I am posting this National Geographic article by Elmer C. Stauffer as an Educational piece for the benefit of those who are interested, or actively engaged in the current revitalization of the Pennsylvania Deitsch culture and language. While it is called "Dutch", it is actually a German language from a German people whose origins are the Rheinland Pfalz. My own interest lies here because it happens to be where my mum's family originated, and have lived for hundreds of years until after WW2. The Klopfers (mum's maiden name) came to America aboard the S.S. Homeland in 1952.
This article was written by Elmer for National Geographic back in July of 1941. Elmer was evidently himself Pennsylvania Deitsch, and I cannot help but think the purpose of this article is to bring to the forefront that yes, even though the Amish and the older order Mennonites were passive in these War threat years of 1940-41, it did not mean they were not a part of the war effort. They were not required to serve in the armed forces owing to their faith, but they did indeed support our boys "over there" in the best way they could. Providing for them. They fed them through gov't contracts with their farms and hardware produce. They served as an underpinning from behind the lines. These people loved their land and their Country. They were and remain, very much part of the make-up of American, and to America they would always defer.
The Pennsylvania Deitsch community (I consider myself one, both by Brethren Faith and by das Rheinland Blut) are not simply a German enclave in America. They are America. They are of the Melting Pot (not the Salad Bowl!!) that makes us who we are - yet retaining their links and roots in das Heimatland, the Homeland. This is how and why they retained their "German-ness" and their unique adaptation of the Pfalz dialect, their German "Muddersprooch", or "Muttersprach", the Mother Tongue.
I myself am not a Deitscher, or PA Dutch. I did grow up in a German culture, in Germany, and by faith I am what you might think of as Brethren (Mennonites are a sect of the Swiss Brethren), although I grew up Deutsch Evangaelisch (Lutheran). I feel a kinship to the Mennonite and Amish orders.
Genug bei mir. Enough of me.
What I have done was break down Elmer Stauffer's article into about 38 different images, one for each page as printed in the July 1941 National G. Each image appears as it did in the original publication. That's why the larger photos are sideways. Sorry. But you can save them to your own computer and rotate them as needed. Simply click on the image to enlarge it.
Machs gut!
