Written By: Joseph S. Reiter, February 8, 2024
My dad, Joseph Reiter was born on November 4, 1932, in Kleinbetschkerek, Romania. In 1784 his ancestors set out to find a better life and freely settled in Kleinbetschkerek. In the early 1930’s the ethnic composition of Kleinbetschkerek was over 2000 Germans, a little over 400 Romanians and 400 Serbs, and a small group of Hungarians. This remained the same until 1942.
160 years after their arrival, the German population of the town were forced to give up their homeland with a few hours’ notice. On September 15th, 1944, a German unit came into Kleinbetschkerek and asked the German population to flee the approaching Soviet Army. Dad recalls a man banging a drum walking down the street warning everyone to pack what they could carry and leave. There were supposed to leave for about two weeks and then return, but they ended up staying away a lifetime. The next morning, on September 16, 1944, the church bells rang, and they began their trek to escape not knowing where they were going. On September 20, 1944, Russians occupied Kleinbetschkerek. Those that remained behind, experienced unfathomable horrors.
The journey lasted 48 days. They traveled through 169 towns. Their trek included 137 horse-drawn wagons and a tractor. Dad recalled along the way that their wagon broke and an older horse that was leading their wagon became ill. Our Uncle Adam Metzger, who was fleeing with them, gave them one of his horses. The journey was treacherous. When they crossed into Serbia there were many attempts by Serbian partisans to attack. These attacks were prevented by Wehrmacht (German soldiers). They stopped to rest but sounds of fighting and gunshots could be heard nearby. They were asked to leave the area immediately because of nearby partisan attacks. At this point a few families wanted to go back. Those that did were captured by the partisans. The men were shot, and the women and children were sent to Serbian camps.
Along the way, they were sometimes helped by the residents of the towns they passed through. They were able to rest in people’s homes or other facilities in the town. In other towns, the residents wanted nothing to do with them, so they slept outdoors in the fields.
On October 22, 1944 they crossed the Austrian border. Then on November 2, 1944, after 48 days, the last part of their trek lead them to Ried im Innkreis in Austria. Life as refugees there was difficult. After my grandfather returned from the army, both he and my dad were shoemakers while they lived in Austria. Dad wanted to be a plumber, but they would not accept him for training because he was a foreigner.
On June 4, 1952, dad, sister Susanna, brother Adam, dad Thomas, and mom Katharina, boarded the USNS General R.M. Blatchford in Bremerhaven, Germany and set sail for America. They arrived at Ellis Island, New York on Flag Day, June 14, 1952. My uncle Frank Reiter, my grandfather’s brother, immigrated to the United States much earlier and became their sponsor. He took responsibility for them when they arrived. Uncle Frank bought a house for them on Waterloo Street in Philadelphia. My dad recalls when he arrived and drove around, he would see all these “For Sale” signs in front of houses. He finally asked who this Sally person was, she must be important to own all these properties. Dad continued working as a shoemaker in Philadelphia along with my grandfather.
They began going to the local German clubs immediately after they arrived. This provided them with a sense of community and friendship in their new home. The German club that eventually became their home club, was the United German Hungarians of Philadelphia and Vicinity.
My dad met my mom Johanna there. She also immigrated to the United States from Frantztal, Yugoslavia. Her story prior to arrival reads almost the same as my dad’s. They married on September 15, 1956.
They eventually moved to Howell Street, in the Lawncrest section of NE Philadelphia. It was there that myself Joe (8/21/1962) and my brother John (7/10/1965) were born. The family moved to Warminster, Pennsylvania in 1976 and became members of Saint Robert’s Parish in Warrington. Until his retirement, dad worked in plastics as a floor manger for a company that manufactured eye glass cases.
The immediate family consists of his son, Joe Reiter, married to Barbara Schiller (10/01/1984), grandson Joey born 10/3/1994 and his son John Reiter, married to Connie Simon (11/07/1992), granddaughters Allysa born 6/7/1994 and Kristen born 1/15/1998. The entire family continues to be active as members of the United German Hungarian Club.
Editor’s Note:
Joseph Reiter passed away February 9, 2o24. He was 91 years old, and we know he is reunited with Johanna once again. For the German Hungarians, another is gone from our ranks, but Joe’s legacy to our club is the continued involvement of his family. Farewell friend!
Information about services for Joseph Reiter is available online:
Obituary | Joseph Reiter | Life Celebration by GIVNISH
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