© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last updated 15 March 2011)
Heinrich "Heinz" Bergen was born on 6 April 1927 in Kronsgarten, Chortitza, South Russia to Jakob Bergen (1895-1974) and Maria Wiens (1904-1952). In 1931 the family moved to Einlage. HIs father was arrested in 1935 and sentence for 20 years, eventually coming to Karaganda in 1953 and to Canada in 1963. Heinrich and his mother moved to Germany with the retreating German forces in 1942 and eventially to Paraguay where is mother died in 1952. Heinrich moved to Canada later and was living in Regina when his father joined him in 1963.
In his retirement years, Heinz Bergen pursued research into the history of Kronsgarten, Kronsweide, and Einlage. His efforts resulted in the publications of at least four books. They are: Chortitza Colony atlas : Altklonie = Mennonite Old Colony (2004), Verbannung : Unschuldig nach 'Sibirien' ins Verderben, 1935-1955 (2006), Einlage Kitschkas 1789-1943 : ein Denkmal (2008), and Einlage, Chronik des Dorfes: Kitschkas, 1789-1943 (2009).
This collections contains research files related to Heinrich Bergen's work on Kronsgarten and Einlage. The files related to the village of Kronsgarten include files on the Kronsweide Mennonite Church and the villages of Wiesenfeld and Prijut, which had original settlers from Kronsgarten. There is extensive correspondence (some original and copy copied) between Henry Rempel (Montreal), Johann Klassen (Germany) and Jakob Bergen (Saskatchewan). Writers of articles and longer pieces on Kronsgarten or Kronsweide include Isaac P. Klassen (Winnipeg)and Hans Rempel (Virgil)
The Einlage accumulation of materials also has some correspondence, articles, clippings and longer writings. It includes the recollections of Abram A. Martens (1900-1979), who wrote about his memories covering 1907-1927, in German and English. Other writers include Wera Teichroeb, Catharina Martens-Berg and Isaac Reimer.
The photographs in the collection include an 1973 Reunon photo of former residents of Kronsgarten, Wiesenfeld and Prijut. There are also a few historic photos of Kitchkas (formerly called Einlage) such as the construction of the bridge across the Dnieper River and also a view of the hydro electric development project on the river. Eleven photos were taken by a group of Canadian tourist who went to visit the village of Prijut, Ukraine in 2000.
Inventory file list available
Isaac and Olga Reimer fonds
MHC Map 1004 (Einlage.../Hein. Bergen)
German, English and a little Russian
Described by Alf Redekopp, March 2011.
None to access
Heinz Bergen, Regina, Saskatchewan
Acc. No. 2011-015
Collection Number: | |
681 | Heinrich "Heinz" Bergen Photograph Collection |
681:1 | Beside the Giesbrecht home in Prijit, Ukraine. - 2000. - 10x15cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows (l-r): Peter Friesen, Joyce Friesen, Eileen Peters and Werner Peters from North America |
|
vising their an ancestral homeland. |
681:2 | In front of parental home. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows Joyce (Giesbrecht) Friesen and Wener Peters in front of their ancestral home in Prijet, |
|
Ukraine. |
681:3 | Former Giesbrecht home in Prijut, Ukraine. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows a front view of the Giesbrecht home in Prijuit, Ukraine. |
681:4 | Prijut Cemetery. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows Joyce (Giesbrecht) Friesen and Werner Peters at the gravesite of their Giesbrecht |
|
grandparent in Prijut, Ukraine. |
681:5 | Roof tile off the original Giesbrecht home in Prijut, Ukraine. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo of a roof tile is inscribed in Russian with "J.J. Wiens, Petershagen" on one line and some other |
|
on the 2nd line. |
681:6 | At the Prijut Cemetery. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows the conditions inside the cemetery at Prijut, Ukraine in the summer. |
681:7 | Prijuit. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo show the village of Prijut from a distance. |
681:8 | Brick building in Prijut. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows an L-shaped brick building in Prijut. |
681:9 | Brick building in Prijut. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows a long rectangular-shaped brick building in Prijut. |
681:10 | School house in Prijut. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows the former school building in Prijut, Ukraine. |
681:11 | Preacher's house. - 2000. - 15x10cm; col.. |
|
This photo shows a long rectangular brick building in Prijut, Ukraine. |
681:12 | Dnieper River seen from the east side. - 193_?. - 8.5x12.5 cm: b&w. |
|
This photo shows the hydro electric dam on the Dnieper River at Kitchkas (Einlage). |
|
This photo was sent to Heinz Bergen from Elizabeth Dyck, Saskatoon, SK. |
681:13 | Reunion of former residents of Kronsgarten, Wiesenfeld and Prijut. - 1973. - . |
|
This photo was taken at the reunion of former residence of Kronsgarten, Wiesenfeld and Prijut held June |
|
30-July 1, 1973 at the Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg. The photo was produced by |
|
Bergen's Photo Studio, 719 Goulding St. Winnipeg. The event is described in Der Bote, 14 Aug. 1973. The |
|
photo shows approximately 70 people who attended. Identification of the participants available. |
681:14 | Construction of the Einlage Bridge. - . - 27X9.5 cm; b&w. |
|
This photo shows the Einlage bridge across the Dnieper River being constructed. [copy] |
681:15 | Street view in Kitchkas (Einlage). - 1910?. - 28x11 cm:b&w. |
|
This photo shows a wide street in the village of Kitchkas (Einlage) with 2-storey buildings on either side |
|
and a single man standing in the middle of the empty street. [copy] - (2 copies) |
681:16 | Students and teachers. - . - 30X11cm;b&w. |
|
This photo shows a large group of men, women and children -- females on the left and males to the right. |
|
[copy] (2 copies). |
681:17 | Reunion of former Kronsgartner, Wiesenfelder and Prijuter. - 1983. - 28x20;b&w photocopy. |
|
This photo shows the participants at the 60th anniversary of former residents fo Kronsgarten, Wiesenfeld |
|
and Prijut meeting on June 18-19, 1983 at the Olivet Mennonite Church, Clearbrook, BC. [photocopy] [List |
|
of participants available.] |