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Mon 22 Dec, 2003 12:41 am
Hi I am looking for any info on the white "W". I was just informed that my great grandmother was jewish. She came to america years ago. has now passed away and denies the fact that she was jewish as it was only in her last name she says. which was winter. ( by the way my father was adopted so she is not my blood. not that this would matter) Anyway we are looking for info this "W" as it was painted in white on houses that were lived in by the jewish people in germany. I do belive this would be before Hitler. As she was 106 when she passed away and that was 10 years ago. But from what we know it was only a white "w" nothing else with this. I am so courious as to find out all I can on this now that I was just told this story. becuase really this is part of my history right? even if my Dad was adopted. Does this make me part jewish? The last name was Winterr when she came to america she took off one R to hide the fact she was jewish.
Thanks to all who took the time to read this!!! and Happy Holidays to all!!!
I've never heard of this before, and I can't find anything on Google. Hmm.
Hmmm.. This sounds like a bit of an urban legend. Germans wouldn't have referred to people as being "white" (or the German word for it which would be "Weiss") but as either "Caucasins" or "Aryans".
I am sorry along w/ this I should of mentioned she swore she was german. Her husband was. And she said she was rasied in germany as being german and not jewish. It was just the W thing that had me wondering. I have surfed the web also and come up w/ the same thing however it was never just the white W.
Thank you all!!
De
A white "W" was painted after 1933 on houses, when they had water (= an own well) inside the house.
Since white "B" just meant that was a bunker without water supply, you can guess
a) that a "W" was a "house bunker" (= a 'stronger' cellar - like the house I lived in ... later)
b) this was done in the late thirties of last century (on our house even later because grandfather didn't want any Nazi signs on the house as long he could without being forced).
Thanks for clarifying that Walter. When I saw this thread, I hoped you would find it and clear the air!
Indeed. That makes a lot of sense Walter. Thanks!
Thanks, fishin'!
(I changed my signature-line after reading your response :wink: )
Thank you so much. So That sounds like about the time she would have lived there. So I geuss that was not a bad thing? My Dad will be so happy to know this. He is a huge history buff but not even he could figure this one out!!!!
De
Well, it's really not a big story: in most places, you found a white "W" in every street, in rural districts on any second house.
Walter Hinteler wrote:Thanks, fishin'!
(I changed my signature-line after reading your response :wink: )
hehehe Well, the new sig line works for ya!
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