History of Jonas Deckys written by my father on August 24th 1951
I, Jonas Deckys was born on September 5th 1892 in Gedminai district of Klaipeda, Lithuania. Since my birth I lived in Lithuania until 1939 when Klaipeda was handed over to the Germans. The German occupied government in Klaipeda confiscated my property, which included my stocking factory and all my money which was in the bank. After which I left for Palanga at which time was considered free Lithuania where I stayed until 1940.
In June of 1940 Lithuania was invaded and then occupied by Communist Russia. By Stalin’s edict, at night the rich families were arrested and sent to Siberia. A few of my relatives, to the best of my belief are still there. On one occasion my wife and I were arrested on the street and a household search was made of our rooms. This having taken place I decided it was time to leave Russian occupied Lithuania and to avoid being sent to Siberia. In the spring of 1941 my family and I fled to Germany. On my arrival at Litzmannstadt I had to appear before the German Immigration Commission Magistrate where I had to fill out forms stating that I would be a good citizen to Germany. This I did against my personal feelings but thinking of the future for my wife and children I did this rather than be sent back to the communist occupied territories. After having filled out these forms to their satisfaction I was given a Foreign Pass. With this pass I tried to return to Klaipeda to see what I could salvage of my property and my factory. On my return to Klaipeda which was still under German occupation I was arrested by the Gestapo for being in Klaipeda without permission. For my action I and my family were relocated to Schneidmuehl. While there I had to work in an iron factory and report twice a week to the Gestapo. This light sentence was due to several friends in German occupied Klaipeda who wrote letters on my behalf to the Gestapo. I lived under those conditions until the Russian front drew nearer Germany. When this was taking place, I saw this opportunity for I and my family to move to Lichtenfells in Bavaria. After the liberation by the US army I and my family moved to Hanau and lived in a Lithuanian DP Camp. Then in 1949 we moved to Mittenwald and the next year to Bad Reichenhall. In January 1951 I moved with my family to the Resettlement Center in Munich which is under the control of the International Refugee Organization.
This is a true account of my life history for the duration of World War II.
I have documents, which can substantiate most of these statements.
Jonas Detzkies (Deckys)
History
J. Detzkies
Strumpf-Fabrick
Kojiniu Fabrika 1st Factory and Store.
Around 1920 to?
Turgaus g-ve 48-49
KLAIPEDA LITHUANIA
Ideal Kojiniu Fabrika (J.Detzkies) 2nd Factory and Living Quarters.
From 1930 to 1939
KLAIPEDA LITHUANIA
ZEMES KADASTRO (Katastro .Valdybe
Stad MEMEL
Nr. 22 ukio knygose Tomas 26 Lapas 785
Klaipeda Memel Dated 17 Juli 1933
Seller, Fritz
Parzelle 1305/540 erwirbt: Detzkies, Anne geb. Melaschus Kaufmannns Frau in Memel
In English: Stocking factory was located on the right side close to old highway, leading to Palanga from Klaipeda. In those days the land was clear and the place was called [ziegelei] Next to our factory was Petzelberg estate.
In LITHUANIAN: Kojiniu fabrikas, Jis radosi senuoju plentu, vaziojant I PaLANGA IS Klaipedos desinioje puseje. Tada buvo laukai ir ta vieta vaidinosi” plytine ziegelei. Uz musu fabriko buvo P. Petzelberger dvarelis.
Our family name, Detzkies, was well known in Memel Territory for centuries in (German: Memelland) and later in Klaipeda Region (Lithuanian: Klaipedos krastas).
Our father, Jonas Detzkies, was born in Memelland (Klaipeda) in 1892. Our mother, Ona (Milasius) Detzkies, was born in 1901 in Nasrenai Lithuania. Our parent’s textile business was established about 1918. Our parents bought the land and the building in which they installed textile machineries, and manufactured stockings. From 1918 to 1939, during a semi peaceful time, they enjoyed some tranquility in spite of the tug of territorial dispute. In 1939 the textile factory was confiscated by the Nazis. In 1941 my father fled Lithuania with his family like so many other people to escape the Russians. After the war the factory was held by the Soviets until Lithuania’s independence in 1990, and now it is held by the Lithuanians.
Before WW2 ended, and after the fall of communism, our family made numerous efforts to reclaim our property through the services of many lawyers in Germany, United States and Lithuania. We have over 1,000 pages of documents to substantiate our pursuit to regain our property. In all the former satellite Soviet states – East Germany, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia and Estonia – the governments have returned property to those who survived, and to their relatives.
Our family has pursued this matter for 73 years to no avail. Nothing has been done to return the land or factory from the German and the Lithuanian governments who are now part of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Lithuania has not adopted the European Union highest international standards in assuring there is a transparent, fair and just private property restitution system.
I am outraged at those in power in Lithuania and blame them for deliberately skirting our parent’s property issue. In the so called democracy of Lithuania, those in power know well that the Detzkies family is the rightful original owner and they also know who is living in Detzkies property now.
These officials have profited and are still profiting from Detzkies property and are holding the confiscated (stolen property) from the Detzkies family who had to flee during World War II, the death sentence of Stalin’s communist killers.
Included are some Detzkies documentation and pictures of our parent’s factory. Some of these documents were submitted to Germany, Lithuania, Klaipeda and the USA government, to various lawyers and other institutions such as IOM.
NOTHING has been returned to the Detzkies family to this day.