“Letters from Stalin's Russia” Website and Book Series Launched

The website, “Letters from Stalin's Russia” has recently been launched. This site contains visuals of actual letters written by Russian Mennonites in the 1930s, their translations, and photos of the writers. Having contacts abroad was a criminal offence, and yet these letters (some written by children) traveled from Stalin's vast Gulag to family members in Canada.

In January 2008, the book Remember Us: Letters From Stalin's Gulag will be released. In this volume, Ruth Derksen Siemens includes the letters written by Jasch and Maria (Goosen) Regehr and their children. Subsequent volumes will present all 463 letters in the corpus. A documentary will also be launched in February 2008. Through the Red Gate describes the discovery and journey of these letters. A series of lectures, incorporating the film and book, are scheduled. The first event is February 23, 2008 in Abbotsford, BC (Canada). Other national and international locations are forthcoming.

The website can be found at www.gulagletters.com and any questions or comments can be sent to info@gulagletters.com.