The International Scientific Conference “The Germans in Siberia: their
history, language and culture” will open in Krasnoyarsk on the 13th of October.
In the course of a series of events the film “The Germans of Krasnoyarsk”
will be shown at the Center of Culture and Histor, at the Strelka, on October
14.
One of its screen heroes and author of the book “The fate of the Russian-Germans”, Robert Maier, settled in Krasnoyarsk in 1974. Behind him – the UsolLag and the forced settlement in Yeniseysk. And Robert Adolfovich’s ancestors have been living on Russian soil since 1765.
- How did you manage to revive the image of your ancestor’s everyday life?
- I experienced those years, when our old traditions were still being kept up; all this has now been ruined, the people ceased to feel and live their past. Since the first representative of the Maier line set foot on this territory (it was probably Johann who worked as a printer in Germany before), it was a custom to pass on to one’s children, from generation to generation, the story of the family, as well as fairy tales and the like. All that was told, was recorded in writing. Each family disposed of a copybook, which was continuously udated with new subjects. In the course of time this booklet became rather voluminous, consisting of 24 pages, all written in gothic letters. It was confiscated upon my arrest in 1942. But I kept everything in mind, the more since my mother and I translated the texts into Russian.
My ancestors brought over from Germany the culture of venerating their family membersof former generations. One of the highly developed traditions, which is now completely lost, was to read something out to the family members. Nowadays, the children sit in front of a TV set, which appears to be very comfortable; they probably watch an animated cartoon film or are busy playing with their toys. In former times they did not have such boxes, fortunately. In the evening they used to light the lamps, sit down at the table and one of the older family members would start to read out aloud fairy tales and stories, always endeavoruing to use the German language.
When you are getting older it often happens that you start to think about the past. Thus, having completed the 60th year of my life, I began to interest myself in my ancestors’ lives, as they had taken place generations before. Nothing mentioned in my book has been thought out, all described therein is true and correct.
- Did you ever reconsider your attitude with regard to your roots? Did you reveal any new side of your own personality or did you notice a change in your way of thinking, while you went through the camps and forced settlement?
- No, there have never been any breaks in my previous imagination. Of course, every German who lived in the 1930s or later, was badly aware of the changing attitude towards him, caused by the events that ran their course in Germany, We, the German guys, were, of course, conscious of this alienation. One must say that the Germans, since their first appearance in Russia, were always met with keen and cautious attention, and sometimes the local residents even behaved obviously hostile towards them. The temporary government prepared a ukase, a decree, by which the Germans were to be deported from the Volga region. Well, and then there were these pogroms: in the environs of Moscow and Petersburg those villages polulated by Germans were burned to the ground. I understand what caused such an attitude, and therefore I did not feel any bitterness or anger.
- What did you tell your children and grand-children about their ancestors?
- My sons know the history – my grand-children are not so family with their family’s past. It is only too bad that I did not succeed in passing on the knowledge of the German language to them, for I do not have a good command of this language myself anymore. I am still able to apply it in everyday life. But life requires the knowledge of more and more new words. I do understand them, but I find it hard to speak. I do not have enough courage. And I do not like to mix the German language with English or Russian expressions. This would not be nice, and so I refrain from saying something in German. Once, when the ambassador came here to visit us, I talked to him in the presence of a woman interpretor.
- What is your opinion about the Germans who returned to their historic home country?
- I fully understand them – as I do understand all those believing in God. People who believe have a certain backbone – the belief lightens their life; it is the same thing with those, who are leaving – they do hope to gain a certain benefit from their decision. I did not attempt to depart from this country, because I am sure that I will not be able to find myself there – although I earn less money in Russia, than I would receive for pension in Germany.
The Russian-Germans got accustomed to the Russian culture. And they are no more able to speak German, as they used to do in former times. The Germans in Germany do not understand them. In my opinion there is no use to entertain hopes that the Germans in Russia could be able to maintain their culture and traditions. First of all there is no practical advantage for the State. Even Boris Yeltsin, the dormer Russian president, who the mass media always used to describe as a great democrate, replied to the question of a newspaper representative concerning the possibility of re-establishing a Volga-German republic with an amused smile: they could probably use the former military training area in Kapustin Yar, at the lower reaches of the Volga, to realize their idea – just let them clean away the place from mine fragments, mazut (petrol residues; translator’s note) and diesel soilings and then settle there and feel at home in the new surroundings. Secondly, their culture will become completely extinct in such an enclave: there is no living connection to the people, to Germany.
We have already ceased being Germans. Something is still left in our hearts, but it is merely tiny fragments. I feel pity for the people who left from here. They are lost. They admit that they merely sacrified themselves for their children. However, I do not condemn them. I believe that our country does not profit from their going away. The Germans are industrious, stout and loyal people. It is not their fault that they are Germans.
Irina DANILOVA
“Krasnoyarskiy rabochiy“, 09.10.2004