Danube Swabians and one chandelier

Once upon a time, land on the upper parts of the Danube River was pricey. Hardworking folks resided in the Ulm area, but they couldn’t afford the land. They were told that they would find decent land and would not be forced to join the army. As a result, they sailed down the Danube on boats to the south of Hungary. However, the terrain was not suitable. The land was swampy and difficult to cultivate. They repented and many of them died of malaria. However, they did not give up. They made canals and worked hard every day. Their perseverance paid off as they gradually transformed the marshy land into fertile fields. With their relentless efforts, they were able to build prosperous lives for themselves and their families. And the Danube was flowing. This river brought something new to each generation. And decades passed, and people got mixed up. Different languages and different religions. In Vojvodina. The war has come. Germany lost, and all Danube Swabians were collectively declared enemies by the new communist government and expelled from the land they had adapted to. Only skilled craftsmen are allowed to stay. As always, there are no winners or losers in war. Humanity is always lost. The atrocities committed during the war left a lasting scar on the region, with the Danube serving as a haunting reminder of the lives lost. The pain and suffering experienced by Serbs, Jews, and Roma communities still resonate to this day, reminding us of the tragic consequences of hatred and conflict. The expulsion of the Danube Swabians from Vojvodina caused a deep sense of loss and displacement among the community. Many had to leave behind their homes, belongings, and even loved ones. The Danube remembered the Danube Swabians. The Danube continued to flow, and just as the land had been promised to them once upon a time, highlanders from Bosnia’s hilly regions were also promised that a Vojvodina paradise awaited them on earth and in the homes taken from the Swabians. And those highlanders came, but they repented also. They soon realized that the promised paradise was nothing more than a shattered dream. The once vibrant houses left behind by the Danube Swabians now stood empty and dilapidated, a stark reminder of broken promises and unfulfilled hopes. The water in their homes stank, everything was as flat as a pan, all the houses were the same, they couldn’t find their way around at night, and they had no idea how to utilize equipment. They did not, however, give up. The eighth offensive was started. Seven passed, thus the eighth must have been overcome as well. A spectacular chandelier hanging in one of the mansions. It was bought a long time ago for a girl for her eleventh birthday. The descendants, filled with nostalgia and longing, returned to the mansion that held their ancestors’ memories after many years. They offered a generous sum of money to the current owner in exchange for the chandelier, hoping to preserve a piece of their heritage. Neighbors and friends pleaded with him to hand over the chandelier. He didn’t want to hear it at all. He stated that the chandelier was not for sale. Over time, though, circumstances changed and the owner had a change of heart, deciding to sell it. Yet, by then, the Danube Swabians answered, “Now we don’t need it.” Because the Danube did not stop flowing. And did not stop remembering.