History of the Schwaben People

The 15th and 16th centuries witnessed the creation of the powerful Ottoman Empire. It conquered not only all the Balkan States and most of Hungary, but even beleaguered the City of Vienna in the next century. Those fierce forces controlled Southeastern Europe for more than 150 years and ravaged the land and scattered the people during this time so badly that some areas lost all traces of civilization.

When the Turks of the Ottoman Empire were finally defeated in this area with the help of Baden’s Prince Eugen, it was the main concern of Prince Eugen to colonize the land again and to make it fruitful.

Emperor Charles IV, the Empress Maria Theresa, and Emperor Joseph II encourage settlers, farmers and craftsmen for the most part from West German lands to settle the now ravaged Land. Not with wagon trains westward but with barges did these people travel eastward on the Danube River to reach their new homes. They settled on the potentially fertile land along the Danube River as well as some of its tributaries and, hence, were later named the Danube Swabians.

Many of the settlers never saw the fruits of their labours because of famine and plague that swept through their ranks. The pioneer spirit prevailed, however, and they not only re-established a civilization but in the span of 200 years made this area one of the most fruitful in Southeastern Europe. It was even referred to as the "Breadbasket of Europe".

The Danube Swabians were extremely proud of their German language and cultural heritage and lived in closely-knit settlements, maintaining same. The number of settlers increased to such an extent that land became scarce and - pioneer spirit still remaining - many came to America at the end of the 19th century. Upon the conclusion of the First World War - when the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was dissolved and this area was parceled up among Hungary, Rumanian and Yugoslavia - many more came to Canada.

The result of the Second World War was the annihilation of approximately 250, 000 Danube Swabians in the concentration camps of Tito; furthermore, 100, 000 of our people from Rumania and Hungary were abducted to Russia and the Baragan steppes of Rumania for forced labour, where many thousand perished. The largest part of the surviving Danube Swabians were forced to flee or were expelled from their homeland as a result of the ever advancing communism. Most of them sought refuge in the already overcrowded countries of Germany and Austria, where some of them still remain.

To many Danube Swabians the liberal immigration laws of Canada gave renewed hope and the opportunity to start anew - as their forefathers had done again and again. A large number settled in Southwestern Ontario, near Regina, and in British Columbia. Their diligence, honesty, and prudence gained them the respect of not only the other immigrants but also of the Canadian public in general. They adapted quickly to the ways of their new home and many play a substantial role economically and politically. They are industrious workers, prudent investors, faithful and loyal citizens of Canada but they never lost their pride in heritage or regard for moral values as same were inculcated along the Danube River.

The Danube Swabians created organizations and associations such as this one [the Kitchener Schwaben Club] to assist each other in time of sickness or need, or German language schools, youth and sport groups, folk dancing groups, choirs, etc. thus preserving their language, songs, dances and customs.

Der große Schwabenzug von Stefan Jäger