[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] several miscelaneous questions

[Nelson Itterman]

Basically, what Gunther says is true. I however have found that the
Stamm-buch from the EWZ was a goldmine for my immediate ancestors, siblings
and cousins. My parents and other relatives who might have had the
information I was seeking were long gone. I also found immigration
information into Germany from my grandfathers brother gave me the birthdates
and places of birth of my GrGrandfather and GrGrandmother. 
When I went to the Government Records Office and enquired, I was told all
the information was secret, but when I spoke to supervisor, he told her to
make copies of the documents for me when he found out why I wanted the
information.

Nelson

-----Original Message-----
From: ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org
[mailto:ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org] On Behalf Of Günther
Böhm
Sent: April-30-08 2:51 AM
To: ger-poland-volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org
Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] several miscelaneous questions

F&RM Haddad schrieb:
> First a question about "Stamm-buch". How accurate should they be
considered?
> Can someone give information on how and why they were compiled? I have 
> 6 or so generations (incomplete) from my grandfather back, by 
> consulting the info in the Stammbuch of a sibling of his.
>   
Hello Abraham,
this is related to the disastrous importance of genealogy in Nazi Germany.
The "Stammbuch" was an officially boosted and very influencial instrument
for the development of the racist pride to be of "Aryan" 
descendance. So if a family had indeed just German ancestors (a very rare
event), the "Stammbuch" entries may have been widely correct. But if
somebody found Jewish, Czech, Slovakian, Polish or Ukrainian ancestors,
their identity or existence was oftentimes withheld or even defrauded. The
"Stammbuch" was not a duty for everybody (just members of the Nazi party,
the SS and high ranking state officials were bound to keep it) but if the
neighbour had one and showed pride of his descendance, most people started
their own and maybe not completely scientific research.
> And then there is the famous "dictum" of genealogy, roughly 
> "information without authentication is speculation" or something like 
> that. What constitutes authentication? Is it necessary to have hard 
> copy of every b/m/d "certificate", even copies of the church register 
> entry? I realize there are no "genealogy police", but for the sake of 
> those who may take an interest in my genealogy after me – how much do I
need?
Everything is relative and even a certificate might be written by mistake or
even be forged. Quite frequently you find persons with surnames, given names
and time frame in a parish register which seem to fit into your pedigree but
in reality are not even distant relatives. 
And if someone has to choose, many researchers would select the branch which
seems to be more affluent, is just better documented or leads to ancient
nobility.

But on the other hand our common experience is that the extent, truth, order
and accessibility of documents is increasing and will presumedly be much
better in future. So our main work must be to find and ask the still living
who are full of remembrance, know family lore and the atmosphere of their
lost native land and who still hold unknown private documents.

Günther

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