1915. Pastor Meyer also travels to the branch communities of Wilkowschken, Kalwaria and Preny, and the community of Wirballen. He is also prepared to travel to the sick and to undertake funerals as long as time allows.
2) Cantors and Teachers
The cantor of the community Karl Gral(89) fled on February 11, 1915; his wife and daughter live in the cantorate.
Mrs. Teacher Gral promises to keep the civil notes as before.
The teacher in Luckshof(90) went to war.
The Protestant teachers Martinkat and Gerulat also fled.
Pastor Meyer promised to ensure that there would be regular reading services on Sundays. Children's services would also be held.
3) Church Leaders
1) Gustav Treinis from Maryampol - present
2) Ludwig Klemm “ “ present
3) Gerulat from the country present
4) Kvitschau “ “ present
5) Kossmann “ “ present
6) Perlebach
7) Butschat expelled
8) Tonn died
4) Property
The church, the pastorate, the cantor's house, and the school building are badly damaged due to billeting and use for hospital purposes; the fences and the pastor's and school gardens have been torn apart. The total damage is around 3,000 rubles.
5) Community
The community had 484 families = around 3,000 souls; through expulsion. Due to flight and other departures, the community has shrunk to ⅔.
The districts of Jaworow(91), Luckshof, Krasno(92) and Podaziny(93) suffered particularly badly as a result of the months of trench warfare.
The following people or families have suffered violent deaths as Protestants:
Mrs. Garbužis from Marczukiny(94), hanged, the husband deported.
Mrs. Anhold from Tupiki(95), shot, the husband deported.
The mother of Anhold from Tupiki, shot.
Wilhelm Hirsch, from Awikele(96), hanged.
His two sons, from Awikele, hanged.
The farmer Negrazus, from Giwishken(97), hanged.
The farmer Peters, from Seile, hanged.
The farmer Karubkat, from Dembowa, expelled with the whole family.
The farmers Basenau and the lay preacher(98) expelled with the whole Schwarz family.
6) Church Contribution
The reparation has 484 numbers and the total is 748 rubles. 70 kopecks.
For the year 1914, 195 Rbl. 50 kopecks deposited.
Nothing has been paid for 1915.
Apart from the severely afflicted parishioners, the church membership fee still has to be paid.
7) Civil Status Records
Last year's civil status files are in a dismal state:
Unique items: Births. No. 31 of April 4, 1914 (the previous year there were 137 files)
Weddings not found.
Deaths no. 4 of January 25, 1914.
Duplicate: Births 31 NN -, some not signed.
Weddings 9 NN - August 30, 1914 not signed.
Deaths: no act recorded.
Civil registry notes for 1915 are very sparse.
89 Also spelled Grall.
90 A German name presumably for a town or village in the Mariampol area.
91 Lithuanian: Javaravas
92 Lithuanian: Krosna
93 Lithuanian: likely Podovinys
94 Lithuanian: Marčiukinis
95 Lithuanian: Tupikai
96 Lithuanian: Avikilai
97 Lithuanian: likely Gyviškiai
98 German: Stundenhalter
Kalwarya Branch, Kalwarya District
1) Pastor
Pastor Emil Eichelberger held the service for the last time on Advent 1, 1914. Since then, military chaplains have taken care of the community. In December 1915, 18 children were confirmed.
2) Cantor
The cantor of the community, teacher Scheidis, was arrested and his family fled.
3) Church Leaders
1) Matthäus Schukschdat, was expelled, [but] came back after 3 weeks.
2) Karl Wirbaleit, present from Kamienie.
3) Michael Lottermoser from Małoposudonie present.
4) Eduard Pfeiffer(99) in the war.
5) August Seelewinter(100) arrested and deported.
6) Bolt arrested and deported.
Pastor Meyer wants to organize a regular reading service.
4) Property
The church was slightly damaged by a shell, the windowpanes were broken, the organ was out of tune and in need of repair.
The cantorate was converted into a horse stable: it is badly ruined. There is no trace of the farm buildings: stables and barns. The fencing around the church and school has completely disappeared. The damage to the community is: approximately 2,250 rubles.
5) Community
The community has 276 families. At least 100 families have been affected by total expulsion. The Wojtschafts: Andrzejewo and Mackow suffered the most. Many farms are empty, others have been occupied by the Catholic neighbors. I drew the attention of the district captain and the mayor of Kalwarya to this circumstance, who promised to take the matter further.
The following died:
The tenant farmer Felgenträger from Bulakowo, hanged or shot.
The farmer Weiss from Bartniki(101) was hanged or shot.
6. Church Contributions
The reparation has 276 numbers, the total - 400 rubles. Nothing was paid for the years 1914 and 1915. If there is goodwill, at least half of the church contribution must be paid.
7. Civil Status Books
The civil registers are available thanks to the quick intervention of the sexton Emil Glitz and a churchwarden.
Unique baptism: No. 59 - November 5, 1914 - Duplicate No. 57 - 1914
Cannot find weddings; - duplicate No. February 4-25, 1914
Deaths: No. 52 - November 15, 1914 - Duplicate No. 45 1914
Duplicate 1913 fine.
99 Also "Pfeifer
100 Also Selwinter
101 Lithuanian: Bartninkiai
Wilkowischky Branch, Wilkowischky District
1) Pastors and Military Chaplains
Pastor E. Eichelberger for the last time on January 1st. Epih. 1915(102).
Then military chaplains: Lemke, Teichgräber, and Meyer.
Pastor Lemke confirmed 40 children.
2) Cantor and Military Pastors
Cantor Johann Kehler, for 6 years. Refuged February 8, 1915. His wife returned from Germany at the beginning of December 1915 and lives in the Cantorate; keeps the civil notes, and plays the organ during the service.
Military Pastor Meyer wants to ensure that reading services are introduced regularly.
3) Church Leaders
The churchwardens, 6 in number, are present.
4) Property
The church and schoolhouse remained intact. The fence around the church and churchyard, window frames, school desks, doors and walls are badly damaged.
The damage is approximately 4,000 rubles.
The school in Giestoryszki(103) was robbed, the windows were ripped out and so on. Damage around 400 rubles.
5) Community
The community had 257 families = 1,650 souls. The population has declined to ⅔ due to resettlement, departures, and escapes.
The following were expelled or hanged:
Eduard Hoffmann, expelled from Wilkowischky.
Nisleit and son expelled from Smilge.
’Friedrich Kubat expelled from Obschruten(104).
Friedrich Welke with 2 sons from Wizajdy(105), expelled.
Proprietor Brün(106) with 2 sons expelled from Kisinischky(107).
Proprietor De-la-Brier(108) from Gudele(109) expelled with wife and brothers.
Proprietor Kühn from Pogcznowo(110) hanged.
Proprietor Gliet(111) and father-in-law Leisegang from Giestoryszki hanged.
Proprietor Bartel from Giestoryszki hanged.
Proprietor Kehlert from Giestoryszki hanged.
Proprietor Atrat from Giestoryszki hanged.
Proprietor Matthäus Wiemer from Giestoryszki hanged.
Proprietor Strömer from Giestoryszki hanged.
Proprietor Lackner deported from Zelenki
6) Civil Status Books
The registry books are not available in Wilkowischky; they are said to have been brought to Maryampol. There are notes about actions that took place:
Death file 38 numbers from 1914 - last file August 27, 1914. Numbers 39-46 from 1914 and 6 numbers from 1915 do not appear to have been entered in unique pieces.
Baptism notes: 59 numbers from 1914; 5 issues from 1915. Then some notes about baptisms carried out by military chaplains.
7) Church Equipment
Official seal and church seal - present.
102 The first Sunday after Epiphany was 10 January 1915.
103 Lithuanian: Geisteriškiai
104 Lithuanian: Obšrutai
105 Lithuanian: Vižaidai
106 Also Brin
107 Lithuanian: Kisiniškiai
108 Also de la Bruyere
109 Lithuanian: Gudeliai
110 Probably Lithuanian: Pagerniavė
111 Also Gliedt
Report of Godlewo and Preny
Pastor Gerhardt’s Note: I couldn't see them, as both towns belong to the Kowno fortress district. I received information about Godlewo through hearsay, and I was able to find out a lot about Preny over the phone from Mrs. Kantor.
Editor’s Note: The information on Godlewo and Preny has been reordered to be consistent with the categories in the previous parishes.
1) Pastors:
Godlewo can be served from Kowno.
Preny is traveled from Maryampol once a month.
2.)Property
In Preny the church, organ and new school building were slightly damaged and the fence, like everywhere else, was destroyed.
The damage in Godlewo – unknown.
The damage in Preny was around 1,500 rubles.
3) Communities
Result: It is clear that the community of Godlewo and the branch community of Preny were forcibly relocated right at the beginning of the war because they were part of the fortress area, namely half of 189 families in Preny, and probably the larger part of around 380 families in Godlewo. The church, pastorate and cantor's house in Godlewo is badly damaged.
4) Church Equipment
I couldn't find out what happened to the church equipment and so on, who manages the 40-60 acres of parish and school land
Appendix
Biography of August Gerhardt by Eduard Kneifel
August Gerhardt was born in the village of Kopsodzie(112), Wiłkowyszki district, Gouv. Suwalki, on December 9, 1875, the son of the farmer August Gerhardt and Elisabeth, née Wiemer; he studied theology in Dorpat(113) from 1894 to 1898 and was ordained on May 21, 1899. Vicar at the St. Trinity Church in Lodz 1899-1900. From December 1, 1900 to May 28, 1901 he administered Stawiszyn and then went to Leipzig to train as a Jewish missionary at the Delitzschianum institution. He studied there until the end September 1902. Assigned to the St. Trinity Parish in Łódż, he led as an adjunct from October 1, 1902, to January 6, 1905, the Jewish Mission in the area of the Augsburg church.
Pastor in Prażuchy 1905-1911, religion teacher at the German high school in Łódż, and assistant clergyman at the St. Trinity Church there 1911-1921. He left the Warsaw Consistorial district on February 1, 1922 and entered the service of the Basel(114) Jewish Mission with residence in Stuttgart.
Pastor Gerhardt was a leading representative of the German trend in the Augsburg church. He was also elected as a German city councilor in the Łódż city parliament. After leaving Poland, he and his relatives took on German citizenship. Pastor Gerhardt told me that he explained to General Superintendent Bursche, on the occasion of a visit to Warsaw after 1923, that during the Constituent Synod in 1922/23 that had he remained in the Warsaw consistory district, he would have advocated for the separation of the German Protestants and the Polish Protestants with all his strength and determination. He was an opponent of Bursche and his ideology. Died on September 3, 1947 in Riehen Basel, and was buried there. His widow Wanda, née Hampf, passed away in Basel on November 4, 1948.
Children:
Elisabeth Juchum-Gerhardt (doctor’s widow).
Karl Heinrich Gerhardt-Mayer and Paul Gerhardt.
Pastor Gerhardt wrote:
One Hundred Years of the Association of Friends of Israel in Basel, 1931.
“The Jewish Mission in Poland”, pp. 196-211, in Ekklesia V, The Evangelical Churches in Poland(115).
Source:
Eduard Kniefel, Die Pastoren der Evangelisch-Augsburgischen Kirche in Polen (Eging: Selbstverlag des Verfassers,) 91.
112 Lithuanian: Kaupiškiai; German: Kaupischken
113 Today Tartu, Estonia.
114 Basel, Switzerland
115 “The Pastors of the Evangelical Augsburg Church in Poland”
I held 4 services with the celebration of Holy Communion and 2 services without communion, namely:
December 26th: Wirballen Sermon text Luke 2:10-11
December 31st: New Year's Eve service in Wiżajny Genesis 49:2-10
January 1, 1916: New Year's service in Wiżajny Sermon text 1 Peter 4:12-19
January 2, 1916: Service in Wistiten Sermon text Matthew 2:13-23
January 6, 1916: Service in Wolkowyski Sermon text: Ezekiel 37:1-10
January 9, 1916: Private service in Mattlauken community of Wirballen about 1 Peter 4:12-19
Summary: These services were attended by over 3,000 people. The sacrament was enjoyed by over 700 communicants.