[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Port of Libau

[William Tucholkw]

My grandfather Gustav Tucholke immigrated through Libau on May 4, 1914 arriving in New York on May 20, 1914.  He was born in Lublin and had a Russian passport stamped "Governor of Kurylandia" and signed by an office manager in behalf of the Vice-governor.  He had a difficult time leaving Russia as most of the borders were being closed prior to his arrival.  His passport expired on 22 June 1914.  
>He and we are indeed thankful that he was able to immigrate as a 22 year old single male prior to the outbreak of WWI as he most likely would have been conscripted into the Russian army.  He left behind his parents, a brother, a sister and two sister-in-laws with children who endured the hardships of the war.  His brother and sister survived the war but both of his parents died during the "deportation" along with his nieces and nephews with the exception of one daughter from each family. Both wives of his brothers with their surviving daughter(s) immigrated to the US and re-joined their husbands in 1923.  Through EWZ, his brother, sister and their families relocated to Germany after WWII where he corresponded and sent aid until the late 1980's.