Die
Verschleppung (the Kidnapping) 1945, by Stefan Jäger
Deportation to
Russia
(The meaning behind the
picture, that's what counts).
Alex Lee, 12 Aug 2006
Photo
located, text imposed on image and published at DVHH.org by Jody McKim Pharr
11 Aug 2006
It is winter. The
huge sky, filled
with masses of snow,
is hovering heavy
and grey over the
little village. It
is gloomy and cold
in the snow-covered
streets. That is the
landscape-related
space that the
artist choose for
his tragic
composition. At the
centre of the
painting is a
diverse group of
people. Men and
women in their best
years are being
escorted out of the
village. Some are
walking with grim
and sad expressions,
while others are
sobbing and trying
to internalize their
tormenting pain. A
few country
policemen [schwowisch: Schandare; NT] are
flanking the
tightly-wound group,
which is growing
from the internal
centre of the
painting, forward in
the width, and
almost in the depth
of the space. Far in
the background, a
few old people and
crying children are
left behind.
This is how Jäger
sees the deportation
to Russia. A tragic
fate that the war
imposed on our
people. When will
they return?"
[Caption submitted by Alice
Spande - Translated
by Nick Tullius]
* * *
Olga Katharina Farca,- wrote a
book, "Allein die Hoffnung hielt uns am Leben." On the
cover of the book, the same picture is used, (Oil
painting by Stefan Jäger,) The title of the picture is,
"Die Verschleppung 1945."
The story is about a 17 year
old girl, from Molidorf, attended school in Temeswar, in
1944. She says, when the Russians came to Temeswar, they
packed their suitcases and went home to Molidorf, where
her father came from. This does not indicate, the
picture is from the village of Molidorf, the picture on
the cover of the book, was used to related to the action
that took place in 1945. Viewing the background on the
picture, the hill side, the bridge, it is hard to say if
this picture is from the village of Molidorf or not.
I've never been there.
As for being escorted by
Russian Soldiers? I don't think they are Russian
Soldiers. We are witnessing, the soldiers are wearing
Romanian Uniforms, whether they are Romanian Soldiers or
not, is another question. They could be local or from a
neighbour village, dressed in Romanian Uniforms, so they
could not be identified. Uniform of a Romanian Soldier;
- the soldier's cap is different from a Russian or
German Soldier. The Romanian Soldiers, never wore boots,
- please take notice, the legs are wrapped with narrow
green cloth, from the ankles to the knees.
As Nick, described, the
people from villages were taken to a larger village;
Alexanderhausen were taken to Perjamosch. Knees, Hodon,
Baratzhausen, etc... were taken to "Vinga." They went by
train in cattle cars to the Romanian border. Because the
railroad tracks in Russia, are a bit wider than in
Romania, they had to change trains. While changing
trains, they (Donauschwaben) were stoned by Romanian and
Gypsy, bystanders.
(The meaning behind the
picture, that's what counts).
Alex Lee, 12 Aug 2006 |