General Info

Danube Swabian Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity was formed in 1958 by ethnic-German immigrants from current day Hungary, Romania, and the former Yugoslavia. Ethnic Germas were sent by Queen Maria Theresia of the Austrian Hungarian Empire to work in these lands during the 1700s. This part of Europr was often referred to as "Europe's Bread Basket", and Germans, primarily those from the "Schwaben" section of Germany ( near Stuttgart and Ulm ) were asked to relocate, as they were skilled farmers. After World War II, these nations became satellite nations of the U.S.S.R. and the ethnic Germans ( the Donaushwaben or Danube Swabians ) were forcibly relocated, losing all property and rights within their former homelands. As a result, many Donaushwabens found their way to the United States and Canada, where 156 clubs now exist. They serve local population as a center for culture, sport and social clubs. Danube Swabian Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity is a member of National Association of Danube Swabians For more information on other clubs throughout the United States and Canada, please visit our Danube Swabian page. We are currently looking to highlight a Donauschwaben town and it's history, along with a Donau family and their history. If you can provide us with any information that you would like to see presented on this site, please contact Fred Gauss at ( 215 ) 722-4253. If you are a descendant of a Donau, a former member of our folk dancing or soccer club, or know of someone who is, please let us know for our "Where Are You Now?" segment.