Famine of 1921-22 and the Volga Germans

1.【饥荒的原因】1921- 1922年伏尔加河地区的饥荒，除了非常严重的干旱外，还有一战中俄国人民的反德意识和行为，1917年十月社会主义革命后的内战中红军和白军的严格征用粮食，缺乏适当的政策和良好的交通等因素。因此，这场饥荒不仅是一场自然灾害，而且还有人为灾害的一面。这个观点很重要。【饥荒的实际情况】德国农民对严格征用粮食的反抗和起义导致了悲惨的结局，可怕的饥荒袭击了他们。村子里许多人饿死了。伏尔加的德国人写信给他们在德国和美国的亲戚和熟人，告诉他们饥荒的痛苦，并寻求帮助。难民和撤离人员增加。救援来自俄罗斯的其他地区，但更重要的是来自德国、美国和其他组织和个人的救援（食物和金钱的供应，在村庄提供膳食，医疗服务等）。饥荒在1923年结束，但是新的饥荒在1924年再次袭击了伏尔加的德国人。这样关于饥荒实际情况的研究在过去是没有的。由于饥荒，许多德国人逃到了别的国家，尤其是德国，其中一些人死在了路上。能够幸运地继续旅行的人来到德国-波兰边境附近的城市明斯克，但是，虽然他们中只有少数人能够合法越境，但许多人不得不非法越境，其中一些人被发现、关死或休息并被驱逐到俄罗斯。关于伏尔加德国人逃到其他国家的研究在过去是没有的。

1.【 Causes of famine】 Famine of 1921-22 in the land of the Volga was caused not only by very terrible droughts, but also by the anti-German consciousness and behavior of Russian people in the World War I, the strict requisition of provisions by the Red Army and the White Army during the Civil War after the socialistic Revolution of October, 1917, lack of appropriate policies and a good transportation and so on. Therefore, this famine was not a mere natural disaster, but had a side of an artificial disaster also. This point of view is very important2.【Actual situation of famine】 Resistance and uprisings of German peasants against the strict requisition of provisions resulted in a tragic end, and a terrible hunger attacked them. In the villages many persons starved to death. Volga Germans wrote letters to their relatives and acquaintances in Germany and America in which they informed of distress of famine and asked for help. Refuges and evacuees increased. The relief came from another regions in Russia, but more important role played the relief(supply of food and money, providing meals in villages, medical service and so on) from German, American and other organizations and individuals. Famine ended in 1923, but new famine attacked the Volga Germans in 1924 again. Such research about the actual situation of famine is not found in the past.3.【Escape to another countries】 From famine escaped many Germans to another countries, especially to Germany, some of whom died on the way. People who could continue luckily to travel came to Minsk, a city near the German-Polish border, but, though only a few persons of them could cross legally, many persons had to cross illegally the border, some of whom were found, shut to death or rested and deported to Russia. Such research about the escape of the Volga Germans to another countries is not found in the past.