[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Wjasowich, Wohylnien

[George Shoning]

Hello Nancy,

I have done some research in the Zhitomir area.  From the source material that I have, I believe the location of your ancestors is Вьязовец in Russian, Viazovetz transliterated into English, Wjasowez in German.  This community is located just north of the former Pulin (Уервоноармейск today), about 37 km northwest of Zhitomir.  If you have access to a Stumpp map, it's in D5 on the map.

In the late 1930s, the Russian Secret Police (NKVD) was very active in arresting ethnic Germans, trying them, and executing them by firing squads.  In the list of Germans to whom this happened are three Witzkes from Viazovetz:

-  Adolf Danielovich Witzke, born in 1881, married to Emilia, with children: Rudolf, Elwin, Linda, and Hulda, arrested Oct. 30, 1937, tried Nov. 23, 1937, executed Dec. 2, 1937.

-  Rudolf Adolfovich Witzke, born 1917, arrested Nov. 23, 1937, tried Dec. 16, 1937, and sentenced to labor in Kazakhstan.

-  Gustaf Petrovich Witzke, born 1896, married to Lina, with child Erhard living at home, arrested Apr. 29, 1938, tried Sep. 20, 1938, executed Sep. 24, 1938.  (My grandfather was tried and executed on the same dates).

George Shoning 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Cramer" <gglbs at sccoast.net>
To: ger-poland-volhynia at sggee.org
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2015 7:21:03 PM
Subject: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Wjasowich, Wohylnien

Hello Listers,

 

Are their any people on this list who are searching for ancestors who lived
in Wjasowich, Wohlynien?

This area is now in the Ukraine and probably has a different name.    My
ancestors were from Germany

but my Grandmother Matilda Witzke was born in "White Russia" or "Prussia".
The family later moved

to the Wohlynien area.    Her father was Gustav Witzke.   In 1910 when she
was 18, she came to the United States but I

have always tried to find out what happened to her family that remained in
Wjasowich, Wohlynien. 

 

I have very little information on the family that was left behind.  I have a
portrait of the family and some copies

of some old letters between Grandmother Matilda and her father.  The last
letter was dated around 1931.  

 

Is there anyone on this list who is searching in this area?

 

Thank you so very much, 

 

Nancy Cramer

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina  

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