A search for a better life
Paul August Burzlaff was born August 28, 1901 in the village of Kaffzig in northeastern Germany near the Baltic Sea. He was the second oldest in a family of two boys and five
Paul August Burzlaff was born August 28, 1901 in the village of Kaffzig in northeastern Germany near the Baltic Sea. He was the second oldest in a family of two boys and five
crop was potatoes, with rye, hay, oats and wheat also raised. Most farmers had cows, chickens, geese and sheep. Food was plentiful and neighbors worked together when necessary. If a family had a serious problem the villagers came to their aid.
The dance hall was the center of social life in the village. Every village had a dance hall. There was a small bar and everyone gathered there much like an English pub.
The railroad was important to this village. At least 8 passenger trains came through every day and that did not include freight trains. People did not have cars or horses so they used bicycles or rode train to get around. The docot had the only autmobile in the area. The railroad provided jobs and cheap transportation.
Paul finished school in 1915. He wanted to take up a trade but most of the craftsmen were off fighting in the war so there were no opportunities for him. Instead he went to work for the railroad. Ohter boys his age worked in the family occupation or went elsewhere for a job. Paul started wit odd jobs. He checked tracks, refilled kerosene signals, checked in woods and fields for fires started by sparks from the coal engines. ...more
Kaffzig was a village of twenty families with approximately sixty childres. There was a blacksmith, grocery store, dance hall and the railroad depot. The children went to school grade one to eight. At graduation they were also confirmed by the Protestant Church. The church was nationalized and Paul's family did not attend regularly.
Paul's family lived in arented house in the village. the house had a small yard an garden. Everyone lived in the village rather than on the land they farmed. Their animals werdehoused behind their houses. The houses were similiar to todays's duplexes. Most who farmed owned about 80 acres. Others worked as day laborers for local farmer. One wealthy farmer had 3000 acres and a traktor and a binder. The main
