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| Format | Book Whole |
|---|---|
| Author, Monographic | Fitt, Brigitte Helga |
| Title, Monographic | Von Feuersturm zum Feuerstein = From Firestorm to Firestone |
| Extent of Work | 15 + 19 |
| Abstract | Brigitte Helga (Lemberg) Fitt was born Nov. 28, 1939 in Wolfshau (now Wilcza Poreba in Poland) near Hirschberg (now Jelenia Góra in Poland). Her parents operated Haus Frieda, a Zimmer frei (bed and breakfast), which was named after Brigitte’s aunt Frieda, who had emigrated to America and was sending money back to help support the business. When the war began, Brigitte’s father served in the German army. In October of 1944, Brigitte, her mother, and her sister escaped eastern Germany as the Russian army advanced. After spending time in the Mauerkirchen refugee camp, they resettled in Krombach, near Frankfurt, where they were met by their father, who had walked back from Italy. Brigitte attended a business college in Aschaffenburg, where she learned English and became a paralegal. At the age of 21, she applied for a student exchange program and went to America. In New York City she met her older sister, Rosemarie, who had come to America at the age of 14, and Rosemarie’s husband. They drove Brigitte to Akron, Ohio to attend college, and she was hired as a live-in nanny for Cynthia, the daughter of Roger and Anne Firestone. At 25, she concluded her work with the Firestones and became an American citizen, married Clarence Fitt, and had a son. She was employed as an accountant at Koening-Noggle International Import/Exports in Chicago. After retiring, she settled in Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Brigite’s aunt Frieda was able to receive payments for the value of her house in Poland through the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States. |
| Notes | As told to and written by Donald Zelle. Includes images of Haus Frieda in the former Wolfshau, Germany; photocopies of documents related to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission against the Government of Poland, and various images of Brigitte. |
| Call Number | FH Fitt |
| MKI Terms | Poland / Family history / Lemberg / Fitt/ World War, 1939-1945/ Emigration and immigration (Germany-US) |