Pages of history
When I heard the story of this invalid, remarkable woman, I immediately recalled some words of the Russian poet N.A. Nekrasov: “Far is my way and baleful, but I do not fear my hard lot! …!
The Great Patriotic War implicated a sudden change in the lives of the Volga Germans, among them the inhabitants of the town of Engels in the Saratov Region. Already in the 18th century their ancestors, following an appeal of Emperess Catherine, had founded an autonomous German republic in this area; they were all brilliant artisans. Erika Yakovlevna Zaidenzals (Seidenzahl?) grandfather enjoyed the reputation of being a good shoemaker; he had his own workshop. Her father supervised the granary in Engels.
Little Erika was 5 years old when, in 1941, her family, together with other inhabitants of the town of Engels, was loaded on freight cars and deported by train towards the east, to Siberia.
The village of Vasilevka in the Uzhur District, the “Stalin” kolkhoz farm – was the first whereabout of the Zaidenzal family. The Svezhakovy, who had many children, helped them to survive in this place. Although they had ten children themselves, these people fed the evacuees with whatever they were able to dispense; according to Erika Yakovlevna’s words “potaoes and cabbage were very tasty”. Her mother sold her best clothes, she was sewing and knitting all the time in order to exchange the ready pieces against foodstuffs. Her father and brother were mobilized into the trudarmy. Later they sent mother and children to the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, to the District of Dudinka, village Ananisk. The women had to build themselves barracks from thin stakes. They covered the floor with soil and grass; inside there were stoves made of iron drums, on which they would cook their meals; they also served to heat the rooms and boil water, which they needed to wash themselves and the clothes. The windows were at the very top, just in the roof. On cold, chilly winterdays the strong wind would blow through the stakes. When somebody had died, he was buried under the snow, and in the next summer they would dig him an appropriate grave, after having broken the frozen ground. They mainly lived on fish and birds; every now and then they received some pearl barley and a little flour.
In the spring of 1943 the Germans were taken further down the river Yenisey by steamship – to the Khatanga River. There they founded the trading post “Zhdanikha” and the “Daybreak” kolkhoz farm. Once again river and taiga saved the lives of the people: there were vast numbers of fish, wild animals, birds, berries and mushrooms. In their close neighbourhood lived Nenzes, Dolganes and Nganazanes, who were engaged in reindeer breeding; they willingly shared their meat provisions with the exiles. Erika’s mother worked as a baker – she had built her own bakery with her own hands. Aunt Frieda Ivanovna was the chairman of the kolkhoz farm. No matter how hard their life was, but the children went to school even in this remote place. Erika managed to finish four classes.
In 1948 the Germans were allowed to leave the north and the Zaidenzals betook
themselves to Aban, where the grandmother lived. The mother was in bad health,
she died soonafter. However, relatives and other good people did not want to
abandon Erika, sister Elvira and brother Alexander to their fate. After the girl
had finished 7 classes, she found work in the Aban Industrial Combine (and later
in some State timber industry enterprise). From 1955 to 1965 she worked as a
cutter for the most popular industrial branch of timber industry at that time –
the sewing of curtains. Soonafter she got married to a remarkable man – Viktor
Aleksandrovich Damer. Last year they celebrated their golden wedding. Their
children – dentist Aleksander Viktorovich Damer, and their daughter Lidia – an
expert with the local pension insurance, are reputed people in Aban. For having
done good and relieable work for the Aban timber industry Erika Yakovlevna was
honoured every year by awards and valuable gifts; she received many certificates
of honour, twice her name was mentioned on the district board of honour, and in
1963 her name was even perpetuated in the District Book of Honour.
Damer was one of the first shock workers of Communist labour in the district.
Having left her working place with the timber industry, Erika Yakovlevna worked as a tailor for the Aban House of Daily Technics till 1991; then she went on pension. Today, this white haired, little woman lives all in care of her children and grandchildren, is happy whenever they are successful and prays to God that they remain untroubled by misery and calamities.
The most joyful day in her life, when rejoicing knew no bounds, was the day when Russia came off as winner of the Great Patriotic War. And even when people start talking about her hard life in the far north, she immediately recalls the beauty of nature, the aurora borealis, the happinesss of the people, when the river was finally ice free and navigable again, and their common cheerfulness, when they all met on festive days.
What gave them the strength to survive the conditions of that time, not to perish but keep an optimistic attitude? I am sure that just the deep love for life, for one’s home and the firm belief in justice can bring about such an attitude of life.
And for this reason, even today Erika Yakovlevna and Viktor Aleksandrovich do not intend to search for anything better; they do not want to leave for their original home country – Germany, although their relatives who live there, time and again, invite them to remove there, as well.
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day on the 8th of March I wish Erika Yakovlevna health and all the best for her life, as well as the love and respect of her relatives and all people she is associating with.
V. Belskaya,
librarian
“Red Banner”, ??.03?2008?