Korcha family from Koval Ukraine

[colby_uk]

I am trying to trace my mothers family called Korcha, she is called Alexandra and was taken with her father and brother from the town of Kovel in the Ukraine by the Germans to work during World War II. She was liberated by the British forces and was asked if she wanted to go to the UK. She never saw her father or brother again and lost contact with her family all those years ago and now I am trying to trace any of my mothers relatives. She was born on 6th May 1924 and is now quite an old lady. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated in tracking down any relatives she had from the town of Koval in the Ukraine.

Colin

[Hannia]

Welcome Colin.

She never saw her father or brother again and lost contact with her family all those years ago

Kowel/Kovel (Ковель in Ukrainian) > Vohlyn was/is a district center town w/an extensive railroad system into Western Europe and was used by the Nazis as a gathering place for Vohlynian Ostarbeiter/forced laborers. Most came from villages in the district and in the region.

Mama was technically born a Polish citizen. During the Interwar Period (1921-1938) the Wolyn wojiwodstwo/region was under Reconstituted Poland's domain. For all intents and purposes, post WW2 this citizenship automatically provided Mama w/DP status and the ability to immigrate to UK.

In order to ascertain what happened to your Grandfather and Uncle, it is best to contact Bad Arolsen Archives. I would perform an inquiry for Mama first. This should provide you w/records detailing her family and give you an exact history of her exp in Germany. The two requirements for inquiry are FULL NAME and any TRANSLITERATION/SOUNDS LIKE VARIANTS of that name and DATE OF BIRTH.

She may not be able to remember her father's and brother's appx age, but gently ask anyway. Get their given names, if you can.
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Contact the Bad Arolsen Archives. Since Mama was an Ostarbeiter and had DP status, these archives will provide you w/details of her exact experience in Germany and other personal details as well. Inquiry by immediate family is available for free. All you need to provide is her full name and any other spelling variants and her exact birth date, or as exact as you have it. Do not provide more info than that !!! Your inquiry can be done by e-mail. I understand the archives have upgraded their svce and response can be received via e-mail as well. Response can take as little as three days or as much as three months. That part has not changed.

Upon accessing site click HUMANITARIAN REQUESTS. Follow instructions.
ITS-AROLSEN.ORG |*Homepage
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Important link for OSTARBEITER - DP Descendants
Displaced Persons' (DP) Camps Table of Contents
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If Grandfather and Uncle returned to SSR Ukraine under Soviet Repatriation, they and what family was left in Vohlyn were very likely sent to Khazakstan for more forced labor. Afterwards they may or may not have returned to SSR Ukraine, but in cases where they did return, most were not allowed to settle back in their home towns. Stalin thought of German forced laborers as traitors.

For right now, let's take it one step at a time.

PS> When making inquiry at Bad Arolsen use Korcha and Korchak as /transliteration variant + question mark. That looks to be the prominent variant of Korcha surname in this region????

[colby_uk]

Hannia,

Thanks for your help, it is a starting point for a novice like me, trying to trace a family that existed a long, long time ago.

Best regards,

Colin

[Hannia]

With a little time, lots of patience and loads of perseverance you will find them.
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Meanwhile consider taping everything Mama has to tell you. Engage her w/questions like what her home looked like. Where did she go to school? What did her father do for a living? Did she have other siblings?

Ask to see any pictures and papers she may have.

Access u-tube and have her watch / listen to the National Vohlynian Choir. It may stir some memories.

[Wolodymyr]

Hi, Colin,
I was born in england, now live in scotland, but was fortunate that my father hadn't lost contact with his family, who stay in Kostopol. Good luck with your search, and you are in the right place to get the best help.
I just wanted to say, I did a search for National Volhynian Choir but doesn't give anything, you need to paste in the youtube search box Волинський Народний Хор and you will get the choir that Hannia is suggesting.

Wolodymyr