Die Welt-Post, Thursday, 18 August 1921
Page 5, "A Letter from Russia"
Dietel Colony, 12 May 1921
To Jacob Weber, Lincoln, Nebraska
To begin our letter, we wish to inform you that we are still well, which we also wish for you and yours. You write and expressed the desire for us to let you know if we still had food, money and clothing. With these items, things are so bad they could not possibly be worse. In the last 4 months we have not baked anything, not once. If it is possible for you, do what you can for us! There is nothing here to cook and there is no clothing here and it is the same with money.. We still have an old horse but what can one accomplish with such and how should one get any fodder to keep it alive and strong? We are in great need of everything, therefore, do what you can and do it quickly.
You also wanted to know who has died and who has married. Already many have died, but as of yet, none of our relatives. Mother was on a visit to Huck. Grandmother is still healthy but things are also not going well with her because she is out of everything. There have been no marriages because there is no clothing here. If you are able, be so good and send us some clothing.
In closing be greeted and kissed in spirit by us and all of your friends.
Friedrich Ruf
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Dietel, May 1921
We begin in the name of the Triune God.
Dear child of Jacob Weber and family. We send greetings and a kiss of love to all of you from all of us. Happily, we are all healthy and wish the same for you. We were happy to receive the letter that you wrote to us and will now inform you of how things stand and are going. We are suffering greatly from hunger here and it is our wish to be with you there standing face to face. We thank you for your willingness to help us but it appears, at least for now, that the route is still closed. However if the route opens again you can come to our aid. Now we wish to inform you that grandfather and grandmother died this past year.
With greetings and a kiss of love, we remain your friends until death,
Michael Klemann
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
From Alt-Norka, Russia
To Johannes Schnell, Ramona, Kansas
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us and with all of you, Amen.
Dear friends in America:
First we want you to know that all of us in the house - there are 28 souls - are healthy, which we also wish for you. The reason we are writing you this letter is the following: The letter you wrote to your Vetter [likely his uncle not his cousin - translator] Konrad has come into our hands and we had the wonderful privilege of reading it; because one is always happy to receive news about the lives of ones friends and relatives in America. We were able to see, through your letter, how things are going with you and we wanted to write you a letter to let you know how things are going with us. It took some time for the letter to reach its final destination but it finally arrived at the right place.
For now, letters from America are coming in every postal delivery and letters in reply are being sent off to America. It is a miracle that God has kept us throughout this great emergency. Today is just the 18th of June, but the rye harvest has already begun. Many people have already begun to harvest while most will begin tomorrow. Because of the great drought and hot weather here the rye crop is coming in unusually fast. We have had an early summer this year but over a span of 3 months no rain. The Steppes are all burnt red and the fields laying fallow have been trampled black by foraging livestock. Thank Got it had already rained enough to produce some fodder for the poor animals.
The harvest however, is a poor one; there are hardly any seeds (on the stalks) and also there was little sown. To tell you about everything is not possible if this letter is to get through and reach you.
Of our livestock situation, we have still 4 pair of oxen, 5 horses, 3 cows and 20 sheep. But how to get them through the coming winter is a problem that, truthfully, only God can solve. It is for now, a time that one thinks primarily about oneself. But it is not possible to avoid the eyes of God. Our God extends his judgment unto us as he did in Noah's time. As it was then; the mass of Christians now living securely in the community have coated their breasts with the excrement of sin.
Now, we were greatly pleased to hear from you again because it has been a long time; the happy news is welcome and pleases us. I was especially glad to hear that my brother Johannes is still alive and well. I will now direct some words to him along with Conrad and Lena and their children: You are cordially greeted by us all, children and grown-ups. It is our desire that this letter finds you in the best of health. We had hoped a long time for a letter from you - for an answer - but until now, in vain. But given the uncertainty of these times it is probably no wonder. We also send the other brothers and their children our best greetings. We wish all the best for them. If you receive this letter then you can advise all our friends and acquaintances how things are going with us. I would be obliged if everyone pleased us by sending letters. As far as we know, all friends and acquaintances here are well. Also the Schnells, Hannpeter, Georg and Johannes and their families are still well and send you their greetings.
In closing I ask that you answer soon.
your friend,
Conrad Kleiber
For the wonderful letter above we are obligated to and thank our new reader, friend Johannes Schnell of Ramona, Kansas, who sent it to us for publication along with the following words:
Dear Editor and all Welt-Post readers:
I wish to say that we are all still alive and well. I have just received a letter from the old country and I want to send it in to the Welt-Post for publication so that all those who read the paper know how things are going over there. I send everyone my best greetings and I hope that you follow my example and also send in your letters for Die Welt-Post to bring to all readers. I greet you all, your friend from Alt-Norka,
Johannes Schnell
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.