“Passion for Remembering”

In 1892, Salvatorians began arriving in the United States. Within a decade the numbers increased considerably. Most of theSalvatorians who came here were originally from Germany or its surrounding countries. Most of them spoke German. By1910, young native-born American men and women were entering the community. By 1918, things should have lookedpromising for the Salvatorians in the USA. But all was not well ... especially in the homelands of those who came here.

The world was at war. All throughout Europe, homes and villages were being destroyed. Soldiers and civilians were beingkilled by the thousands daily. Salvatorians who lived here anxiously awaited news from Europe. Much of what they heardwas not good. In early 1917, the United States too had declared war on Germany and began sending many soldiers, doctors,nurses, and others overseas. The “war effort” affected everyone. Anti-German sentiments were being freely expressed inpublic, and all German-born persons in this country – including Salvatorians – had to register with the government. By1918, there was little peace – even in people’s hearts.

g The St. Nazianz Fire

g World War I

g The Death of Father Jordan

g The November Armistice

g The Spanish Flu Epidemic

Five significant events – from across the world and

even in their own backyards – affected the Salvatorians

living here in the United States. For them, 1918 was

“A Year of Armistice and Anguish.”

The 100 Anniversary of 1918th

“A Year of Armistice and Anguish”

“1918 - A Year of Armistice and Anguish”

ST. NAZIANZ FIRE

On April 5, a huge fire tookplace in St. Nazianz,Wisconsin. Established in1854 by immigrants fromGermany, the villagers wereproud of their heritage; theyfollowed German customsand often spoke in German.In 1896, Salvatorians cameto the village. But by 1918,people were growing angrywith Germany over the war,and anonymous threats werereceived by some of the German-speaking people inthe village. Although neverproven, arson was suspectedas the fire’s cause. That fireresulted in major changesfor everyone in St. Nazianz.

WORLD WAR I

Although the war was beingfought in Europe, people inthe USA were directlyaffected by it. America wassending soldiers and other support personnel overseas,and many were being killed.Families of soldiers had tofind work outside the hometo support themselves, andpeople had to ration certainproducts that needed to beexported to Europe to helpin the war effort. MostSalvatorians in this countryhad come here from Europe,and they were concernedabout family members andSalvatorians back in theirhomelands.

FR. JORDAN’S DEATH

On September 8, theFounder of the Salvatoriancommunity lost his battlewith stomach cancer. Forover three years, he andother German members ofthe Society had to live andwork in neutral Switzerlandbecause they would not besafe in their homeland norin Rome. All this took aheavy toll on the Founder.Surely he suffered as muchfrom a broken heart as fromthe affects of the disease.He was buried in the parishchurch in Tafers. In 1956,his remains were finallybrought “home” – to theMotherhouse in Rome.

ARMISTICE

On November 11, 1918, “at the eleventh hour ... of the eleventh day ... of the eleventh month ...”a treaty was signed in arailcar in Paris. Armisticewas declared. Soldiersthroughout Europe laiddown their weapons and atenuous “peace” finallysettled in. But it came onlyafter great losses. Millionshad been killed – soldiersand civilians alike. The“Great War” was over butthe world was foreverchanged. History wouldshow that even this peacewas only temporary. Warwould be fought again.

THE “SPANISH FLU”

The casualties of the warwere devastating, butnothing could have preparedpeople for what was yet tocome. Carried around theworld by soldiers returninghome, the “Spanish Flu”claimed more than 50million lives globally. Thegreatest number of deathswere among young adults,including four of the firstAmerican-born Salvatorians– two from the Society andtwo from the Congregation.How terrible it must havebeen for the community,seeing some of its “first-born spiritual sons anddaughters” dying so young.