Although I have not been able to crack my Sieling brick wall, I continually
read all posts. I am very thankful for the past few days worth of history of
Oldenburg during times of war and hardship. It provides a great deal of
insight to those of us who are second and third generation German Americans. My own
family was split between America and Germany. I truly appreciate your
stories and hope to see more. Thank you, once again.
Sincerely,
Paula Lischen Pfander Broughton
(Searching for Sieling family in Oldenburg)
This site has been delightful - thanks to all for the stories. Our family history during WWI was two sided - my grandfather (Steinmetz) family had a blacksmith shop in Jersey City, NJ that was taken away (without compensation) by the government because of the fear of being able to construct weapons. My grandfathers family in Germany (LIngenfedl in Pfalz) were farmers who were suspect to the German government because they had relatives in the USA. Neither was a threat to anything except a cold glass of beer.
On my fathers side of the family (Bliefernich) - my grandfather had come to the US in early 1900's - returned for a visit to German just as WWI broke out and spent the war in Germany (his wife and children were in the USA). He returned to the US after the war and worked as a brewer. He died when my father was 9 years old - so I never knew him, nor do I know very much about him. We know only that he came to the USA from the area around Oldenburg. My wife and I did meet some Bliefernich's for dinner in the Ratsplatz in Bremen in 2000. I am ashamed to say that I have lost all the names, addresses and email addresses they gave me. If anyone has an address or email for the Bliefernich's I would appreciate you sending it to me.
After end of WWII my uncle Harry Steinmetz (101st Airborne) went looking for his "Cousins" in Lingenfeld - could not find any - very disappointed. Several years after the war my grandmother Steinmetz received a letter from Anna Detzel (nee Steinmetz) - she had heard that an American soldier named Steinmetz had visited Lingenfeld. My grandmother took up regular correspondence with Anna. The family in Lingenfeld were farmers so they seemed to come through the war in better shape than many other Germans. In 1972 I had tickets to go to the Olympic games in Munich - when grandmother heard that she told me I had to go visit the family in Lingenfeld. Long story made short - we have reconnected with our German relatives in Lingenfeld. I encourage all to continue to seek out their roots - it is fully worth the effort.
Keep the stories coming they are very interesting.
Fred Bliefernich
In a message dated 01/24/08 12:34:20 Eastern Standard Time, TPBPLB writes:
Dear Gerold and Fred,
Although I have not been able to crack my Sieling brick wall, I continually
read all posts. I am very thankful for the past few days worth of history of
Oldenburg during times of war and hardship. It provides a great deal of
insight to those of us who are second and third generation German Americans. My own
family was split between America and Germany. I truly appreciate your
stories and hope to see more. Thank you, once again.
Sincerely,
Paula Lischen Pfander Broughton
(Searching for Sieling family in Oldenburg)