A Tragedy at the Žirgynas

When I saw another photo of a group of caskets in my Mom's photo album, I did not make much of it. Lithuanians photograph funerals.

The story accompanying this snapshot, however, is especially sad.

A group of Displaced Persons—single men from the Seligenstadt Žirgynas—were working for the U.S. Army at either a defunct air base or munitions plant. They found a barrel. It was marked, "alcohol." Woot! The men decided to have a party. They invited most residents of the Žirgynas and other Lithuanians from the DP camp. My maternal Grandfather, Jake, was supposed to attend the event, but he changed his mind at the last minute.

Everyone whooped it up and drank the alcohol. Over the next few days, groups of men from the Žirgynas reported to the Seligenstadt infirmary. The men complained of double vision and dizziness. They also began to exhibit other neurological abnormalities.

The alcohol turned out to be nonpotable methyl alcohol—the kind used to clean airplane engines and the like. My Mom was working at the time as a nurse in the infirmary. She remembers that the doctor on duty shrugged and said there was nothing to do but wait for the men to pass away.

Between ten and fifteen men died. This was a widely known tragedy. Mr. Irene's Dad, who at that time was working for the U.S. Army at a different site, heard about the incident as well.

Seligenstadt, Germany, between Fall 1947 and Spring 1949. The DPs pay their respects to men lost in the alcohol poisoning incident.