Famine of 1921-22 and the Volga Germans

1. [饥荒的原因] 1921-22年伏尔加地区的饥荒不仅是由于非常可怕的干旱，而且也是由于第一次世界大战中俄罗斯人民的反德意识和行为，1917年十月社会主义革命后内战期间红军和白色军对粮食的严格征用，因此，这场饥荒不仅是一场自然灾害，也有人为灾害的一面。这个观点非常重要2。[饥荒的实际情况]德国农民对严格征用粮食的抵抗和起义导致了悲惨的结局，可怕的饥饿袭击了他们。在那些村庄里，许多人饿死了。伏尔加德国人写信给他们在德国和美国的亲戚和熟人，他们在信中报告了饥荒的痛苦并请求帮助。避难和撤离人数增加。救济来自俄罗斯的其他地区，但更重要的作用是来自德国，美国和其他组织和个人的救济（食品和金钱的供应，在村庄提供膳食，医疗服务等）。饥荒于1923年结束，但新的饥荒在1924年再次袭击了伏尔加德国人。这种关于饥荒实际情况的研究在过去是没有的. [逃往他国]许多德国人从饥荒中逃到了其他国家，尤其是德国，其中一些人死在了路上。能够继续幸运地旅行的人来到靠近德波边境的城市明斯克，但是，尽管只有少数人能够合法过境，但许多人不得不非法越境，其中一些人被发现，被关死或休息并被驱逐到俄罗斯。这种关于伏尔加日耳曼人逃往他国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.