NORKA
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History > Famine 1921-1924 > Letters > February 28, 1924

Headline: ​From Russia

Norka, November 14, 1923

​To: Jacob J. Stroh
Lincoln, Nebraska

I inform you that I and my family are in good health. As things presently stand here, we could complain about everything. If America had not pitied us, everyone would have starved to death during the famine years. We owe our lives to you dear brothers and sisters in America and can only offer our thanks. God will repay you in the after-life for what you have done for us and are doing still.

The harvest was not one of the best. It produced about 20 Pud per Desyatin. Vegetables turned out well, which was a piece of good luck, but now everything that one needs to buy is terribly expensive. It is quickly becoming impossible to live in Russia because of inflation. If it would have been possible, half of Russia would have already immigrated to America during the last three years. But it was not possible and everyone has to stay where they are. The weather is wet and warm and the livestock go out to pasture every day.

My thoughts and greetings go out to all my friends in America, particularly Wilhelm Deines in Norfolk, Nebr., and Georg Deines in Minatare, Nebr.

Shall I write you Americans about prices here in Russia? Now, pay attention: a Pud of wheat costs 400 million Ruble; rye 300 million; a Pud of wheat flour costs a billion 500 million Ruble; a Pud of beef, 2 billion Ruble; a horse from 50 to 100 billion; a pair of oxen from 120 to 150 billion Ruble. Many people are already going naked. A shirt costs 2 and a pair of trousers 2 to 3 billion; a pair of boots 3 to 4 billion Ruble. And that's the way prices are for everything. God knows what's going to happen.

I ask every friend in America to help each of their relatives and friends in Russia with money if they can.

I would like to go to America again and I ask Mr. Stroh to write to me how I might best accomplish this.

Greetings to all our people over there, especially to those who know me. I remain, your friend,

Jacob Deines
Number 294 in Norka

Sources

Die Welt-Post, February 28, 1924, page 3.

​This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 6, 2016
Copyright © 2002-2025 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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    • Contact
  • People
    • Founders
    • Personal Histories
    • Notable Norkans
    • Stories
    • Photo Identification
    • Photo Gallery
  • Community
    • Village Life
    • Entertainment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate
    • Homesites
    • Geographical Description
    • Government
    • Social Structure
    • Health
    • Education
    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johann Baptist Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Baptism
      • Confirmation
      • Weddings
      • Communion
      • Prayers
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
      • Sonntagsblatt der Omaha Tribune
    • Related Links