From: Krasna, Bessarabia 2 September 1930

Dear Editor Brendel:

One of the Russian refugees from Selz, Eugenius Bertsch, son of Michael Bertsch, nicknamed Grausemichel, arrived here in Krasna yesterday. The refugee from Kandel, Schmalz, is due within the next few days. The story Bertsch told me is terrifying. It would be funny, if it were not so tragic.

The Bolsheviks are up to harebrained schemes again. Unfortunately, mankind has to suffer. The German villages of the Kutschurgan region suffer like the destroyed Jerusalem. Everything is topsy-turvy and there is no longer any semblance of justice. The young folks are most vulnerable since they are taught to worship the antichrist instead of God. Values are kicked into the dust.

Both young refugees are desperate, but we will help them. We still have enough caring, kind people here. Bertsch has a brother in Vibank, Sask., Canada named Pius Bertsch who has already written to him pledging his support. I will report to you later on about their escape from Archangelsk to Selz and then across the Rumanian border.

After a terrible dusty spell with sandstorms reminiscent of the African desert, we finally received a bit of moisture. It was not enough for fieldwork, yet. It is so dry that many wells here no longer have enough water for the livestock. No matter how good a well is cleaned, there is no new water. Drinking water is also very scarce since Krasna does not have many potable wells. People stand in line at the two dip wells to get water.

The corn harvest we had such high hopes for, turned out much weaker than anticipated due to the heat wave and the large number of rodents. Grain prices are fluctuating; barley brings 27 Lei, corn 57 Lei and rapeseed 62 Lei/Pud.

Peter Aaron Soehn [Söhn] sends greetings to his friends Anselmus and Eduard Ternes in Raleigh, North Dakota. He would appreciate it very much to receive a year’s subscription to the very popular Dakota Rundschau, which is avidly read here.

The mother and brothers of Johannes Miller [Müller] in Montebela [Montebello], Brazil send their regards. They would appreciate letters to tell us that they are all healthy.

Greetings to the editor and all readers here and there.

Joseph Braun

(Short note from a refugee)

From: Krasna, Bessarabia 2 September 1930

Dear Mr. Brendel:

It has been three months already since my friend Schmalz and I fled from our old homeland to Bessarabia. There we found freedom again among fellow Germans, freedom to do what people want to do, worship how they please. It is such a new concept, and it is exhilarating to appreciate and live such freedom.

Matters in mother Russia are much different. People can be carted off to the Ural Mountains, to Archangelsk, to Siberia, where they must perish in the end at the whim of the government there.

I still remember the day of your departure in 1927. I am still asking the question why not all the Germans left back then? Today it is almost impossible to get out. If the Bolsheviks would only let the people go. Not only the Germans, but also entire Russian villages would pick up and leave. The situation in the German villages is horrible. The ones who were not shipped out are forced into the collectives of work.

I am currently staying with Mr. Joseph Braun, who is very nice. I have received a letter from my brother Pius in Vibank, Saskatchewan, Canada, and will probably go there.

Best regards,
Eugenius Bertsch