" L e t t e r s  f r o m  H e l l "

"In the 1920s and 1930s, the Welt-Post gave the Soviet Union's ethnic Germans a voice to inform the outside world about the hellish episodes of repression, persecution, and genocide that Lenin and Stalin waged against them and others. After the 1930s, the North American relatives of these Soviet victims never heard from them again."

Letters from Hell An Index to Volga-German Famine Letters Published in Die Welt-Post 1920-1925; 1930-1934
Compiled by Samuel D. Sinner; Preface by Eric J Schmaltz, Department of History, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, April 2000

Jost - 18 May 1922

Jost - 26 May 1922 (published 11 Jan 1923)      

Jost, May 26, 1922

Written thanks to the Volga Relief Society and all givers of the gifts of love: Where do we take the words of thanks of our poor brothers from the colony of Jost on the shores of the Volga here in Russia? In the autumn of 1921 we looked into the future with sighs as starvation was already taking many from our midst, when there appeared like rescuing Angels from the far country of America, Pastor Wagner and Mr. Repp themselves and brought to us Josters and all communities the good news to fetch gifts of love from the train station. Thus the Jost community received 240 Pud (8,640 lbs) which was distributed evenly among all the souls. Already on this account many tears of joy rolled down the cheeks. Again on the 23rd of May we received 1,075 Pud (39,100 lbs) of gifts of love and again this was distributed evenly to the Jost community by the church council. In the name of the entire Jost community, the Jost Church Council stands before the Volga Relief Society and before every one of the donors of these gifts of love and thanks you all many many thousand times for this distribution of love which you have shown us. And because our poor thanks are only stammers and mumbles given the invaluable love which you have shown unto us, we therefore ask our Saviors and Redeemer to give his grace and rewards among you. "What you have done unto one of these, the least of my brethren, you have done unto me." And when everyone's workday in this miserable valley of tears has been completed, then may they hear the voice of our Savior: "Come dear soul and go on to the joy of the Lord." With our heartfelt thanks and desire for your blessing,

The Church Council of Jost, Chairman, A. Horn Members, G. A. H�hler, G. Schledewits, F. H�hler and Theodor Rudolf

This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.

Jost - 24 Apr 1923 (translation pending)