Reference Room - Five
The Life of Alexander Reich:
by Rev. Henry J.Schnell
Alexander's father Heinrich Reich was born in Norka, Russia in 1867. He was known as "Shuster Reich" (shoemaker by trade). In 1894 he married Katherine Schnell.(hence our relationship). He died in 1910 at the age of 43, leaving his wife and seven children. By this time he had already taught his eldest son the trade, who eventually taught Alexander.In 1933 his widow died with thousands of others in Norka under Stalin's wicked starvation program.
Alexander was continually molested by government authorities. He was arrested 15 times and charged as an 'enemy of the state'; the charges consisting of being a "Christian believer", and "being well to do."
So many people were carried off to labor fronts. His brother Nicholas was put among the Kulaks. They reported to the authorities that they had seen him praying. The authorities in turn, came out and shot him down. At about this time Alexander was enduring a severe nervous breakdown. A doctor examined him and declared him unable to work. Yet he was dragged off with the others to an area in north Russia. There they planted potatoes, and when they were harvested he calculated that they would last until February.Then, what...? In winter, the weather got to be very cold, while the temperatures dropped to about 50 below. He walked about seven miles to where his daughter was. She had shoes that were in an awful shape. He made a shoe-last out of birch wood and with one or two basic tools rebuilt the shoes entirely. A neighbor lady saw his work and asked what he would charge to make her a pair."Whatever you want to give," he said. She had no money,but would give him a bag of potatoes. Another neighbor wanted shoes and said she would give him a bag of wheat flour. Several more customers came, and thus his family was able to cope with the hunger problem until summer.
In the war,with the German armies advancing through Russia, all of
these Volga Germans were once more uprooted and transported to far-away Kasakstan,where they resided until the Berlin wall was thrown down as well as the whole tyrannic communist system. They learned that they were welcome in Germany,so they hurriedly moved there and settled in the Bad-Essen area.They have now been there for about ten years.
Alexander was an ardent Christian believer. He passed away two
years ago at the age of 98 years.
 News Bulletin |
Send E-Mail to: rabauer@shaw.caCopyright © 2005 Reuben A. Bauer. All Rights Reserved