Her earliest memories were of a loving mother, father and the close friendships of a tightly knit ethnic German community. Two hundred-fifty years earlier, Hapsburg Empress Maria Theresa of the then Austro-Hungarian Empire had offered this free land to settlers willing to turn this swampy region into what would become the future \"breadbasket\" of Europe. Following two World Wars, the contested region fell into the hands of others who lacked the will and knowledge to sustain its legacy, but were intent on ethnically cleansing its Germanic heritage. Now as refugees, the remaining survivors moved northwest, once again back to Austria in hopes of restarting their lives. While of similar heritage, assimilation into this new society proved challenging. Nonetheless, she and her parents moved forward and began to create hope for a new future. One day, while at work, she had a near-fatal construction accident, unknowingly instigated by a handsome young electrician with whom she would later fall in love. Coming from different societies presented a challenge, but the pair knew that their love was special and they persevered. Ultimately, she and her parents determined that their future would be better off in the United States. | A Donauschwabian Diary by Magdalena Wetzer, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters