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 village, disguised as peasants, being hunted down by the CheKa. While in hiding the two young daughters peep through window shutters and see how the villagers murder the members of a Red militia requisitioning unit. This was demanding produce and for young village men to join the Red Army. Paul fights alongside these farmers in the ensuing battle against the Bolshevik forces sent to extract revenge.

Both Paul alone and the family together face imminent death many times. What subterfuges can they use? Can all escape? As the family runs and hides there are nostalgic flashbacks by the girls of the happy, peaceful life they once knew.

Most histories of the Russian Revolution have concentrated on Moscow and St Petersburg. Odesa 1919 corrects this imbalance and presents a picture of the social history of this chaotic time in south Ukraine.

The World has learned little in the last 100 years, as Ukraine is again suffering similar horrors. All funds from the sale of Odesa 1919 go to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

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