This is a portfolio of 16 images of Sorbian patriots with short bios, which was published by the German Democratic Republic (DDR) Ministry / Department of Sorbian Issues, in 1957 in Bautzen. This could serve as informational and educational material.
For an English translation continue reading. If you want to see images of the patriots and their bio in Wendish and German, click the name of each patriot.
Arnost Muka, born in 1854 in Grosshähnchen, died in 1932 in Bautzen, was one of the best known experts in the area of the Wendish language. He traveled back and forth through Upper and Lower Lusatia and left behind for us many accounts about his travels. His most important works are “Statistics of the Lusatian Wends” (1884/85), a comparative Lower Wendish [a dialect in the north] grammar, and a three volume Lower Wendish-German dictionary. Translated by Ray Martens.
Bogumil Swjela, born in 1873 in Schorbus, died in 1947 on a train during his return from Thüringen in Lusatia, an Evangelical clergyman, acquired great value for himself through the preservation of things Wendish in Lower Lusatia during the harshest oppression of the Wendish people in the time of imperialism. Among the numerous Lower Wendish [a dialect in the north] books written by him, most important is his Lower Wendish grammar. Like many Wendish patriots, the fascists also drove him from his homeland. Translated by Ray Martens.
Franc Kral, born in 1886 in Radibor, died in 1915 on the battlefields of World War I in the vicinity of Lorettohöhe, a Catholic teacher, was an unusually industrious and enthusiastic educator of his people. He founded the periodical “Raj” (Paradise) for the Wendish children and gave them two yearly issues of the children calendar, “Nadzija” (Hope). He belonged to the founders of the Domowina in 1912. He helped to shape the direction of Wendish theatre in that he wrote the textbook for Wendish Plays, “Our Theatre.” Translated by Ray Martens.
Fryco Rocha, born in 1863 in Schönhöhe, died in 1942 in Klingmühl, an Evangelical teacher, was a prominent Lower Wendish [a dialect in the north] folk writer and poet. In his extensive biography, “Picture of My Life,” he describes for us his Lower Wendish home and the life among his countrymen. For the Lower Wendish children and youth, however, he left in addition many beautiful songs and poems. Translated by Ray Martens.
Handrij Zejler, born in 1804 in Salzenforst, died in 1872 in Lohsa, an Evangelical clergyman, was an entirely industrious and enthusiastic Wendish folk poet. Everywhere in Wendish country his songs are still being sung today. In 1842 he founded “Weekly Newspaper,” which later was renamed “Wendish Newspaper” and published until 1937. In the years 1847/48 he belonged to the founders of Wendish unification, “Macica Serbska.” A worthy memorial was erected in Lohsa. Translated by Ray Martens.
Jakub Bart-Ćišinski was born in Kuckau in 1856, and died in Panschwitz in 1909. He was a Catholic priest, and is regarded today as one of the greatest Wendish poets and writers. He left to the Wendish people, whom he loved above all, 14 volumes of poems, the epic poem The Bridegroom , the novel Patriot and Renegade , and the historical play At the Entrenchment . To honor him, a monument was erected in Lippe near to the cloister Marienstern, and a Wendish middle school, the Ćišinski School, in Panschwitz was named for him. Translated by Ray Martens.
Jan Arnost Smoler, born in the year 1816 in Merzdorf, died in the year 1884 in Bautzen, was an important Sorbian (Wendish) patriot. In the years 1841 and 1843, he published a two-volume collection “Folk Songs of the Upper and Lower Sorbs”, a work which even today has no equal in Lusatia. In the years 1847/48, he was one of the founders of the Sorbian (Wendish) union “Macica Serbska” and was the first publisher of its newspaper. In Bautzen, he founded the first Sorbian (Wendish) printing house and Sorbian (Wendish) publisher. Translated by Barbara Schneider.
Jan Bohuwer Mucink, born in the year 1821 in Nechen, died in the year 1904 in Demitz, an Evangelical (Lutheran) teacher, was an inspiring Sorb (Wend) and a progressive educator. In the time of the 1848/49 Revolution, he appeared among the working people around Bischofswerda publicly with his progressive ideas. His political story “Hribowcenjo” (The Backwoodsman), which appeared in 1849, and many smaller works render testimony to him. Translated by Barbara Schneider.
Jan Petr Jordan, born in the year 1818 in Zischkowitz, died in the year 1891 in Vienna, was an important Sorbian (Wendish) Slavic scholar and the first teacher of the Sorbian (Wendish) language at Leipzig University. In the year 1841, he presented to Sorbian children the little entertaining book “Sorbian Poems, Collected and Published for the Joy of Sorbian Boys and Girls by Witschas-Peter from Zischkowitz” and in the year 1842, he founded the “Jutnicka” (Morning Star) newspaper for the Sorbs (Wends). Translated by Barbara Schneider.
Jan Radyserb-Wjela, born in the year 1822 in Seidau, died in the year 1907 in Bautzen, was an evangelical (Lutheran) Sorbian teacher and left behind to his Sorbian (Wendish) people, above all to Sorbian (Wendish) children, whom he loved more than anything, a large number of wonderful Sorbian poems, rhymes, puzzles, ballads and tales. In his works, he depicted the past and the present of the Sorbian (Wendish) working people. He called himself “Radyserb” (Glad-to-be Sorb) and as “Radyserb” we honor him. Translated by Barbara Schneider.
Jan Skala, born in 1889 in Nebelschütz, died in 1945 near Namslau (Schleswig-Holstein), a Wendish journalist and author, devoted himself primarily to the defense of the rights of national minorities in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. From his pen we have some short narratives, the most important of them “The Old Schimko,” in which he describes how the capitalistic major industries exploited and swindled the Wends who lived in the moors, along with various poems in which he praises his people and his homeland. Translated by Ray Martens.
Marjana Domaškojc was born in Zahsow in 1872, and died there in 1946. Although a poor working woman, she nonetheless became a talented Lower Wendish writer. She wrote the first Lower Wendish plays, which mirrored the social circumstances of rural life, and in which she showed herself as an advocate for the rights of the oppressed. Her most famous play is From the Life of the Poor. Translated by Charles Wukasch.
Mato Kosyk was born in Werben in 1853 and died in America in 1940. At first a railway worker and later a Lutheran pastor, he became a leading Lower Wendish poet. He immigrated to America and concerned himself until his death with the Wendish immigrants to the country. He penned the famous Lower Wendish epics The Treason of Margrave Gero and A Wendish Wedding in the Spreewald, and numerous shorter Lower Wendish poems. The middle school in Briesen is named after Kosyk. Translated by Charles Wukasch.
Michal Hornik, born in the year 1833 in Räckelwitz, died in the year 1894 in Räckelwitz, a Catholic priest, was one of the most significant men of Sorbian (Wendish) cultural life in the last century. In the year 1884, he published together with the Pole Boguslawski the folk history book “Historija serbskeho naroda” (History of the Sorbian People); in the year 1860, he founded the Sorbian (Wendish) literature magazine “Luzican” (The Lusatian), and in the year 1881 the magazine of the Sorbian (Wendish) farmer “Serbski hospodar” (The Sorbian Cultivator). In Räckelwitz, a beautiful memorial was erected for him. Translated by Barbara Schneider.
Miklaws Andricki, born in 1871 in Panschwitz, died in 1908, a Catholic priest, was an enthusiastic Wend and author. From his pen we have received many short stories and the translation of the Czech play, “Gero,” by Jirasek. Furthermore, he worked diligently for the Wendish literary journal, “Lusatia.” His life ended too soon for one who had devoted himself to his people, but especially for the working class. Translated by Ray Martens.