Heinrich Gerbrandt autobiography, 1997, 5 cm of copied textual material and 1 C D
Administrative/Biographical History
Heinrich Gerbrandt, a teacher, political prisoner, notary and labourer, was born 5 August 1923, the son of Heinrich Gerbrandt and Katharina (Heidebrecht) Gerbrandt, in Nikolaidorf, Molotschna Colony. His parents were prosperous farmers whose property was confiscated by Soviet authorities in 1929. Heinrich was able to continue his education despite his father’s imprisonment from 1929 to 1933. He was, however, conscripted to serve as a military labourer (Trudarmee) shortly after the outbreak of war between Germany and the Soviet Union in 1941. In 1945 he was accused of anti-soviet agitation and imprisoned. He served in a succession of prison labour camps until 1953 when, shortly after Stalin’ s death, he was released. He married Anna Martens from Oblomowka in 1954 and worked in various jobs until 1958 whenhe was hired as a teacher. He taught in several schools in the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Together with his wife and two children, Heinrich Gerbrandt migrated to West Germany in 1991.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of a 51 page typed copy of Heirich Gerbrandt’s autobiography, dated 1997 and entitled “Mein Lebenslauf.” In addition, there is a 35 page (smaller font) English translation of the autobiography which is also preserved on a Compact Disc.