My father once did a family tree, based on what he remembered and what documents were available to him.
He was able to trace our family back to the early 19th century. Only his own side. My mother and maternal grandmother didn't have any documents at all or didn't provide their knowledge. So I know a lot more of where my father came from than the roots of my mother. My maternal grandfather and grandmother are blanks, as far as family history is concerned. Grandfather came from a very small village where his parents ran the general store. Large family, some of them proudly wearing uniforms of the imperial army. I have photographs without having any other knowledge than that most of them ended up at Auschwitz.
Maternal grandmother came from a German family in what's now Bohemia. Again, photographs, but next to no knowledge. One very grim looking gentleman wears a uniform and I seem to remember that he was pointed out to have been a judge.
On my fathers side, most came from Hungary. Jewish traders, rural gentry. One having been a surgeon/veterinarian (nice combination) in the early 19th century. He sticks out because one of my aunts actually had a painting of him.
What I find remarkable though is, that both of my christian grandmothers married jewish men in the early 20th century.
He was able to trace our family back to the early 19th century. Only his own side. My mother and maternal grandmother didn't have any documents at all or didn't provide their knowledge. So I know a lot more of where my father came from than the roots of my mother. My maternal grandfather and grandmother are blanks, as far as family history is concerned. Grandfather came from a very small village where his parents ran the general store. Large family, some of them proudly wearing uniforms of the imperial army. I have photographs without having any other knowledge than that most of them ended up at Auschwitz.
Maternal grandmother came from a German family in what's now Bohemia. Again, photographs, but next to no knowledge. One very grim looking gentleman wears a uniform and I seem to remember that he was pointed out to have been a judge.
On my fathers side, most came from Hungary. Jewish traders, rural gentry. One having been a surgeon/veterinarian (nice combination) in the early 19th century. He sticks out because one of my aunts actually had a painting of him.
What I find remarkable though is, that both of my christian grandmothers married jewish men in the early 20th century.
![[Image: Bumper+Sticker+-+Asheville+-+Praise+Dog3.JPG]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-d-3rfdI7nG0%2FTerwtFyFXoI%2FAAAAAAAACak%2F7kFSmHeVrng%2Fs320%2FBumper%2BSticker%2B-%2BAsheville%2B-%2BPraise%2BDog3.JPG)
