[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Kaschube; Was Re: Schmidt family from Sompolno region

[Jerry Frank]

Martin,

I noted your reference to Kaschube and thought I should clarify that this is neither a surname or a place name.  Kaschube is a somewhat derogatory reference to Germans with origins typically in eastern Pomerania or western West Prussia.  The Kaschube (like the Prus) were originally a Slavic tribe closely associated with the Poles yet with a unique culture and language or dialect.  They have in essence disappeared though I think there are efforts to try to save the language.  

Germans who lived in this Kaschuban region were tagged with that name, in part, I think, because of the German dialect they used.  They were considered to be of a lower class by Schwabians and other "high German" speaking Germans.


Jerry



----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Schmidt" <g8orz03 at gmail.com>
To: "Edelgard Strobel" <udo-edelgard at freenet.de>
Cc: ger-poland-volhynia at sggee.org
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:03:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Schmidt family from Sompolno region

Thank you Petra and Edelgard,

I'm certain that Friedrich Wilhelm must be my great grandfather. I would
have never been able to decipher that document without your assistance.  I
could barely make out the word Kalis.  I'm not certain which of the two
Emil Nikolais might be my relative, although I do recall the name of
Kaschube being mentioned by my grandparents.

Martin