My name is Emma Davidovna Sinter, I was born in 1924 and I am German.
In 1941 we, the Germans, were deported from our homes and forced to become special settlers. We were supervised by a special commandant’s office. In June 1942 we were affected by the second deportation – they took us to the Far North. We at first arrived in the settlement of Dorofeevsk from where we were later displaced to Innokentievsk.
After the liquidation of the Dorofeevsk fishing area, where I worked until 1944, I was transferred to the settlement of Karaul; I worked for the sewing room and also had a job with the storehouse. In 1945, due to my bad state of health, I was sent, upon instructions of the doctors on duty, to the southern districts of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. And now I am in urgent need of an evidence officially providing detailed information about my total working time in the north. But no matter, who I have so far addressed myself to, they all came back to me with the same answer: the arvice does not exist anymore. But where could it be, dear comrades? We were all definitely registered with the commandant’s office, after all! Help me, for God’s sake, or at least give me your recommendations or advise, which institution I could direct myself to.
Commemorative candle. The Taimyr Region during the years of political repressions. Memoir