Hi Dennis, The same was true with all of the distant cousins that I have found in the last few years. None of those from the first two generations of Volga German immigrants were willing to talk freely about Russia. That puzzeled me a great deal until one of them sent me copies of letters written by family members who were trapped in Russia after 1917. The unbelieveable sufferings described in the letters helped me understand. I have come to believe that their silence was part of a gift of freedom to their children, freedom from the helpless rage they felt when they were unable to save their dear ones, freedom from the bitterness and guilt they carried about the great tragedy suffered by the families who remained in Russia, and who suffered and died in the horrific genocides perpetrated by Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. A quick way to find out about all of this is check out Steve Schreiber's Websites. Go to the site below. Click on Famine and then try Deportation. It's a sad story that must not be forgotten. http://www.volgagermans.net/volgagermans/ Fred Betz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis" <dennis@sewald.name> To: <GER-VOLGA@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 12:29 PM Subject: [GV] Mum About Parents > Hello all. I'm new to the list and have many questions, but one nagging > one. Why didn't many Volga immigrants when in the US not talk about their > parents. On both sides of my family Sewald and Pfeif, none of my Uncles > or > Aunts know about their Grandparents history. Any reason why from this a > gust group? > > > > Thanks, > > Dennis L. Sewald > > Denver, CO > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GER-VOLGA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >