Als Ergänzung - einzelne Fehler in der Benesch Biografie H.-W. Schroeders betreffend- zum Artikel von Regina Reinsperger zur „Tabakregie“ schickt Hans- Jürgen Bracker eine Nachricht von Susi Burn, die diese auch authorisiert hat.

Diese Ergänzungen betreffen die Situation der Familie Benesch in Birk:

„Hallo again,

I have now read Hans-Werner Schroeder's book "Friedrich Benesch". One glaring mistake occurs on page 157 where it is claimed that Benesch's wife and children had to be left in Saechsisch-Regen with his family in 1938 after he was stood down from his post as "Pfarrer". INCORRECT.

When Benesch had to leave the "Pfarrhaus", the Birker community made a house available. This was house No. 256 (see Birker Heimatbuch) owned by Johann Dienesch (born 1904). Mrs. Benesch and the children lived there for the entire period that Benesch was suspended from his position.

On page 150 it states that Benesch was forbidden to set foot on "zustehende Felderflaechen". This does not seem to have prevented him from employing Friedrich Kraft (born 1914), house No. 276 (see Birker Heimatbuch) to work the church farmland on his behalf in the period 1938 - 1940. Free voluntary labour, on a needs basis, was supplied by the Birker community. The income from this farm went to Benesch. I do not know how much Mr. Kraft was paid or how much of this income, if any, went to the Protestant church. Friedrich Kraft was, like Benesch, originally from Saechsisch-Regen, but married Maria Schindler (born 1922) from Birk.

The above information was supplied to me independently by two Birker people born 1923 and 1924 respectively. I read the relevant pages in Schroeder's book to them. They pointed out the errors and gave me the details as stated above.

Kind regards,
Susi Burn“