Oktoberfest a Time for Appreciating Sacrifices of Immigrants’ European Families, Says Author of Book on German Immigration to America

Austin, TX, October 08, 2010 --(PR.com)-- As Oktoberfest festivities throughout the nation celebrate some of the most fun and entertaining aspects of German culture this month, it’s a good time to remember the sacrifices that allowed many Germans and other Europeans to come to America in the 19th century.

“The challenges faced by those immigrants as they made their way to our country and found food and shelter are well documented, but we shouldn’t forget the challenges that also confronted their families and friends who remained back in Europe,” said Ray Grasshoff, author of Man of Two Worlds: A German Family Confronts the American Dream.

Based on letters written to a German immigrant by family members and friends in Germany, Man of Two Worlds offers insights into the emotional and physical toll resulting from the emigration of so many bright and industrious young people.

“In so many ways, emigration from Europe disrupted the traditional role of young people in what had been a largely place-bound population,” Grasshoff said.

“Emigration often meant that sons and daughter wouldn’t be available to carry on family farms and businesses, or help parents cope with old age and illness,” he explained. “Instead, parents had to cope as they could or depend on considerably fewer numbers of able young people to meet their substantial and growing needs.”

Emigration was also tough emotionally for the people who remained in Germany.

“Parents and grandparents lost their children and grandchildren to a distant land, often with little hope of seeing them ever again,” Grasshoff said.

Many of those left behind continued to hope for many years that the emigrants would give up on attempts to establish a new home across the ocean.

“One of the letters in Man of Two Worlds talks of a father wanting his son to return to Germany although 17 years have passed since he left,” Grasshoff said.

Notably, the great majority of immigrants to America came to stay, never returning to Europe. Instead, they overcame tremendous challenges to build a new life and contribute their knowledge, culture, and work ethic to the American melting pot, Grasshoff noted.

###