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
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.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 6, 2016.