The Gottscheer Woodland Farmer Becomes an Urbanite
All Gottscheers of the last generation are, with few exceptions descendants of farmers, either through their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. And each one of them now lives in a city. A superficial observer might wish to interpret this sociological behavior after the resettlement (namely, the complete flight from
the countryside) and the renunciation of the peddling life as a negative selection. He might see the so-called resettlers of 1941 as, so to speak, the biological dregs of six hundred years of Gottscheer history. Whoever thinks this did not pursue the Gottscheer-problem to the end. It was not the case that there were not any fellow countrymen in German countries and in the rest of Europe. He may also speak of uprooting. But uprooting and uprooting may not be one and the same. The ousting of rural people from home and farm does not mean, at least not in the case of the Gottscheers, that the moral, ethical, and spiritual values that shape life are automatically lost. Just as the Gottscheers did not perish in the slums of New York, Cleveland, and Chicago, so one also cannot assume that the resettlers of 1941 were automatically uprooted because they did not even attempt to again
establish themselves as farmers. Where should they have done so? Unlike the Slovenes in Lower Styria, they could not return to their former homeland. They had no choice but to move on from the camps, and if they were lucky, the closest relative or friend was not far away. Just like their countrymen over there, on the other side of the ocean, the resettlers in Austria and Germany proved that they possessed stability and composure and did not surrender in the face of any demanding challenge.
The ambitious sons and daughters of the last "land holders" in Gottschee are now owners of small- and medium-sized businesses, craftsmen, owners of service businesses, stores, and restaurants. They are in the intellectual professions as lawyers, physicians, and officials, above all, however, as teachers. The relatively high percentage of those in the intellectual fields is not particularly astonishing since, from the founding of the secondary school in Gottschee, Alpine Austria had been the natural escape for the surplus of Gottscheer intellectuals, including those in the upper levels of the trades. Here, too, one can still sense the existential imperative of confined space.
Many a non-Gottscheer among the readers is perhaps amazed by the large number of family names in this book that he has to drag along with the rest of the reading matter. If he considers, however, that it is written above all for Gottscheers, he will suddenly comprehend its profound human content and its ability to recall history.
It has not been easy to select those men and women who were publicly active in nurturing the memory of the homeland. It is twice as difficult to single out now those Gottscheers who have been exceptionally successful in their professions and as human beings. A special accomplishment for the entire Gottscheer people or an exceptional single achievement outside of the "Ländchen" were the deciding factors for considering names for inclusion in the "Jahrhundertbuch". Understandably, there also had to be a historical cut-off point. The period that began with the turn of the last century was given preference. Very few Gottscheers living now have any conception of life before this time. Among the most outstanding joint accomplishments of a family from Gottschee are above all those of the teacher Franz Högler who for many years was principal of the elementary school in Stalzern. He was married to Maria Ostermann of Rieg and they had eleven children, all of whom were highly educated. Three sons became physicians, the fourth son and four daughters teachers, two also were in intellectual professions, and one daughter
died while studying to become a teacher. The oldest son. Dr. Franz Högler in Vienna, accomplished the most as professor of internal medicine and author of about twenty books and articles in his field, among them a fundamental work on diabetes. His medical expertise was often sought by native as well as foreign persons in high office. Professor Högler always thought of himself as a Gottscheer and customarily did not charge his fellow countrymen who came to him for treatment.
The life of a linguistic genius of Lichtenbach, university lecturer Dr. Josef Stalzer, born in 1880, killed in action in 1914 in Galicia, remained unfulfilled. Stalzer had a command of fifteen languages, among them Aramaic.
Not born in Gottschee but clearly of Gottscheer descent is the now world-famous Professor Hermann Knaus (born in 1892, died in 1971), who together with the Japanese gynecologist Ogino discovered the regularity of the female fertility cycle. His ancestors had emigrated from the high valley of Suchen (Merleinsraut) to Sankt Veit an der Glan in Carinthia, where the researcher was born.
Another researcher from Gottschee attained international fame - Hans Ganslmayer of Inlauf, doctor of veterinary medicine. In Inlauf he developed the Antiseptom which after the death of the discoverer was also used under a different name in the treatment of humans. Dr. Ganslmayer played a prominent role in the development of veterinary medicine in Turkey. His brother, Rudolf Ganslmayer, also a veterinarian and a privy councillor, became the chief veterinarian of Styria after an unusually successful career.
Two other doctors still must be mentioned: Obermedizinalrat Dr. Karl Rom of Oberdeutschau (1902-1963) became known for establishing a medical panel in the province of Lower Austria. Karl Rom, who began his medical career in Ferlach in the Rosental, also was the author of the historical novel Rebellion in der Gottschee.
Medical adviser Dr. Josef Krauland of Gschwend (born 1897, died 1973) practiced in the city of Gottschee until the resettlement and afterwards established a dental laboratory in Villach. Since its founding in 1960, he performed his duties as secretary of the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Gottscheer Landsmannschaft" with noteworthy dedication. Dr. Herbert Krauland, Finanzrat, born in Klagenfurt, became his successor in this honorary office. His father was the Landesfinanzinspektor, Hofrat Dr. Josef Krauland of Koflern, born 1894, died 1960 in Klagenfurt.
Suitbert Lobisser has received widespread recognition in Carinthia and beyond as a great and renowned artist, painter, and wood carver. His woodcuts and frescoes are still much admired today. His father, born in Mitterdorf near Gottschee, had been a teacher in several districts in Carinthia and early on recognized the artistic talent of his son. The artist often spent time in Gottschee since his sister was married to the capable master carpenter Meditz in Nesseltal and because Reverend August Schauer was his best friend.
During the twenties and thirties, the city of Baden near Vienna had a mayor whose contributions are still appreciated by its citizens today. They erected a monument in memory of the Gottscheer from Grafenfeld, Josef Kollmann, just as the wine-growers of the surrounding region did for his valuable advice. Kollmann was also Austrian minister of finance under Federal Chancellor Schober.
As was already indicated, Gottscheer teachers were very well represented, particularly in Carinthia and Styria, but also in Lower Austria. In Carinthia alone, one could name at least sixty teachers beginning with 1919 - 20. A considerably large number of them were elementary and high school principals. In Austria the latter are given the title of "Oberschulrat" by the president for exceptional service. Two, Dr. Walter Tschinkel and Hermann Petschauer, were particularly prominent in the field of philology and in the cultural organizations.
A Gottscheer Ursuline nun in Klagenfurt, Mater Alfonsa, received high acclaim for her work in education in the province of Carinthia. From 1918 to 1938 she was the director of the women's teachers' college, the intermediate school (formerly "Bürgerschule"), and the elementary school of the convent. She was also known and trusted beyond her immediate sphere as a benefactor to people in need. She was presumably the only Gottscheer woman who was given the title "Regierungsrat" (governmental adviser). She was born as Josefa Samide in Koflern in 1878 and died at an advanced age in 1968 in Klagenfurt.
("Jahrhundertbuch der Gottscheer", Dr. Erich Petschauer, 1980)
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