Historical note

Heinrich "Heinz" Bergen was born on 6 April 1927 in Kronsgarten, Chortitza, South Russia to Jakob Bergen (1895-1974) and Maria Wiens (1904-1952). In 1931 the family moved to Einlage. HIs father was arrested in 1935 and sentence for 20 years, eventually coming to Karaganda in 1953 and to Canada in 1963. Heinrich and his mother moved to Germany with the retreating German forces in 1942 and eventially to Paraguay where is mother died in 1952. Heinrich moved to Canada later and was living in Regina when his father joined him in 1963.

In his retirement years, Heinz Bergen pursued research into the history of Kronsgarten, Kronsweide, and Einlage. His efforts resulted in the publications of at least four books. They are: Chortitza Colony atlas : Altklonie = Mennonite Old Colony (2004), Verbannung : Unschuldig nach 'Sibirien' ins Verderben, 1935-1955 (2006), Einlage Kitschkas 1789-1943 : ein Denkmal (2008), and Einlage, Chronik des Dorfes: Kitschkas, 1789-1943 (2009).

Scope and content note

This collections contains research files related to Heinrich Bergen's work on Kronsgarten and Einlage. The files related to the village of Kronsgarten include files on the Kronsweide Mennonite Church and the villages of Wiesenfeld and Prijut, which had original settlers from Kronsgarten. There is extensive correspondence (some original and copy copied) between Henry Rempel (Montreal), Johann Klassen (Germany) and Jakob Bergen (Saskatchewan). Writers of articles and longer pieces on Kronsgarten or Kronsweide include Isaac P. Klassen (Winnipeg)and Hans Rempel (Virgil)

The Einlage accumulation of materials also has some correspondence, articles, clippings and longer writings. It includes the recollections of Abram A. Martens (1900-1979), who wrote about his memories covering 1907-1927, in German and English. Other writers include Wera Teichroeb, Catharina Martens-Berg and Isaac Reimer.

The photographs in the collection include an 1973 Reunon photo of former residents of Kronsgarten, Wiesenfeld and Prijut. There are also a few historic photos of Kitchkas (formerly called Einlage) such as the construction of the bridge across the Dnieper River and also a view of the hydro electric development project on the river. Eleven photos were taken by a group of Canadian tourist who went to visit the village of Prijut, Ukraine in 2000.

Index terms

Subject terms

Creators

Authors

Adjunct descriptive data

Finding aids

Inventory file list available

Related material in this repository

Isaac and Olga Reimer fonds

MHC Map 1004 (Einlage.../Hein. Bergen)

Notes

Language

German, English and a little Russian

Arrangement

Described by Alf Redekopp, March 2011.

Restrictions on access

None to access

Immediate source of acquisition

Heinz Bergen, Regina, Saskatchewan

Other notes

Acc. No. 2011-015

Inventory File List

1. Kronsgartner correspondence between Henry Rempel (Montreal), Johann Klassen (Germany) and Jakob Bergen (Saskatchewan). -- 1968-1998.

1. Kronsgarten - articles, clippings, maps, notes
2. Village of Kronsweide
3. Village of Wiesenfeld (North)
4. Village of Prijut (close to Wiesenfeld)
5. Kronsweide Mennonite Church / I.P. Klassen translated by Ed Enns (1993), 89 pp.

1. HB Einlage Book Project - articles, clippings, correspondence, research. -- ca. 1993-2004
2. Einlage map (1942) / reproduced ca. 1993

1. Erinnerungen aus den Jahren 1907-1927 von Abram A. Martens, Alt-Einlage, 1974.
2. Erinnerungen aus den Jahren 1907-1927 von Abram A. Martens, Alt-Einlage, 1974. [typescript of v.5517:1)
3. Recollections of my childhood & youth written in 1974 in Saskatoon / Abram A. Martens translated [to English by] Abram Berg. [2 versions]
4. Das verschwundene Dorf: Erinnerungen an Einlage, das mennonitische Dorf am Dnjepr / von Catharina Martens-Berg geb. Hildebrand. (published by Der Bote in 1993)
5. A child remembers war & new beginnings: 1941-1999 by Wera Teichroeb
6. "Familienbuch des Reimer-Winter Familien. Band III. S. 290-430", pp. 331-430 / by Isaac and Olga Reimer. [ photocopy]

Photograph Inventory