NORKA
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History > Famine 1921-1924 > Letters > May, 3 1923

Headline: ​Letters from Russia

Norka, 13 February

​Dear brother-in-law Peter Staerkel in Havelock, Nebraska:

I received your letter of 23 November 1923 with pleasure. After 17 years we were pleasantly surprised to see a sign of life from you. I am happy to relate to you information about our condition. We have been in Norka since 15 May 1918, where I bought a small garden near the well field. However we were unable to live this way for very long and I was forced to seek employment with the Soviet administration. I found an opportunity at Mueller's Mill as a Prigaschik (sales clerk), where in 4 years I held as many positions. In 4 years there were 4 managers who had the misfortune to lose their positions. I was the only one fortunate enough to remain, each time in a different position.

One of the rich Schmidt's, who in former times owned the steam mill in Saratov, was also a manager of this mill. So you can see what tremendous changes are taking place in Russia --- formerly a rich man with many servants, now himself a servant. We stood as equals in this mill. According to a decree from 1922, many of the region's mills could only be leased to societies. The old mill owners Mueller and Wollert used this moment and took over the mill on the 13th of February and, as a result, we old workers each received 1 Pud of produce each which they ground for us and we were let go. In addition we even had to vacate our quarters in the middle of the winter. That is how Soviet power works. Today marks exactly one year that I have been out of work. I did manage to sow somewhat but when one has no horses of his own one can get nothing from it because one is cheated at every turn. We do the work and the Kulak takes home the harvest. From 40 Pud I had to give up 24 Pud, leaving me 16 Pud for my 7 souls, to feed them, clothe them and also to sow again. That is how things stand.

We are on friendly terms with your brother Heinrich and brother-in-law Ludwig Hohnstein. Your brother has 4 beautiful horses and your brother-in-law has 2 oxen and, I think, 2 horses. If I were in their situation I would feel like a Rothschild. The 6 Food Drafts you sent, they have safely received. Your brother 4 and your sister Lena 2. I would gladly write you more often but my finances do not allow it. If one has no work for an entire year and no income then all ones supplies gradually disappear. In 8 years I have been unable to buy any clothing.

The land of the Norka community has now been divided among 89 groups. I am in the 38th group in Norka's ditch. Your brother's is in the coal ditch, Hohnstein's in Malaripka on Russian ground. It is thus better for the poor but it does not please the Kulaks who have much livestock because they cannot freely graze their oxen within the borders (of the groups). But the rich still know how to subjugate the poor because fat floats to the top, even if it is the fat of a dog.

Now in closing, be affectionately greeted by us, your Blutsfreunden (kinsmen, relatives - translator).

Georg and Anna Katharina Feuerstein

Sources

Die Welt-Post, May, 3 1923, page 7.

​This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 6, 2016
Copyright © 2002-2025 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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  • Community
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    • 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