Who were our ancestors? Where did they come from?
Who did not wonder about these questions,
Who did not wonder about these questions,
Free at last, people return to their Ormersviller homes, when there was still was one standing. Most of the village had been destroyed, with one part of the village (called Selven) relatively unscathed. Many inhabitants stayed in their basements if they could and until the roofs and walls were repaired. Houses too damaged were bulldozed . War prisoners were sent to de-mine fields. The French Government built temporary barracks for family whose houses were totally destroyed. 4 barracks house 15 families and war prisoners. They had no running water nor electricity.
The school reopens in 1945 and the bell from St Joseph’s chapel is exhumed from the tomb where it had been hidden, and is installed on a stand against the school wall.
While life was tough, people were free again, and compared to the suffering of the previous 7 years, it must have been sweet in their hearts.
To our friends and cousins in North America,
Over the years many descendants of the Andres immigrants to the United States came to Ormersviller to retrace their roots. Those who came in the years 1960 to 2000 did not have any difficulties tracking Andres families in the village and despite some minor communication problems, they were able to meet and exchange with their French relatives.
Now, it is younger generations who sometimes come to Ormersviller. Grand children, even great grandchildren want to see where their ancestors came from. Alas, tombstones do not reveal much and the number of Andres families in the village has dwindled.
Should you decide to visit Ormersviller, Daniel Andrès and Joseph Sprunck will be pleased to assist you in your search for relatives and share their knowledge about the village and its history.
We suggest you reach them by email well before you plan to visit Ormersviller and give them some family information so that they can start researching relevant information and prepare for your visit.
Hoping to see you soon.
Daniel Andrès, 8, rue de La Chapelle F 57720 Ormersviller
Joseph Sprunck, 6, rue des Romains F 57720 Volmunster
Robert Andrès