Wilhelm Weber (local history researcher)

Wilhelm Weber (born August 29, 1924 in Timișoara , Kingdom of Romania ; † November 7, 2016 in Bielefeld ) was a book author , local history researcher , educator and librarian ; he was a member of the German-speaking minority of the Banat Swabians .

Life

Wilhelm Weber was born in 1924 as the eldest of two brothers in the Iosefin district of Timișoara. From 1935 to 1943 he attended the German Roman Catholic grammar school in the Banatia school complex in Timișoara, where he graduated from high school in May 1943. He then worked as a teacher in Alexanderhausen and Rekasch . In June 1944 Weber joined the German Air Force as a member of the Flieger-DJ . On April 29, 1945, he was taken southeast of Berlin into Soviet captivity, which he spent in camps in and around Moscow . In 1949 he was released from the Moshaisk camp to Romania .

After his return home and a knowledge test at the regional education office, he got his appointment as a mathematics teacher at the Billeder School. At the same time he began a distance learning mathematics and physics at the Babeş-Bolyai University Cluj . In June 1951 he was abducted with his family to the Bărăgan steppe . After his return in 1955 he worked as a teacher in Biled again. After further training as a librarian offered by the Education and Culture Office, he worked as a community librarian from 1959 to 1965 and as a school librarian at the Bileder Lyzeum from 1965 to 1972. From 1972 until his retirement in 1984 he worked as a teacher in the boarding school of the Nikolaus-Lenau-Lyceum . In 1986 he and his family moved to the Federal Republic of Germany , where he settled in Bielefeld .

Wilhelm Weber died on November 7th, 2016 in his adopted home Bielefeld and was buried according to his wishes in the family crypt in the Josefstadt cemetery in his hometown Timișoara .

Local history explorer

Wilhelm Weber wrote a total of 107 articles on Billeder and Banater history and folklore, which he published in the Romanian German press such as Neuer Weg , Neue Banater Zeitung and then in Germany in the Banater Post , the "Billeder Heimatblatt", the "Temeswarer Heimatblatt", the " Temeswarer Monographie ”and the Westfalen-Blatt published.

He completed his first book, History of the Billed Parish , in 1957, but was not allowed to publish it, which did not prevent him from further research. Weber continued to collect data and images. In 1965 Wilhelm Weber wrote the commemorative publication "200 years since Billeds settled". In 1973 another monograph of the municipality of Biled was published with the title crane and ploughshare in the seal - an outline of a chronicle of the municipality of Billed , which was published in 12 episodes in the Neue Banater Zeitung .

Wilhelm Weber is co-author of Franz Klein's monograph “Billed. Chronicle of a Heidegemeinde in the Banat in Sources and Documents 1765–1980 ”, published in Vienna in 1980 . His most important work is the documentation of the deportation to the Bărăgan steppe with the title “And above us the endless blue sky. Deportation to the Bărăgan steppe of Romania 1951 ”, published in Munich in 1998 . This documentation was published in the German-language weekly "Eintracht" in the United States of America in 51 full-page sequels.

Wilhelm Weber published numerous articles on local history in the German-speaking Romanian press such as "Neuer Weg" and "Neue Banater Zeitung" as well as in Germany, there in the "Banater Post" and the "Westfalen-Blatt". He also gave numerous interviews on Westdeutscher Rundfunk and Radio Berlin , organized exhibitions and gave lectures in Munich, Ulm , Sindelfingen , Karlsruhe, Landshut , Düsseldorf and Biled. Many of his contributions with a wide range of topics appeared annually in the “Billeder Heimatblatt”.

Contributions to local studies (excerpt)

In the German-language press in Romania

• Digging the miller's water - the history of the drainage work in the Billed district. New way, May 1979.
• The Billeder agricultural and industrial exhibition 1924. Neuer Weg, August 1979.
• Bread for the "needy colonists" - contributions to Billeder's settlement history. Part 1. New way, December 1979.
• The "threats and disgraceful speeches of Hlöbl. Administrator Knols ”- contributions to the history of the settlement. Part 2. New way, January 1980.
• In a large hut made of boards - From the history of the Billeder School, Part 1. With Elvira Slavik. New way, December 1980.
• Over a hundred children in one class - From the history of the Billeder School, Part 2. With Elvira Slavik. New way, December 1980.
• A pioneer of Timisoara commercial graphics and decorative painting - Sinkovich painted the handover of Timisoara to Prince Eugene. New way, July 1981.
• Billeder festival costume around 1890. - Pair of costume dolls for the Lenauheimer Heimat-Museum. New Banat Newspaper, June 1971.
• Crane and ploughshare in a seal - an outline of a chronicle of the parish of Billed. In 12 episodes. New Banat Newspaper, June - July 1973.
• Defied fire and water - fifty years of Billeder volunteer fire brigade. In 8 episodes. New Banat Newspaper, November 1977.
• Where does it say “et Klänet em Läm on kräscht Nä?” - the origin and general designation of the Billeder dialect. In 2 episodes. New Banat Newspaper, April – June 1979.

In the Federal Republic of Germany

• Forgotten Romanian Germans - For forced labor in the Soviet Union because they were Germans. Westfalenblatt, January 1995.
• Review of the life of pastor Johann Lauer - holder of the Spiritual Cross of Merit. Banater Post, September 1995.
• Remembering the Baragan deportation 45 years ago. Banater Post, June 1996.
• Awards from Emperor and Sultan - Field Marshal Baron Kövess von Kövesshaza. Banat Post, August 2000.
• German Bogschaner becomes Hungarian Minister of War - Colonel General Baron Alexander Surmayer-Szurmay von Uszok. Banat Post, September 2000.
• Major General Baron Geza home of San Martino del Carso. Banat Post, October 2000.
• Captain Baron Peter Roosz. Banat Post, October 2000.
• Colonel Baron Georg Petrichevici von Sielec. Banat Post, November 2000.
• Colonel Baron Konstantin Popovici. Banat Post, December 2000.
• Febris Maligna cleared the line. Description of the medical services in the Heidegemeinde Billed. Banat Post, March 2004.
• Pictures from the Billeder edge of the village - a hundred years ago the local painter Franz Ferch was born. Banat Post, September 2005.
• King Charles I - founder of the Romanian religious system. Banat Post, July 2007.
• When borders shift - 90 years since the end of the First World War and its consequences for the Banat and the people of this historical province. In 2 episodes. Banat Post, July – August 2008.
• Orders, crosses and medals - awards from the Kingdom of Romania to Germans. Banater Post, July 2009.
• Freedom above the clouds - The contribution of the Romanian Germans to the development of aviation in Romania in general and glider aviation in particular. Banater Post, July 2010.
• Which still reminds of the administrative councilor De Jean von Hanssen in Timisoara. Banater Post, December 2010.
• A first-rate artist from Timisoara - drawing teacher, art and decoration painter, pioneer of Timisoara poster graphics Desider Sinkovich. With Richard Weber. Banater Post, July 2011.
• And above us the endless blue sky - sixty years since the deportation of residents of the Banat border zone to the Baragan steppe of Romania. In 3 episodes. Banater Post, October – November 2011.
• Timisoara and other Banat officers who were ennobled with the Hungarian Barony when they were awarded the Military Maria Theresa Order, Timisoara Heimatblatt 2006.
• Origin and history of the Scudier Park in Timisoara. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2006.
• The airship memorial and other important graves in the Timisoara Heroes' Cemetery. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2007.
• KuK infantry cadet school in Timisoara. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2007.
• The newly established art museum in Timisoara or the waking of the sleeping princess. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2008.
• Late commemoration of the dead of the former prisoner of war camp in Timisoara. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2008.
• The war memorial erected on the initiative of the war veterans in Timisoara. 2008.
• Stefan Heinz-Kehrer on his 96th birthday. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2009.
• Royal Romanian orders, crosses and medals awarded to ethnic minorities using the example of excellent Banat Germans. Temeswarer Heimatblatt 2010.
• Administrative councilor De Jean von Hanssen and what still reminds him of him today in Timisoara. Temeswarer Heimatblatt 2010.
• 60 years since the deportation of residents of the Banat border zone to the Baragan steppe of Romania. Timisoara Heimatblatt 2011.

Religious

His contributions to the award of military medals, of which he has been a member since 1986, found particular recognition. In the magazines Orden Militaria Magazin , "INFO" and "Orden und Ehrenzeichen" he has published a total of 51 articles on medals and religious topics from Romanian, Austro-Hungarian and Hungarian religious orders with rich and meaningful images.

Contributions to religious orders

• The medals of valor of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy awarded during World War I. OMM 36/1990.
• The Spiritual Cross of Merit of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. OMM 61/1994.
• “Patriae ac Humanitati” - For fatherland and humanity. About the badge of honor for services to the Red Cross of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. OMM 69/1995.
• The German Kaiser as colonel owner of Austro-Hungarian regiments. OMM 72/1996.
• The Military Maria Theresa Order and its holder in the German Wehrmacht. OMM 76/1997.
• To OMM 70/1997 - The badge of achievement of the German team of the former German ethnic group in Romania. OMM 78/1997.
• The military career of General Artur Phleps is reflected in his orders and decorations. OMM 82/1998.
• The medals and decorations awarded for humanitarian services in Romania. OMM 91/1998.
• Crucea Trecerea Dunarii - In German - The Danube Crossing Cross. INFO 53/1989.
• The Signum Laudis - the most awarded officer award of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. OuE yearbook 1999.
• From Viennese boy to commander of the Reichsgrenadier division "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" - Lieutenant General Dr. Friedrich Franek. OuE 4/2000.
• The Royal Romanian "Order of the Ruling House", OuE 7/2000.
• The Romanian religious system and its two highest-ranking orders. Part 1 - The Order of Merit Charles I, OuE 10/2000
• The Romanian Order Part 2 - The Order of War Michael the Brave, OuE 11/2001.
• The orders and medals of bravery of the “Independent State of Croatia 1941–1945”. OuE 19/2002.
• The Romanian War Memorial Cross of the Second World War 1941 - 1945, OuE 20/2002.
• Romanian medal clasp - clasp of a police officer. OuE 25/2002.
• The Hungarian Aristocratic Chapter Cross and the Badge of the Hungarian Aristocratic Register. OuE 25/2003.
• The Romanian "Order of Aviation Bravery", founded in the monarchy and now renewed, OuE 28/2003.
• The Romanian Star Order in the picture - Its renewal in 1998 and 1999, OuE Yearbook 2003.
• The War Memorial Medal 1877 - 1878 awarded to Romanians by the Russian Tsar Alexander II. OuE 33/2004.
• The decoration of the Romanian eagle. OuE 34/2004.
• The old royal and the renewed Loyalty Order. OuE yearbook 2004.
• Comment on the article "Orders on postage stamps". Here Hungarian Military Merit Order 1848/1849. OuE yearbook 2004.
• The commemorative symbol for the Knights of the Golden Spur. OuE 38/2005 2006.
• The Romanian Bene Merenti Medal. OuE 41/2006.
• Bishop D. Dr. Dr. hc Philipp Popp in full decorations. OuE 42/2006.
• Beginning and development of military aviation in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, allied with the German Empire, up to the end of the First World War. OuE 44/2006.
• Awarded for their humanitarian services. OuE 45/2006.
• Medals for graduates of the Royal Romanian Military Academy. OuE 46/2006.
• Banat officers who were ennobled with the Hungarian Barony as holders of the Military Maria Theresa Order. OuE yearbook 2006.
• The orders and decorations of the "Indian Legion". OuE 47/2007.
• Aviation awards donated in the Kingdom of Romania and renewed in the Republic of Romania. OuE 47/2007.
• King Charles I - creator of modern Romania, founder of the Romanian religious system and founder of the "Order of the Crown of Romania". OuE 48/2007.
• Colonel-General Petre Dumitrescu - one of the most important representatives of the Romanian generals of the Second World War, who was awarded the oak leaves for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. OuE 49/2007.
• The Romanian orders, crosses and medals awarded to Germans. OuE yearbook 2007.
• A selection of regimental badges of the Royal Romanian Army. OuE 54/2008.
• Look how they wear! OuE 56/2008.
• The Royal Romanian Cultural Merit Order and the Cultural Merit Medals with their various ribbons and their renewal in 1966 and 2000. OuE 58/2008.
• A member of the German Society for Religious Order was awarded the highest award of the Hungarian Vitez Order. OuE 64/2009.
• The two last religious foundations of the Romanian King Mihai I. OuE 65/2010.
• The anniversary medal IN MEMORIAM 2000 2010 of the Bavarian Soldiers' Union 1874. OuE 67/2010.
• Royal Romanian awards given to ethnic minorities using the example of some Banat Swabians. OuE 75/2011.
• High Romanian Order of Merit for Germans and for those of Romanian German origin. OuE 79/2012.
• Arthur Christian from Ulmbach - The first ethnic German wearer of the close combat clasp in gold. Veterans magazine "Der Freiwillige" issue 12/1995.
• Man against tank - the Banat German knight's cross bearer Stefan Strapatin. Veterans magazine "Der Freiwillige" issue 12/2005.

Book reviews

• Major General a. D. Alois Windisch - A Soldier's Life. OMM 78/1997.
• Major Johann Charvat (1888 - 1934) - A soldier's life on demand. OuE 5/2000.
• Ordinul de razboi Mihai Viteazul - The order of war Michael the Brave. OuE yearbook 2000.
• The Awards of the People's Republic and the Socialist Republic of Romania 1948–1989. OuE 10/2002.
• Germanii in Aeronautica Romana - The Germans in Romanian aviation. OuE 38/2005.
• Insignele Aviatiei Militare Romane - The badges of the Romanian military aviation. OuE 58/2008.

Awards

Wilhelm Weber received numerous awards for his work in the field of local research and research into military orders:

• 1990: Letter of honor from the Banat Swabian national team for local research
• 1994: Bronze medal of merit for special services to the federal government and German religious orders
• 2002: Silver medal of merit for special services to the federal government and German religious orders
• 2002: Gold medal of merit from the Landsmannschaft for many years of service to the association
• 2003: Von Hessenthal Prize for Phaleristics for outstanding journalistic achievements in phaleristics
• 2004: Certificate of honor from the Billeder hometown community for tireless efforts in the service of Billeder's compatriots
• 2005: Certificate of honorary citizen of the municipality of Billed (Diploma Cetățean de Onoare a comunei Biled), Primăria Biled
• 2010: Anniversary commemorative medal In Memoriam 2000–2010 on the ribbon for supporters of the Bavarian Soldiers' Union 1874 eV District Association Würzburg / Main Spessart and the Hungarian Vitezi-Rend
• 2011: Decoration of honor on the ribbon of the Frankish soldiers and comrades circle
• 2011: Silver membership pin for 25 years of membership in the German Society for Religious Studies

literature

• Anton Peter Petri : Biographical Lexicon of the Banat Germans. Breit, Marquartstein 1992, ISBN 3-922046-76-2 .
• Peter Krier : The Billeder local history researcher Wilhelm Weber turns 70 , in Banater Post in 1994.
• Elisabeth Martini: Wilhelm Weber for the 80th time in Billeder Heimatblatt 2004.
• Josef Wolf : pedagogue, librarian, local historian and Bărăgan monograph Wilhelm Weber , in Banater Post 2004.
• Magazine medals and decorations : Wilhelm Weber on the 80th, 2004.

Web links

• www.banaterra.eu , Wilhelm Weber
• dvhh.org : Wilhelm Weber: And Over Us The Endless Blue Sky , (English)
• HOG Billed , Peter Krier: Farewell to our homeland researcher Wilhelm Weber