[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] German Occupation - Latvian - Contractor

[Gary Warner]

Sig,

Thanks for the insight into how the people of that time lived.   I see 
lots of Knecht indications, and also the Magd abbreviations in the 
records I am looking at, but the kontraktneek occupation remains a 
mystery.  I have someone that is going to visit Latvia in the next few 
months, so perhaps I can report back with an answer to my own question.

Gary

Sig Matt wrote:
> Reiner, Gary,
>    
>   I believe the key to resolving the kontraktneek question would be to find someone familiar enough with the Latvian language and also familiar with the common usage of terms in that
>   area.
>   Your mother-in-law is correct in her description of an Instmann. An Instmann is usually a married man with family who makes an agreement with the "Gutsbesitzer" (Landowner) for certain labor services which can include the whole family (during harvest time for instance.) Living space is usually in an Insthause. A one or two room space in a building that would contain multiple units. In our time, the first half of the 1900's, there was no indoor plumbing. All water was carried from a hand pump somewhere in the yard. He  would be allotted a piece of ground to grow his own vegetables and (I believe) space to keep a cow or a pig and chickens. But the story was that he never received much money. 
>   Single workers were usually housed separately and received room and board. A single Landarbeiter would also be referred to as a Knecht, a single female worker is a maid (Magd in German).
>   To my knowledge Instmann contracts were handled on an annual basis. At certain periods in the fall or springtime one would see them move from place to place with their meager belongings packed on a horse drawn wagon, containing some bedding and very little furniture. Not all farming operations were always profitable. 
>   Instleute (a plural form) were considered to be at the bottom rung of the economic ladder.
>    
>    I grew up in Eastprussia, I was 14 at the time in 1945.
>    
>   Sig Matt
>    
>   
> Reiner Kerp <mail at reiner-kerp.de> wrote: 
>   Dear fellow searchers,
>
> as I understand the sence but cannot find the word "kontranik" in any of my 
> dictionaries, the best I can make aut of this, is to compare ist to other 
> kinds of occupation. The closest may be an "Instmann".
> While a "Gärtner" did´nt own enough land to feed his family, an "Instmann" 
> (mostly) didn´t own any land at all.
> A Gärtner had to find an additional income as a day-laborer.
> As my mother-in-law told me, an Instmann was more comparable to an employee.
> An Instmann made a contract with the owner of an estate regarding his 
> employment. This contract contained details about housingspace in an 
> "Insthaus", the garden, the number of hours and the time (different seasons) 
> to work and, what kind of work and how many hours his wife had to do. 
> Sometimes also the duties of the Instmanns children were covered.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Reiner 
>
>
>
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