The Klassen story was so similar to the many other stories of Mennonites who experienced the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the Civil War following it. Unlike the experiences of Mennonites living farther east, the Chortitza Colony Mennonites, which included the Klassens, were subjected to the horrors visited upon them by the infamous Machno and his band of cut-throat, newly-liberated criminals.

     Reverend Jacob J. Klassen felt strongly that there was no longer any future for the Mennonites in this land. Furthermore, he became convinced that regaining the freedom to teach their Christian faith under an atheistic regime would not be possible. He turned his energies to providing the leadership in terms of securing all the necessary documentation and organizing the families that were planning to emigrate at the earliest possible moment. While it is not clear how long it took him to secure final approvals and make final preparations, the day of departure finally arrived on July 13, 1923, as large crowds gathered at the Chortitza railway station. It had been 134 years since the first Mennonite immigrants from the Vistula delta had arrived here and established the first Mennonite village.

“After many disappointments and seemingly delays the day for departure finally did come. On July 8, 1923 there was a farewell service in the large barn of Anna Bestvater Wiebe … Many … came from the different villages of Baratow-Schlachtin to attend the solemn event. ONe morew look at the house and yard and garden, one more embrace, the wiping of another tear. And then farewell. Wagon upon wagon loaded with people and baggage slowly rolled out of Gnadental. Trees, roof tops, the last familiar fields of grain were soon hidden from sight. … sorrow and hope (were) the conflicting emotions of men, women and children who were leaving behind a part of themselves.” (Against The Wind, Friesen, John, pg. 84)

     The group consisted of 756 emigrants, including 206 men, 211 women, and 339 children under the age of sixteen. Of this group, 28 families (200 individuals) came from the village of Gnadental. By train to Libau, Latvia, and then by CPR ship (SS Bruton) to Southampton, England. After a two-day stopover to refuel and to take on more passengers, the SS Bruton sailed for Canada, arriving in Quebec City on August 17th. From here, they travelled westward by train, arriving in Winnipeg, where the large party of immigrants went their separate ways.

     The Klassen family was part of a group of families destined for a small village in S.W. Manitoba – Blumenort – where they would form the nucleus of a new church on the prairies. A year earlier, many of its residents had chosen to emigrate to Mexico, creating an availability of land, with buildings, for the new immigrant families. With few financial resources, if any, and  no job, land, or home, Jacob J Klassen arrived in Altona on 21 August 1923 with five children, two of whom were married. Jacob’s wife Margaretha and son, Abram, were detained thousands of miles away in Lechfeld, Germany, due to health issues. They arrived in Manitoba three months later.

     Local farmers met the immigrants on their arrival in Altona, and selected those they wanted for immediate harvest help. The older female children were hired out as domestics. Wages from these types of jobs were probably the main source of livelihood until farms became established.  Unmarried children, working for wages, forwarded the money to their parents.

     The Klassens owned only what they could take with them on their journey from Russia.  When they arrived in Canada, they not only had a zero bank account balance, but also a huge debt to pay due to the Reiseschuld of over $700. 

     At this point in the year, planting a crop was not possible, even if they had had land.  The question of securing food and heating fuel for the cold Manitoba winter ahead would surely have been foremost on their minds. The whole family lived in Jacob J Klassen’s house in the winter of 1923-24, a house he had purchased from a family which had emigrated southward, to Mexico. In 1928, Jacob J. Klassen purchased a quarter section, and another 40 acres in 1944.  

     The story of the Klassen family, since their arrival in Canada, has become quite diverse. From simple, devout believers who worked long and tirelessly to build a new life in a strange and harsh environment, to highly successful and industrious professionals, the extended Klassen family will no doubt agree that Jacob J Klassen’s decision to emigrate in 1923 was the correct one.

     More detail about Jacob J Klassen and the faith community at Blumenort can be found in two published books: “Footprints of a Pilgrim People“, by Peter D. Zacharias, and “Gerhard J Klassen, Collected Memories“, by George Klassen. Klassen’s book not only tells the Klassen family story, but also serves to describe village life in rural Manitoba (Blumenort) in the early 20th century.

Adapted from Gerhard Klassen, Collected Memories, by George Klassen