List of settlements relocated for the creation of the Döllersheim military training area

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Allentsteig military training area - restricted military area

The list of settlements in Lower Austria that were resettled for the creation of the Döllersheim military training area ( today known as the Allentsteig military training area ) contains the history of the resettlement and information about the names of the settlements, in the case of cadastral parishes, the affiliation to the community, the parish membership and the houses that have been abandoned.

1938 to 1945

Döllersheim with hospital and church

The military training areas previously used by the Austrian Armed Forces were far too small for those in charge of the German armed forces , and in the area of ​​the military district command XVII, which was responsible for Vienna , Lower Austria and northern Burgenland , there was only the Bruckneudorf military training area , which also had to be greatly expanded. This deficiency was remedied by the construction of the Döllersheim military training area in the Lower Austrian Waldviertel .

On June 20, 1938, the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army authorized the chief of the military district administration, Otto Knitterscheid, to procure terrain for a military training area in the area east of Zwettl that would meet military requirements. The business transaction was transferred to the German settlement company . This set up a branch on the Stubenring in Vienna and an office on Bahnhofstrasse in Allentsteig. In May 1943 this office was relocated to Bruck an der Leitha , only an office remained, which answered inquiries.

In connection with the evacuation of the first eight affected localities, the relevant literature repeatedly refers to a letter from the Reich Commissioner for Lower Danube, which asked the residents to leave their homes within six weeks and promised appropriate compensation. However, no one can remember this letter, which was supposedly served from July 7, 1938.

The modalities of the transfer payments changed over time. While the first evacuated people still received cash, which enabled them to start over in the closer and wider area of ​​their ancestral homeland, the money was later transferred to a blocked mark account that became worthless after the end of the Second World War .

On April 1, 1941, the area known as the "Döllersheim military training area" until 1964 was spun off from the respective municipalities and the "Döllersheim military training area" was formed. This district existed until 1964. With effect from January 1, 1964, the name was changed to "Allentsteig military training area". In addition, the area of ​​the practice area was again divided up as cadastral communities to the neighboring communities, as the state of community freedom in Austria , which had previously prevailed under German law, was not legally possible.

Despite the rigorous and sometimes very short-term measures to clear the villages, Pötzles, Steinbach, Wurmbach, Neunzen, Edelbach and Waldreichs were not really cleared and were sometimes inhabited by so-called "second settlers" until after 1961, Flachau even until around 1970 and only then on commission finally evacuated by the Austrian authorities.

1945 until today

On August 15, 1945, the provisional government of Austria passed the resolution to repopulate the areas that were forcibly evacuated. Corresponding applications were processed by a "Review Commission for the Resettlement of the Tüpl Döllersheim" set up in Zwettl on August 30, and a work program was drawn up by the State Office to make the empty buildings habitable again as quickly as possible.

The resettlement planned with the knowledge of the occupying powers and originating from the outlying communities was announced in the Official Gazette of the District Authority of Zwettl on November 29, 1945 after a circular from the Lower Austrian Provincial Governing Board on December 6 had informed about the procedure for returning the property. As an interim solution up to a legally flawlessly covered restitution of the land, these should be left to the original owners in the form of a lease. The beginning of the resettlement was announced in the official journal of the district administration Zwettl on February 7, 1946.

After the settlement of the first villages in the peripheral areas had begun with the knowledge and consent of the Soviet occupiers, as a result of the Potsdam Conference in 1945 on June 27, 1946, the military training area was surprisingly confiscated as German property by the Soviet Union and declared a Soviet economic territory and handed over to the USIA for administration.

The building administration based in Stockerau rented vacant houses in Franzen, Neunzen, Nondorf, Pötzles, Reichhalms, Steinbach, Wetzlas and Wurmbach. In return for the low interest rates, the residents had to take care of the maintenance of the buildings, which, however, mostly did not happen. This contributed to the decline of the villages as well as looting by the local population in the first time after the end of the war and later profiteering with the Russian occupation soldiers, of whom around 60,000 men were stationed in the region.

After the end of the occupation , a decision by the Federal Ministry of Finance on December 12, 1955 made the Lower Austrian provincial government the administrator of the military training area. The plans for resettlement failed mainly due to the costs of the necessary surveying work, the reconstruction of the villages and the infrastructure , the removal of duds and much more. By decision of the Federal Ministry of Finance of May 7, 1957, the Döllersheim military training area was handed over to the Federal Ministry of National Defense . Since August 9, 1960, the military training area has been a restricted military area for the state of Lower Austria due to an ordinance of the Security Directorate .

By December 1955, the district court in Krems an der Donau had received around 650 applications for the restitution of previous property on the area of ​​the practice area. Applicants included the Zwettl Abbey and the Windhag'sche Scholarship Foundation . Only the scholarship foundation administered by the Province of Lower Austria was successful. As compensation for the land in Großpoppen and Rausmanns, it received a much larger area strip with Ottenstein Castle and Waldreich Castle north of the Kamp in the south of the military training area.

The Austrian case law based on the Third Restitution Act increasingly tended not to assess land procurement measures as in the case of the Döllersheim military training area as confiscation measures within the meaning of the Restitution Act. In addition, there were those cases in which resettlers had received “Aryanized” properties as replacements, which now had to be returned to their original owners.

A citizens' initiative consisting of non-compensated resettlers approached the petitions committee of the Austrian National Council in 1991 , which brought this issue to the attention of the Ombudsman . As a result, a group of resettlers also received payments from the National Fund.

With a few exceptions, the current boundaries of the Allentsteig military training area correspond to those of the training area that was desettled for the German Wehrmacht and only seven villages could be repopulated.

Resettled places, scattered settlements, single farms and mills

Geo (approximately) Surname Cadastral municipality of (status: 2001) Parish (as of 1938) Houses Relocated and Notes
World icon Äpfelgschwendt Göpfritz an der Wild Edelbach 45 Resettled until April 1, 1939.
World icon Brugg Pölla Dollersheim 12 Originally planned to run until April 1, 1940, but extended twice to October 31, 1941.
World icon Dietreichs Allentsteig Dollersheim 24 Resettled until August 5, 1938
World icon Dollersheim Pölla Dollersheim 120 Originally planned to run until April 1, 1940, but extended twice to October 31, 1941.
World icon Edelbach Allentsteig Edelbach 60 Resettled until August 5, 1938.
World icon Eichhorns Pölla Franzen 30th Resettled until April 1, 1940.
World icon Felsenberg Pölla Neupölla 29 Resettled until April 1, 1940.
World icon Flachau Zwettl-Lower Austria Dollersheim 49 Originally planned to run until April 1, 1940, but extended twice to October 31, 1941.
World icon Franzen Pölla Franzen 50 Originally planned to run until April 1, 1940, but twice extended to October 31, 1941. The place was never completely evacuated and is now outside the limits of the military training area.
World icon Germanns (near Neupölla) Röhrenbach Neupölla 19th Originally planned to run until April 1, 1940, but extended twice to October 31, 1941. Today, the place is outside the limits of the military training area and has been repopulated.
World icon Big pops Allentsteig Big pops 57 Resettled until August 5, 1938.
World icon Heinreichs Pölla Dollersheim 43 Resettled until April 1, 1939.
World icon Kleinhaselbach Allentsteig Big pops 15th Resettled until August 5, 1938.
World icon Kleinkainraths Allentsteig Big pops 19th Resettled until August 5, 1938.
World icon Small moths Pölla Dollersheim 10 Originally planned to run until April 1, 1940, but extended twice to October 31, 1941.
World icon Kühbach Zwettl-Lower Austria Oberndorf 76 Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Loibenreith Pölla Neupölla 24 Resettled until April 1, 1940.
World icon Stalk Allentsteig Big pops 24 Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, but subsequently brought forward to April 1, 1939.
World icon Mestreichs Pölla Neupölla 36 Resettled until April 1, 1939.
World icon Ninety Göpfritz an der Wild Edelbach 27 Resettled until April 1, 1939.
World icon Niederplöttbach Pölla Dollersheim 48 Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Nondorf Pölla Franzen 11 The place is now outside the limits of the military training area and has been repopulated.
World icon Oberndorf Zwettl-Lower Austria Oberndorf 31 Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Oberplöttbach Zwettl-Lower Austria Oberndorf 58 Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Ottenstein Notch field Dollersheim 13 The place is now outside the limits of the military training area and was repopulated as Peygarten-Ottenstein .
World icon Perweis Oberndorf 7th Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Pötzles Zwettl-Lower Austria Zwettl Abbey 18th Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939. Some houses in the village and also the local chapel were repaired by the armed forces. The houses are used by the armed forces for their own purposes.
World icon Rausmanns Allentsteig Big pops 14th Resettled until August 5, 1938.
World icon Reichhalms Pölla Franzen 26th Originally planned until April 1, 1940, twice extended to October 31, 1941. Today, the place is outside the limits of the military training area and has been repopulated.
World icon Riegers Pölla Edelbach 20th Resettled until April 1, 1939.
World icon Schlagles Allentsteig Big pops 25th Resettled until August 5, 1938
World icon Schwarzenreith Pölla Franzen 18th Resettled until April 1, 1940.
World icon Söllitz Pölla Dollersheim 30th Resettled until August 5, 1938.
World icon Steinbach Allentsteig Allentsteig 22nd Originally planned until October 1, 1939, later brought forward to April 1, 1939. Some houses in the village and also the local chapel were repaired by the armed forces. The houses are used by the armed forces for their own purposes.
World icon Steinberg Zwettl-Lower Austria Oberndorf 8th Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Strones Pölla Dollersheim 39 Originally planned until April 1, 1940, extended twice to October 31, 1941.
World icon Thaures Pölla Franzen 54 Resettled until April 1, 1939.
Forest empire Pölla Dollersheim 19th Today the place lies outside the limits of the military training area, Waldreich Castle still exists
World icon Wetzlas Pölla Franzen 23 The place is now outside the limits of the military training area and has been repopulated.
World icon Wildings Zwettl-Lower Austria Groß-Globnitz 21st Originally planned to run until October 1, 1939, later extended to December 31, 1939.
World icon Wurmbach Allentsteig Allentsteig 35 Resettled until April 1, 1939.
World icon Ornaments Notch field Dollersheim 12 Originally planned until April 1, 1940, twice extended to October 31, 1941. Today, the place is outside the limits of the military training area and has been repopulated.
Scattered settlement local community parish Houses Relocated
World icon Ascherhof Oberplöttbach Oberndorf
Dobra (hamlet) Pölla Franzen
World icon Haidhof (Allentsteig municipality) Allentsteig Allentsteig The Haidhof is used by the Army Agriculture and Forestry Administration.
Core houses Dollersheim
Parish Oberndorf Zwettl-Lower Austria Oberndorf
World icon Thomashäusl Zwettl Abbey
Single farmstead local community parish Houses Relocated
Decker house Zwettl Abbey The Deckerhaus or Deckerhof is used by the armed forces as a bivouac.
World icon Durnhof Zwettl Abbey
Führerhof Niederplöttbach Dollersheim
World icon Josefinenhütte (Bergerhof) Dollersheim The former Josefinenhütte is used as a forester's house by the Windhag'schen Scholarship Foundation .
Lechnerhof Friedersbach
Maderhof Dollersheim
Riding school Dollersheim
World icon Riemerhof Oberndorf
Mill local community parish Houses Relocated
Bruggmühle Dollersheim
Fürnkranzmühle Dollersheim
Gföhlersmühle Oberndorf
Gransermühle Neupölla
Kitterermühle Neupölla
Loismühle Dollersheim
Patzlmühle Dollersheim
Schloteinmühle Dollersheim
Stone mill Dollersheim
Devil's mill Edelbach

Dissolved parishes

As a result of the resettlement of the population, the

  • Parish Edelbach (the closure of the parish was recorded on August 4, 1938 in the parish death register), the
  • Großpoppen parish (the church was desecrated on July 27, 1938 after confirmation), the
  • Parish Oberndorf (the parish was abolished on April 1, 1940) and the
  • Parish Döllersheim (the parish was abolished on October 1, 1942) dissolved.

In the area of ​​the military training area there were also around 35 local chapels. In Steinbach and Pötzles, the armed forces renovated not only some farmhouses but also the local chapels. The chapels of Wurmbach and Neunzen are also preserved as ruins. Some of the other chapels cannot even find their locations. In addition, some pilgrimage sites were wiped out.

In addition, the

  • Parish Allentsteig, the
  • Parish Großglobnitz , that
  • Zwettl Abbey, the
  • Parish Franzen and the
  • Neupölla parish losses due to the evacuation of parish places.

Destroyed cultural assets

The damaged church of Döllersheim as a cultural asset

Numerous buildings and monuments listed in the Austrian art topography were lost on the area of ​​the military training area .

These include, among other things

Aussiedlerhöfe

Linde settlement near Raabs an der Thaya
Pyhrahof settlement near Unterthumeritz

One of the tasks of the German Settlement Society was not only to bring the villages to be cleared into their possession, but also to help the resettled people with their resettlement.

The first repatriates managed to acquire comparable farms, but later the search became more and more difficult. For this case, the Deutsche Ansiedlungsgesellschaft had already acquired the required arable land from large landowners at the beginning of the resettlement campaign. Since supporters of the former government of Kurt Schuschnigg were mainly addressed, it can be assumed that massive pressure was exerted.

In this period, among other things, were Schwarzenau Castle with the associated land, in Pfaffenschlag located Meierhof of Burg Raabs an der Thaya with about 360 hectares of land and the Schellinghof at Lexnitz by the German investment promotion company acquired.

According to plans by the architect Willi Erdmann from Berlin , 44 resettlement farms were built on these properties. In terms of their architectural design, the selection of building materials and technical equipment, they were considered to be “German model yards”.

However, the fact that, for practical reasons, these resettlement farms were mostly set up in small groups such as the so-called " Siedlung Linde " near Raabs an der Thaya outside the established settlements, made it difficult for the immigrants to integrate into the respective local community.

The first two resettlement farms in Kleinreichenbach were also moved into in 1940, as was the converted Meierhof in Pfaffenschlag, and the one near Unterthumeritz in 1942. These were not yet completed at the time of moving in.

" The old home "

In 1942, the German settlement company published the book " The old homeland - description of the Waldviertel around Döllersheim ". The book, interspersed with many small-format pictures and Nazi propaganda , describes the Waldviertel in general and specifically the history of the evacuated places. It was not intended for free sale, but was given to the resettled as a farewell gift.

The book contains a family tree of Adolf Hitler as well as the references to his ancestors who once lived here.

In 1981 the book was reissued.

literature

  • Paul Buberl: The monuments of the political district Zwettl in Lower Austria (without Zwettl Abbey). Part 1: Allentsteig judicial district (= Austrian art topography . Vol. 8, 1). Commissioned by Anton Schroll & Co, Vienna 1911.
  • Wolfgang Etschmann, Hubert Speckner (Ed.): For the protection of the Republic of Austria ... (= writings on the history of the Austrian Armed Forces. Special vol.). Gra & Wis, Vienna, 2005, ISBN 3-902455-03-9 .
  • Johannes Müllner: The desecrated homeland. 2nd Edition. Association Information Waldviertel, Allentsteig 1998, ISBN 3-9500294-0-0 .
  • Historians 'Commission of the Republic of Austria : Final report of the Historians' Commission of the Republic of Austria. Deprivation of property during the Nazi era as well as provisions and compensation since 1945 in Austria. Summaries and assessments (= publications of the Austrian Commission of Historians. Vol. 1). Oldenbourg, Vienna et al. 2003, ISBN 3-486-56744-6 , pp. 302-304.
  • Margot Schindler : Having to go. The resettlement of the Döllersheim area (Lower Austria) 1938–1942. Folklore aspects (= publications of the Austrian Museum for Folklore 23). Austrian Museum for Folklore, Vienna 1988, ISBN 3-900359-38-5 .
  • Ernst Werner Techow : The old home. Description of the Waldviertel around Döllersheim. Published by the Deutsche Ansiedlungsgesellschaft Berlin. Sudetendeutsche Verlags- und Druckerei-GmbH, Eger 1942.

DVD

  • Manfred Neuwirth: Memories of a Lost Land , The Austrian Film - Edition of the Standard, 1988/89

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Etschmann, Speckner: To protect the Republic of Austria ...
  2. ↑ Margot Schindler: have to go. Chapter 6, 1.
  3. ↑ Margot Schindler: have to go. P. 336.
  4. ↑ a b Müllner: The desecrated home.
  5. ↑ Margot Schindler: have to go. P. 321.
  6. ↑ a b c d e Margot Schindler: Must go.
  7. ↑ Historians' Commission of the Republic of Austria: Final report.
  8. ↑ Margot Schindler: have to go. P. 316.
  9. ↑ http://www.verlag-berger.at/alle-buecher/niederoesterreich-themen/detail/v/isbn-978-3-85028-463-9.html