Born in Kargino in 1950.
Father: Ivan Yefremovich Ressle, born in 1907
Mother: Albina Romanovna Ressle, born in 1911
Brother: Igor, born in 1938, lives in germany.
Sisters:
Anna Kraus, born in 1936, lives in Germany
Klara Yegorova, born in 1940, lives in Moscow
Before the repressions the family lived in the Odessa Region, in the hamlet of
Novogradovka (Neuburg). They had a nice house, a prospering farm. Moreover, they
were growing wine.
Upon the end of the war, the withdrawing German troops chased them first to Poland, afterwards to Germany. They had to leave everything behind – their house, farm and wine cellar.. They tried to pack up as much as they could carry and took it to Poland by using their own means of transport. In Poland they were forced to work for some landlord against board and lodging. When the Soviet troops marched in, they were explaines that they would now be taken back home. In actual fact, however, the were sent directly to Siberia.
At first they were taken to Krasnoyarsk, where they were loaded on board a barge and transported to Shirokiy Log, for this settlement disposed of a landing stage. They arrived there early in October. In Kargino they were accomodated with Anna Rychova’s family, where they lived for about one year. The house was intended for two families to live in.
Father found himself a job with the State steamship enterprise; he had to procure firewood for the steamers. His work place was in Shirokiy Log; he was mainly responsible for the removal of firewood from the wooded areas.
His paternal grandfather was an outstanding tailor. His mother winnowed from the grains; her work place were the granaries.
The garments they had brought along from home had to be swapped for potatoes and other unconditionally needed things.
In 1947 there was a terrible famine. His mother grew ill with malaria, his little brother died.
His father regretted the fact of not having stayed in Germany. He was furious about having been tricked by the Soviet authorities, who had told them lies about their journey home.
Today Woldemar Ivanovich works for the fire brigade as a driver. He does not intend to follow his sister and brother to Germany. He says: “I feel quite fine here, too”.
Interviewed by Anna Churuksaeva and Yevgenia Vashchenko
(AB – comments by Aleksei babiy, Krasnoyarsk “Memorial”)
Fifth expedition of history and human rights, Novokargino 2008