TheOther
24 May 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
Leignitz was close to the concentration camp Gross-Rosen approx. 60km south of Breslau.
Leignitz was close to the concentration camp Gross-Rosen approx. 60km south of Breslau.
TheOther
23 May 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
Either this...
wollheim-memorial.de/en/herkunft_und_anzahl_auslaendischer_zivilarbeiterinnen_und_zwangsarbeiterinnen
and he was forced to work for the Wehrmacht, or your grandfather was a so-called 'Volksdeutscher'.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksdeutsche
Either this...
wollheim-memorial.de/en/herkunft_und_anzahl_auslaendischer_zivilarbeiterinnen_und_zwangsarbeiterinnen
and he was forced to work for the Wehrmacht, or your grandfather was a so-called 'Volksdeutscher'.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volksdeutsche
TheOther
22 May 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
Have you seen these already?
familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3ANitsz
Nitsz might be the Hungarian or Galician variation of the German name Nitsche.
Have you seen these already?
familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3ANitsz
Nitsz might be the Hungarian or Galician variation of the German name Nitsche.
TheOther
15 May 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
Depends how you look at it. The invoice is usually split up into labor (for research) plus extra costs for copies, notarized transcripts and the like.
The charge is for the time needed to check the archives, not for the information itself.
Depends how you look at it. The invoice is usually split up into labor (for research) plus extra costs for copies, notarized transcripts and the like.
TheOther
15 May 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
You have no clue what you're talking about, dude. State archives, the protestant and catholic churches, civil registration offices, other government agencies - they all charge for genealogical information. Not only in Germany, but also in Poland, the US and many other countries around the world. Why would Germany be obliged to pay for someone else's research and give away document copies for free that date back to the 1500's for example? Because of the Nazis? Sure... :)
I'm against charging for these things in general because they are public property in my eyes, but to demand that Germany makes an exception because of what happened in WW2 is just plain BS.
You have no clue what you're talking about, dude. State archives, the protestant and catholic churches, civil registration offices, other government agencies - they all charge for genealogical information. Not only in Germany, but also in Poland, the US and many other countries around the world. Why would Germany be obliged to pay for someone else's research and give away document copies for free that date back to the 1500's for example? Because of the Nazis? Sure... :)
I'm against charging for these things in general because they are public property in my eyes, but to demand that Germany makes an exception because of what happened in WW2 is just plain BS.
TheOther
13 Mar 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
I'm sure you will tell us your version of the story one day... :)
Your grandmother must have been a very strong individual if she was able to overcome the prevailant divide between Poles and Germans along ethnic and religious lines.
prevalent
Any story can be contradicted by other stories. But that's another story.
I'm sure you will tell us your version of the story one day... :)
my father was born in 1923 and raised with the Polish soul.
Your grandmother must have been a very strong individual if she was able to overcome the prevailant divide between Poles and Germans along ethnic and religious lines.
prevailant
prevalent
TheOther
13 Mar 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
I wasn't trying to lecture you, Fred. I was merely pointing out a possible scenario that might contradict your assumptions.
Good luck with your project.
Trelow is my writers alias. But to satisfy you.
I wasn't trying to lecture you, Fred. I was merely pointing out a possible scenario that might contradict your assumptions.
Good luck with your project.
TheOther
13 Mar 2014
History / Polish conscripts to German army [132]
John, your family name sounds very German. Are you sure your father's ancestors weren't German/Prussian, and your dad was drafted into the Wehrmacht because he was considered a so-called 'Volksdeutscher'? Just wondering.
To check name distribution in Poland: .moikrewni.pl/mapa/
John, your family name sounds very German. Are you sure your father's ancestors weren't German/Prussian, and your dad was drafted into the Wehrmacht because he was considered a so-called 'Volksdeutscher'? Just wondering.
To check name distribution in Poland: .moikrewni.pl/mapa/
TheOther
11 Feb 2014
Genealogy / Do I look Polish? (my picture) [375]
The Teutonic Order/Prussian/German influence on Polish history is limited to WW2, as we all know... :)
The Teutonic Order/Prussian/German influence on Polish history is limited to WW2, as we all know... :)
TheOther
31 Jan 2014
Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]
In genealogy, you usually count 25 years per generation. That's pretty accurate on the average even if you go back many generations.
abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5386347
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_from_antiquity
go back a couple of hundred years and a generation is more like 20 years
In genealogy, you usually count 25 years per generation. That's pretty accurate on the average even if you go back many generations.
2000 years. Some people can go back almost that far - they usually have well-documented royal antecedents.
abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5386347
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_from_antiquity
TheOther
28 Jan 2014
Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]
So what you really wanted to write was 'poultry'?
So what you really wanted to write was 'poultry'?
TheOther
24 Jan 2014
Law / German/Polish Citizenship. Is my father German or Pole? [17]
If you were born out of wedlock, only if your mother was German.
Also wondering if I am entitled to German Citizenship since I was born in Oldenburg.
If you were born out of wedlock, only if your mother was German.
TheOther
22 Jan 2014
Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]
Sorry to correct you yet again, Wlodzimierz, but you cannot use the word 'ekelig' (commonly spelled 'eklig', by the way) like that. What Jan had in mind was "Das war ein bißchen (bisschen) gemein von mir".
Glad I could help... ;)
Jan literally translated "Das war ja ekelig von mir."
Sorry to correct you yet again, Wlodzimierz, but you cannot use the word 'ekelig' (commonly spelled 'eklig', by the way) like that. What Jan had in mind was "Das war ein bißchen (bisschen) gemein von mir".
Glad I could help... ;)
TheOther
20 Jan 2014
Life / Do Poles have a problem understanding American English? [76]
So do these French instructors look down on the locals and their lousy French skills?
Well observed.
if someone is hired as a French instructor at any prestigious language school, they must speak basically a perfect, native French.
So do these French instructors look down on the locals and their lousy French skills?
Your own style in English is so unnecessarily elaborate
Well observed.
TheOther
18 Jan 2014
Life / Do Poles have a problem understanding American English? [76]
There it is again: the difference between theory and reality... ;)
Foreign language teachers across the board must ideally be native born (as it should be)
how do you convince so many native speakers of English - who are also trained ESL teachers, mind you - to relocate to Poland and teach in kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools? In villages and small towns? For low pay and few perks? In a country whose language they do not understand?
There it is again: the difference between theory and reality... ;)
TheOther
16 Jan 2014
Life / Do Poles have a problem understanding American English? [76]
Of course, but the question is how you do that. You can do it in a nice way, or you look down on the locals and let them know how lousy their English skills are. If you go for the second option, don't be surprised if you'll get the proper response. Besides: make sure that your own English (or other language) is really as good as you think it is... :)
One is entitled to criticize one's approach and ability to speak English even if they don't know that one's native language properly.
Of course, but the question is how you do that. You can do it in a nice way, or you look down on the locals and let them know how lousy their English skills are. If you go for the second option, don't be surprised if you'll get the proper response. Besides: make sure that your own English (or other language) is really as good as you think it is... :)
TheOther
16 Jan 2014
Life / Do Poles have a problem understanding American English? [76]
Not that I told you so, Wlodzimierz... :)
I'm saying that you could do well with some self-criticism and a change of attitude yourself.
Not that I told you so, Wlodzimierz... :)
TheOther
13 Jan 2014
Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [226]
Well, how about asking them in a nice way not to switch to English when they try to communicate with you? Show some basic manners, because there's a good chance that your moaning and whinging will make you come across like an arrogant twat otherwise.
Well, how about asking them in a nice way not to switch to English when they try to communicate with you? Show some basic manners, because there's a good chance that your moaning and whinging will make you come across like an arrogant twat otherwise.
TheOther
12 Jan 2014
Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [226]
Sure there is: just don't expect any foreigner to speak English on the same level as a native speaker. It's a big accomplishment already that they can communicate with you in YOUR language, and to criticize that doesn't come across too well, if you know what I mean.
Surely there must be a middle ground
Sure there is: just don't expect any foreigner to speak English on the same level as a native speaker. It's a big accomplishment already that they can communicate with you in YOUR language, and to criticize that doesn't come across too well, if you know what I mean.
TheOther
11 Jan 2014
Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [226]
Yes, I know. I simply have an issue with Wlodzimierz attitude. Just because they make a few mistakes, he keeps looking down on people who have learned English as a second language.
English is the lingua franca.
Yes, I know. I simply have an issue with Wlodzimierz attitude. Just because they make a few mistakes, he keeps looking down on people who have learned English as a second language.
TheOther
10 Jan 2014
Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [226]
So why don't you speak a second language then? :)
In the UK, teaching a second language is compulsory since 2010. In the US, foreign languages are usually taught in high school. Same in Australia. Enrollment numbers are quite embarrassing though.
They do already and have done for decades.
So why don't you speak a second language then? :)
In the UK, teaching a second language is compulsory since 2010. In the US, foreign languages are usually taught in high school. Same in Australia. Enrollment numbers are quite embarrassing though.
TheOther
10 Jan 2014
Language / Extremely Hard - Polish the hardest language to learn [226]
Come back with your criticism when institutions in the Anglosphere will finally begin to teach a second language from elementary straight through highschool. Until then, mainland Europeans are so far ahead of any American, Canadian, Brit, Kiwi or Australian that they make us look like Neanderthals.
the Dutch and the Germans APPEAR to know English "better" than many mainland Europeans merely because they're more skillful in concealing their native accents, that's all.
Come back with your criticism when institutions in the Anglosphere will finally begin to teach a second language from elementary straight through highschool. Until then, mainland Europeans are so far ahead of any American, Canadian, Brit, Kiwi or Australian that they make us look like Neanderthals.
TheOther
9 Jan 2014
History / Lobau, West Prussia. Is this now Lubawa in Poland, or Lobau in Germany? [9]
If the marriage certificate says Löbau, Westpreussen, then...
in the 1860's: Löbau, Königreich Preussen
in 1884: Löbau, Provinz Westpreussen, Deutsches Reich
in 2014: Lubawa, Poland
If the marriage certificate says Löbau, Westpreussen, then...
in the 1860's: Löbau, Königreich Preussen
in 1884: Löbau, Provinz Westpreussen, Deutsches Reich
in 2014: Lubawa, Poland
TheOther
2 Jan 2014
Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]
You're obviously hanging out with the wrong people... :)
I've yet to meet an English guy who doesn't say "fcuk"
You're obviously hanging out with the wrong people... :)
TheOther
16 Dec 2013
News / POLAND to have its own automobile brand (back), the SYRENA! [36]
Polski Fiat? ;)
Any other suggestion?
Polski Fiat? ;)
TheOther
11 Dec 2013
USA, Canada / Why do you guys think that so much Polonia is fake? [51]
George Zimmerman would have shot YOU, that's the point.
George Zimmerman would have shot him
George Zimmerman would have shot YOU, that's the point.
TheOther
11 Dec 2013
USA, Canada / Why do you guys think that so much Polonia is fake? [51]
One day you will meet your very own George Zimmerman.
So he got exactly what he asked for: a streetfight not a fair fight or some sort of ring fight fantasy you live in.
One day you will meet your very own George Zimmerman.
TheOther
10 Dec 2013
USA, Canada / Why do you guys think that so much Polonia is fake? [51]
Wariat, the Polack gangsta from da hood ... LOL! Is this a joke, or what? You know that "the hood" is always associated with the idea of a run-down, crime ridden ghetto, right? So are you saying that Poland is such a place?
Even in my hood in Dabrowa Gornicza in Limanowskiego
Wariat, the Polack gangsta from da hood ... LOL! Is this a joke, or what? You know that "the hood" is always associated with the idea of a run-down, crime ridden ghetto, right? So are you saying that Poland is such a place?
TheOther
8 Dec 2013
Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]
The LDS database has 1,944 hits for the name Daberkow alone
and another 95 for Daberko:
My bet for the correct spelling would be 'Daberkow', as most individuals in the database seem to come from Brandenburg, Pommern and other nearby areas. Most of the people have very German sounding given names by the way.
The LDS database has 1,944 hits for the name Daberkow alone
and another 95 for Daberko:
My bet for the correct spelling would be 'Daberkow', as most individuals in the database seem to come from Brandenburg, Pommern and other nearby areas. Most of the people have very German sounding given names by the way.
TheOther
8 Dec 2013
Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]
Almost certainly. Until approx. the late 16th century it was widespread that people were named after the location they were born in or came from.
There's a very good chance because the area had been Prussian/German for many centuries before it came to Poland in 1945.
Daberkow probably comes from the village name.
Almost certainly. Until approx. the late 16th century it was widespread that people were named after the location they were born in or came from.
You think they were German?
There's a very good chance because the area had been Prussian/German for many centuries before it came to Poland in 1945.