Odessa 1919 - Fleeing Ukraine
This is the true survival story of Paul, his wife Sophia and two daughters, Tamara and Isa. Home is beautiful Odesa on the Black Sea. The family are German-Russian colonists whose ancestors were invited to Russia in the 18th century by Catherine the Great. They own farm estates and he holds the Mercedes agency for Ukraine.The invasion of Russia by Germany in 1914, followed by the Russian Revolution in 1917 means Paul loses everything. Then Lenin announces the Red Terror - the order to exterminate all bourgeoisie. The CheKa secret police brutally excutes Paul's older brother in the manner shown on this cover. The family must flee.They escape Odesa and throughout 1919 scurry from village to vi...
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About the author
I am a research physicist by training. In retirement decided it was important for history that I wrote this debut biography. It is in memory of my mother, Isa the younger daughter of the escaping family. From her I first heard elements of the story at bed-time. In adulthood I unearthed a typed account by Isa's father. I made two research visits to Ukraine, the first with my mother when she was almost 90. On my second visit in 2018, by when Putin had already taken the Crimea, I meticulously followed the route that the family had been forced to take. This ensured I properly understood the environment in which the many traumatic events occurred.