Silent Night

Lübeck, Germany, about 1946. The residents of the DP camp's Žirgynas prepare to celebrate the Kūčios meal. (More photos from this night appear here, here, here, and here.)

Thanks to Toronto Al for making this photo available to us.

Bring familiar customs to strange places.

Lübeck, Germany, about 1946. Residents at the DP camp's Žirgynas gather for the Kūčios meal.

 
Toronto Al's Dad, Vladas, is the fellow without the jacket, standing to the left of the tree. Thanks to Toronto Al for making this photo available to us.

Setting the Table

Lübeck, Germany, about 1946. Residents of the DP camp's Žirgynas set the table for Kūčios.

Preparations

übeck, Germany, about 1946. Men from the DP camp's Žirgynas decorate the tree as they prepare for Kūčios.

The Lübeck Žirgynas

Lübeck, Germany, about 1946. These men are Lithuanian Displaced Persons from the Lübeck camp's Žirgynas.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

A Blurred Memory

Seligenstadt, Germany, about 1946. My maternal Grandfather, Jake—second from right—entertains fellow Displaced Persons at the Žirgynas.

Sunday at the Žirgynas

The single men living in the Žirgynas, the barracks housing unmarried, male Displaced Persons, had a tradition of gathering on Sundays.

Sometimes they went for a "promenade." Often, they raised a glass or two. Whatever they did, the men of the Žirgynas always looked sharp and collected.

Seligenstadt, Germany, 1946. My maternal Grandfather, Jake (on the far left), and other men from the Žirgynas meet on a Sunday. Even the priest has joined them.

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.

The Dinner Hour

It looks like the gents living in the DP quarters for single men, the Žirgynas, hosted frequent parties. There were many opportunities to raise a glass with friends.

Do you recognize anyone pictured here?

Seligenstadt, Germany, about 1946. Residents of the Žirgynas host a dinner. My maternal Grandfather, Jake, sits at the table, second from right.

Kūčios at the Žirgynas

Seligenstadt, Germany, December 24, probably 1946. The residents of the Žirgynas celebrate Christmas Eve.

Share a Toast with Friends

Seligenstadt, Germany, 1946. My maternal Grandfather, Jake, raises a glass with his friend Karl, the tailor. The men sit in someone's room in the DP camp's barracks for single men, the Žirgynas. There's a photo of a woman on the wall, but I can't make out who it is.

Style and Resourcefulness

When I look at our old photos of Displaced Persons, I am struck by the fashionable clothing my family members wore. The DPs lacked homelands, jobs, and money, but they had plenty of style.

My maternal Grandfather, Jake, had a good friend who was a tailor. I'll call him "Karl." Karl engaged in some bartering and once secured nice second-hand clothing and fabrics. He took a worn coat, for example, turned it inside out, and made a "new" coat for my Mom.

Mom also recalls unraveling sweaters and reknitting the yarn into more trendy pieces.

Most of the DPs were shocked when the wives of the American soldiers appeared in public in pincurls, hair rollers, and pedal pushers.

Seligenstadt, Germany, 1946. My maternal Grandfather, Jake, stands with the tailor, Karl, in front of an American truck.

Promenade

Seligenstadt, Germany, 1946. A few of the stallions residing at the Žirgynas step out for a stroll.

Waiting

Seligenstadt, Germany, 1945. My maternal Grandfather, Jake (with the cigarette holder), plays cards with fellow DPs during the time he waited for authorization to emigrate to the United States.

Žirgynas

After World War II, most Lithuanians fleeing the Soviet occupation landed in Displaced Persons camps. Many camps were located in what became Western Germany. The "DPs" waited in the camps for permission to emigrate to one of the countries accepting refugees.

The DP camps featured separate, barracks-style living quarters for men and women. The Lithuanian DPs called the building housing single men the "Žirgynas."

Žirgynas is the Lithuanian word for "stud farm."

Seligenstadt, Germany, about 1946. Residents of the "Žirgynas" gather for dinner. They appear to be sitting down for the Kūčios meal because there are evergreen sprigs at the place settings, and a lit Christmas tree stands in the background. My maternal Grandfather Jake and my Father-in-law both lived in this Žirgynas while they were DPs.