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CURRENTLY IN BOOKS
The life and times of Mennonite immigrants

Conrad Stoesz

From Danzig to Russia Peter Hildebrand. Translated by Walter Toews with Adolf Ens. Winnipeg, Man.: CMBC Publications, 2000. 62 pp. $10.00.

From Danzig to Russia is the story of the first immigration of Mennonites from Danzig, Prussia (now Poland) to Russia in 1789. The account was originally published in German as a part of the Echo Verlag series in 1965. It includes the immigration story by Peter Hildebrand and a second article by his grandson, Cornelius Hildebrand, entitled “A Sunday in 1840 on the Island Chortitza”. This soft cover book includes some photographs and a map.

Peter Hildebrand recalls from first-hand experience the events of this immigration. Jacob Hoeppner and Johann Bartsch were chosen to explore Russia for the possibility of emigration. After a year, they came back with a favourable report. In spring 1788, the first 228 families began the arduous journey to Russia. When they arrived in 1789, the land they were promised was not available, most of their belongings and much of the wood for houses had been stolen, and the money promised to them was slow in coming. This, coupled with the Flemish and Frisian church differences, made for a trying time. Some people took their anger out on the deputies, who suffered great injustices.

The second, shorter article begins by detailing the village atmosphere on the island of Chortitza on a Sunday morning in 1840. Everything is described in great detail. This morning, the village is a tranquil and orderly place. This is juxtaposed with the atmosphere that afternoon, after it is discovered that a wolf has maimed a farmer’s animal. The author describes a Jekyll-and-Hyde situation, in which the peaceful churchgoers now band together with nets, dogs, horses and guns to hunt the wolf.

The translation is very readable, and the footnotes add a greater context to the material, pointing to other sources for further study. The people of CMBC Publications should be commended for taking on translation projects such as this one because they give greater access to our history for the next generations.

Conrad Stoesz is archivist at the Centre For MB Studies in Winnipeg.

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Last modified March 20, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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