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For history of German colonization and involvement in Syrmia, Slavonia, Croatia, and Bosnia see the following publication:

Oberkersch, Valentin. Die Deutschen in Syrmien, Slawonien, Kroatien und Bosnien: Geschichte einer deutschen Volksgruppe in Süosteuropa. (Germans in Syrmia, Slavonia, Croatia and Bosnia: History of a German ethnic group in Southeast Europe). Stuttgart: Donauschwäbische Kulturstiftung, 1989. (FHL book 949.7 F2o)

Excerpt translated by Henry A. Fischer with his family permission 2006:

Compared to the emerging settlements in Syrmia, very little development took place in Slavonia. Germans who came from Tolna County in Hungary settled Johannesdorf (Jovanovac) in 1836. In 1843 Germans from Veszprem County in Hungary settled Neu Zoljani.

To a large extent Slavonia remained a wilderness. The Swabian villages of Hungary and the Batschka were overcrowded. The government in Vienna Austria set the stage for a new settlement movement.

The Regulation and Decree was issued by the Emperor on December 31 1858 and was addressed to Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, the Serbian Vojvodina, the Banat, and Transylvania with a renewed call for agricultural settlement and development. Some of the regulations included: homes for 50 families or more, all members of the community must be of one nationality regardless of origin, and of one religion.

The results of the new settlement decree was not very successful in Croatia and Slavonia. Only 10 German settlements were established in response to it. Three were established in 1866. They were Blagorodovac, Eichendorf-Hrastovac, and Antunovac. The settlers came from Baranya, Tolna, and Somogy Counties in Hungary. In the same year there were settlements established in Sokolovac, Miokovicevo, and Dobrovac. Filipovac was settled in 1886. The village of Kerndia was settled in 1880/1881. The last two communities were Kapetanovo Polje in 1882 and Franjevac-Strizicevac in 1886. The land involved was heavily forested wilderness and the main task of the colonist was clearing the land.

For more information about Die Deutschen in Syrmien, Slawonien, Kroatien und Bosnien: Geschichte einer deutschen Volksgruppe in Süosteuropa see:

http://www.hrastovac.net/historical/Syrmia'sEthnicGermans-1.htm

Web Sites

 * Danube Swabian village of Hrastovac-Eichendorf
 * Donauschwaben in Slavonia