ortsgeschichte

Preamble A chronological display of historical events and persons from Niemaschkleba (renamed Lindenhain since 1935), county Guben, including Heideschäferei and Augustwalde The idea for this research came from my maternal grandfather, Paul Gustav Gromm, born 9 September 1877 in Niemaschkleba, Roßacks Büdnergut No 23. He died on 28 January 1972 in Alsfeld/Upper Hassia, living at his daughter’s home, Emma Gromm, married Halfter. From 1921 till 1942 he was calculator and director of the Savings and Loan Association in Niemaschkleba. Due to this work, he knew all the farmers (= larger landowners), Kossäthen (= smaller landowners) and Büdner (= owning only house and garden). Out of memory, he was able to draft a list of townsfolk, including the names of the “Torsaulen”. PG Gromm recalled these details between 1952 and 1955, when his wife had passed away and he had retired. His retrospection covers the second half of the 19 th century till the beginning of the 20 th century, including village life, memories of the youth, years of school, carnival, summer relaxation, hunting, army days, the turn of the century, World War 1 as well as his workings at the Savings and Loan Association. As I was unable to find comparable information, I dedicated a special chapter to his memories within the various topics of Niemaschklebas history (see below). Further to these memories of my grandfather, I was inspired to deepen the research on Niemaschkleba’s background as well as ancestry related to those having lived there. Until the end of the 19 th century, besides very few exceptions, one married within the village. These connections within the village were so numerous, that one day I started to jot down all available information on the village and marital connections. Moreover, I was able to compile an index of the emigrants during the 19 th century as well as trace their familiar connections until now. Realizing that the number of contemporary witnesses originally born in Niemaschkleba and having first-hand-memories would die out by nature, I sought assistance in Guben’s Homeland union and received great help through Eberhard Wittchen, county commissioner, finally finding several people from Lindenhain. Also, I was helped by Klaus Lehmann from Eisenhüttenstadt (formerly living in Niemaschkleba No 4, Richter’s Schulzengut), Helmar Ludewig from Neuzelle (formerly living Niemaschkleba No 46, Goek’s Bauergut) Gerda Türke, married Nauck, from Ratzdorf (formerly living in Heideschäferei No 8) Peter Woddow from Eisenhüttenstadt Essentially, I evaluated the following data bases: 1. The Niederlausitz Memorandum, Vol. 1 (1890) to Vol. 29 (1941) 2. The History of the city of Guben by Karl Gander, published 1925 3. All relevant details of Guben’s city archive, provided by the always friendly help of its head, Evelin Richter 4. Guben’s newspaper on microfiche, available at Guben’s library 5. The Church Register of Niemaschkleba, dated 1664 – 1797, full of births, marriages and deaths. I found this register in the Polish archives ………of Zielona Gora, formerly named Grünberg. 6. From Brandenburg’s main country archive in Potsdam I saw the closed cadaster as well as many other documents (see sources) 7. From the state’s archive in Bayreuth partially the files on the equalization of burdens as well as the homeland card index 8. Documents out of the “Confidential State’s Archives of Prussia’s Culture Goods” in Berlin 9. Papers of the State Library of Berlin 10. Data of the County Archive Oder-Spree in Beeskow 11. Documents of the City Archive of Eisenhüttenstadt 12. The Official Journal of the Royal Prussia Government in Frankfurt/Oder and others…

Niemaschkleba