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Survivors of slave labor in Russia for four years
The story of
Peter Fedrich & Marie Ingrisch deportation to Russia, remembered by their niece Sister Suzanne Kullowitch.
by Sister
Susanne Kullowitch
Mari's
mother Maria Ingrisch Fedrich
[1919-2002], she was called Tante Mari, married to
Peter Fedrich
[1911-1986].
Grandpa Jacob Ingrisch came to New York and was manager
of a shoe factory, Grandma Susanna worked in a canteen.
I believe that they married in New York and when Grandma
was 8 months pregnant with mom they returned to
Romania. One of their children was Maria Ingrisch, who
married Peter Fedrich.
Aunt
Maria and her husband Peter were awakened at 2 am with
Russian soldiers ordering them to get out. All the
German people from the villages were hustled into
trucks. It was all the young people between 20 and 40
(not sure as it differed for men and women.) They were
driven to St Andreas where they had to be shoved into
freight trains heading for Russia for slave labor.
Since the train wouldn't move until later in the morning
all the parents hustled to St Andreas to bring them
clothing, food and etc.
Men
and women were separated. All that was left behind was
the children and grandparents. Aunt Marie worked in
the Russian coal mines at first. Maria said that the
Russian people had pity on them and would often sneak
them bread when they passed by. Peter worked on a farm
and later escaped by crossing 3 borders. His own
daughter Maria did not recognize him but the dog did.
Maria went to her grandma in the garden and said a man
was there. Later, her mother was freed after 4 years of
slave labor.
One
day Peter was in Timisoara and saw a train come in. It
became customary for everyone there looked to see if
there were loved ones getting off the train. Many had
died of starvation and those who came home were not far
from it. He recognized his wife Marie and brought her
home. Grandma fainted when she saw how she looked. She
set her down to eat but took the food away after she ate
a little. Many came home and just ate and ate and then
died because their bodies were not use to it.
When
Maria was in captivity, my parents were able to get the
address and they sent a package. She never got it. She
got none of the letters that Grandpa sent nor those of
my parents. The only letter she received was the one
telling her that her Dad had died. He died of a broken
heart.
Sister Suzanne Kullowitch
©
2003-04
Ingrisch - Kullowitch
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