Minna Augustovna Kurpas (Schmidt) was born on 03.04.1937 in the settlement of Straub (Kukkus District, ASSR of the Volga Germans – Saratov Region). She lived with her mother and one of the aunts. Her mother had eleven brothers and sisters, she was the eldest child. There were Anja (who lived in Tomsk or Tomsk Region), Daniel, Vassiliy, Kristina, Lisa; the other names she cannot recall. Her father did not live with the family.
In the autumn of 1941 the family was deported. Her mother, her aunts and uncles lost contact during resettlement. With her mother (Yelena Augustovna Schmidt,born 1906) she was sent to the Krasnoyarsk Territory. They were not given time to pack together their belongings. They had to get ready in a hurry and, under supervision by watchmen, were forced to board a train wagon. The train stopped at Krasnoyarsk, where Minna Augustovna lost her mother. For a certain period of time she lived with an unknown woman (also a deportee). Having finally tracked each other, mother and daughter finally reunited.
Afterwards they were sent to the village of Yartsevo. There they were asked to build themselves a dug-out to live in by their own hands. They also used to wash themselves in this hut. Minna Augustovna recalls a case of very bad behavior on the part of the local commandant towards them. While she and her mother were just taking a wash, the commandant came in and gave some order. Her mother replied in a very rude Russian way, whereupon he whipped her. Minna Augustovna, who was a little girl at that time, began to cry and clang to her mother. This was followed by a second blow by horsewhip, which this time hurt the girl, as well. Mother and daughter were living in this village for about one year. She recalls that her mother sewed y bag from various kinds of rags.
Her mother was aware of the fact that her sister Lisa lived in Turuchansk, where she had been sent to work for the fishing industry. They exchanged letters, and one day Yelena Augustovna and her daughter moved there. Her aunt had no family of her own. In all likelihood they later all removed (i.e. Minna Augustovna, her mother and the aunt) to Vereshchagino, where the girl went to school, until she had graduated from the 8th class.
Being able to go to school, learn and acquire knowledge was one issue. But Minna Augustovna recalls that she was often chastened and hurt by other schoolchildren of her age.
Having completed the 8th grade, she went for the hospital in Krasnoyarsk. However, she lost her way and began to cry. Some woman approached her: „What happend? Why are you crying“? The woman helped her to find the way to hospital. After Minna Augustovna had come out of the surgery well and was fortunately recovering, this very women came to fetch her and take her in (she lived in Minusinsk). In the event, she had known her mother and the aunts when she was still a girl. She informed her about where aunt Kristina lived (in Sagaiskoe). In Minusinsk Minna Augustovna found a job with „Sagotserno“ (grain procurement; translator’s note); she stayed there one month, received a salary. From this money she bought a ticket to Vereshthagino, the place where her mother lived.
Having made contact with Aunt Kristina Augustovna (family name Schwabenland), the aunt proposed to move and live with her. She and her mother moved to Sagaiskoe, where she found a job with „Sagotserno“, located in the settlement of Karatuskoe. For a whole year she had to make the distance from one settlement to the other on foot. Finally, Minna Augustovna and her mother settled in Sagaiskoe, where she began to work as a milkmaid; she stayed in this job for 26 years.
Later they were also able to make out mother’s brother Vassiliy Augustovich Schmidt, who lived with his family in Uyar. Minna Augustovna‘s father (August Augustovich Till, the brother of the uncle’s wife) lived there, as well, but no contact came off with him.
She got married to Petr Grigorevich Kurpas; son Daniel was born.
As Minna Augustovna told us, her mother did not learn any Russian at all, and she did not even try; she insisted to speak exclusively in German. Due to these circumstances the daughter learned German very well, so that Minna Augustovna is today able to speak either German or Russian fluently. Her mother often used to sing songs, which Minna Augustovna enjoys doing, too. She is still keeping a German prayer book from her mother, which was earlier owned by her mother’s mother. Minna Augustovna‘s mother was illiterate, but her daughter helped her by reading the texts aloud, and her mother would then keep the lines from the prayer or son book in mind.
The interview was held by Darya Svirina.
Upper photo –Aunt Lisa and Aunt Kristina
Below – Aunt Kristina, Lisa, Anja, Mum (on the left, sitting) as well as one of
the uncles
Mother Yelena Augustovna, son Daniel, Minna Augustovna
Minna Augustovna Kurpas (Schmidt)
Yelena Augustovna, Daniel, Minna Augustovna – Leave for the army
Minna Augustovna with her great-grandson Kostya
Expedition of the V.P. Astafev State Pedagogic University Krasnoyarsk and the Krasnoyarsk „Memorial“-Organization on the project „Anthropologic turn in social-humanitarian sciences: Methodology of field research and practical experience in the realization of narrative interviews“ - (Sponsored by the Mikhail-Prokhorov Foundation).