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Voices from the Past


Map of Dietel, Russia
Circa 1928

This map of Dietel, Russia was compiled by Henry Ruff based on information furnished by Alma Bruner Gerbitz of Windsor, Colorado; Richard K. Lackman of Morehead, Minnesota; and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Michael of Laurel, Montana.
The following letters were written by relatives in Dietel, Russia, who were going through an extremely hard time ... crop failures, drought and famine, and persecution by the Russian government. Therefore, please be advised that some of these letters are extremely depressing, speaking often of starvation and death.

Most of the letters were written by Marie Elizabeth Ring or Andreas Reichel, both siblings of Jacob Reigel who returned to Russian after coming to America. Eva David, another sister, also wrote letters regarding their hardships, although she was one sibling who never came to America. From what we know of the situation, letters, money, and food were sent multiple times to these relatives but was seldom received by them.

Sample of letter in German script

The sample of a hand-written letter written from Russia may be viewed through this link. This is the first page of a letter written April 22, 1928, by David and Marie Ring to Jacob and Sophie Reigel.

Letter 1

Written on January 12 (year unknown) to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from Jacob's sister, Marie Elizabeth (Reichel) Ring.

Letter 2

Written on April 22, 1928 to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from Jacob's sister and brother-in-law, Marie Elizabeth and David Ring.

Letter 3

Written on January 31, 1932, to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from Jacob's brother, David Reichel, in Bruce, Wisconsin.

Letter 4

Written on February 26, 1932, to Jacob Reigel and Peter Reichel, from Andreas Reichel. Andreas was one of the siblings that came to American but returned to Russia.

Letter 5

Written on March 1, 1932, to Jacob Reigel, from Eva/Efliß (Reichel) David. Eva was one of the siblings that came to American but returned to Russia.

Letter 6

Written on March 18, 1932, to Jacob Reigel. This letter is not signed, but it is "written by me, your brother-in-law and sister ..." The only sister remaining in the U.S. was Katherine, so this letter may have been written by Katherine and her husband David Busch.

Letter 7

Written on March 26, 1932, to Jacob Reigel from Marie Elizabeth (Reichel) Ring.

Letter 8

Written on April 15, to David Reichel from Andreas and Mariliß Reichel. It is likely that the year this letter was written is 1934 because of the reference to Jacob (Andreas' son) being 14 years old and the enclosed letter to Jacob Reigel of the same date (see next letter).

Letter 9

Written on April 15, 1934, to Jacob Reigel from Andreas and Mariliß Reichel.

Letter 10

Written on January 21, 1937, to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from David Reichel.

Letter 11

Written at Christmastime, year unknown, to Jacob and Sophie Reigel from David and Elizabeth Reichel.

Letter 12

Written on December 11, 1952, from someone named "L. C. Boeker". It is not clear who are the receipients of this letter, referred to as "brother and sister David".

Letter 13

The date of this letter is not known. It was written by Johannes (John) Knippel to Jacob and Sophie Reigel.

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