BRUNNENTAL / SEELMANN DISTRICT, FOUNDED 1855 (first printed in the Frank/Brunnental Village Newsletter -- Summer 1994 To order entire Newsletter, contact Sherrie (Gettman) Stahl, 4189 NW Spoon PL Portland OR 97229 USA / Email: sherriestahl@comcast.net / Updated 3/2006 The following article was written by Alexander Weber. born 10 Dec 1919 and Anna Mueller, nee Weber born 7 Nov 1889, Brunnental, Volga----it was written in February of 1955 in Germany where they lived. At this time I would also like to thank one of our volunteer translators and subscribers to the newsletter, Terrie Schmidt-Crosby, for the fine job she did on translation. Brunnental / Seelman District, Founded 1855 / Meadow Side ========================================= Gouv. Samara, Saratov Province People from the hilly side, from Frank, Walter, Norka, Kolb, Anton, Kukus, Dinkel and other villages, moved during the summer and dug 3 wells. Very little land was provided. For several years, people moved back to the hilly side during the winter. Until more and more people were seeking land on the meadow side. And so the village named Brunnental was founded. The new brick school house was built in 1902. On the top floor was the prayer room; below were 5 classrooms for the 8 school grades. The church, 75 m. tall, must have been built before 1890. The village layout remained [sketch unavailable] as shown until 1920/21. Then the Bolsheviks began to wreak havoc. Fences and farmsteads here and there had to be demolished. The owners (were) carried off or shot. Land holdings had already been seized in 1918 and made state property. But not all of the land was cultivated because all grain and livestock had been taken away. Three Desjatines apiece were distributed only among the male population. In April of 1921, fighting between the Reds and Whites reached as far as Brunnental and Mohr on the meadow side. There was no planting that spring. So until the spring of 1922 there was much hunger and many died. The dead were collected each week, and on Sundays 30-40 people were placed in a common grave. During this time, some families (the wealthier ones) got themselves ready and fled to Germany. Through them, the rest of the world found out what was happening on the Volga. America send aid and set up kitchens in the villages and also sent seed for planting. The Bolsheviks kept coming by night and shot pastors, men and women and sent thousands from all of the colonies to Siberia. Those who remained alive began to work, however, in order to stay alive. Teaching was resumed in the school, primarily in the German language. Only religious instruction was prohibited. But often the children did not know whether there would be anything to eat at home. The people never again felt safe. The "purges" went on and on. In 1928/30, there was another large-scale forced migration. Then collective agriculture was established, where all people had to work and make themselves available [to the collective]. That's how it was in 1941 when I was called to go to war. By A. W. & A. Mueller, nee Weber born 7 Nov. 1889, Brunnental [handwritten entry] Alexander Weber, born 10 Dec. 1919 in Brunnental, Volga --------- Note: The tower of the church was torn down and the church itself was used as a movie theater and dance hall. After I had already decided to print this article, I received a letter from the daughter of Anna (Mueller) Weber, who lives in Otis, Kansas. This is what she has to say: July 8, 1994 Dear Sherrie, Thank you very much for your letter from July 1. How surprised I was to receive a copy of the account of Brunnental made by my dear mother [Anna Mueller] and cousin Alex Weber. It is typed by my sister, Elisabeth. I recognize her handwriting in the sentence in the left hand margin of the original. I never knew anything about it, and I am very grateful that you send it to me. With warmest regards, Ruth (Mueller) Bergann---Otis, KS [Picture---Anna (Weber) Mueller born 7 Nov 1889 Brunnental]