|
 Forward
in Faith
By Ervin Schumacher
Illustrations by grandson Reeve Schumacher
Published by Black Hat Press, Goodhue, Minnesota, copyright 1998,
softcover, 187 pages
The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection is pleased to announce
Ervin Schumacher's new book, Forward in Faith.
While Ervin's previous book, Dreams Can Come True: An Autobiography,
(1997) recounts, in vivid autobiography, the successful assimilation
of ethnic Germans on the prairies, coteau, and plains of Dakota
Territory -- his complimentary sequel, Forward in Faith targets
the spiritual stamina and cultural soul of these globe-wandering
Germans, their achievements and contributions, with insightful observations
of a world history educator.
What legacy of world history is impacting our ethnic heritage
today? He distills three hundred years of religious, economic, and
political upheavals from "homeland" western Europe; to the promise,
mystery, and treachery of the Russian Empire; to attractive opportunity
and dreams of America; to holocaust tragedies and bizarre uncertainty
of post-Tsarist Soviet greed.
Launching from his poem "Our Ancestors", the world view of this
historian outlines in nine chapters: 1) German Colonization in Russia;
2) Immigration to America; 3) History of Two Families - the Klotz
and Lehr families from Kassel, Glückstal Colonies; 4) Germans Who
Remained in Russia (with devastation of Bolshevik power grab with
the drought of 1921); Changes in Russia (1991-1992); 5) Russia;
6) Changes in Russia (1921-1992); 7) Republics of Russia and Ukraine;
8) Republic of Moldova; 9) and Politics and Religion (1993). Black
and white illustrations and photographs as well as a bibliography
are included.
Fortified with the historical knowledge of governmental quirks,
this astute traveler provides observations which project into the
future cultural policies and economic adjustments, which will provide
a distinctive hybrid of Russian "democracy", limited by their cultural
introspection within their comfort zone; thus, no western democratic
clones will survive there.
His personable, easy-read book is a recommended introduction for
the unseasoned traveler, to unique expectations and distinctive
changes within post-Soviet culture. His moderate world-view of history
provides to us an important contribution of understanding Eastern
Europe.
Review by Jay Gage, Exhibits Curator, Germans from Russia
Heritage Collection, NDSU Libraries, Fargo
About the author:
Ervin Schumacher grew up on a farm near Eureka, South Dakota,
where he farmed until he and his wife, Gertrude, bought a farm of
their own one year after they were married. They farmed eleven years.
Ervin received his General Equivalency Diploma and his college degree
at the university branch Ellendale, North Dakota. He taught high
school three years and then worked as a Child Welfare Worker for
the State of South Dakota. From 1964 until his retirement in 1990
he was South Dakota State Medicaid Director. He and his wife have
two children and four grandchildren.
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| Steam engine, thresher and crew: from left
Philip Weiz, Ludwig Schumacher, Christian Schaible, Jacob and
Christian Schumacher |
The school and old Lutheran church in the
former German village of Kassel, Glückstal District (today located
in Ukraine) |
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| Side view of the
Graff's home in the former village of Glückstal (today located
in Moldova) |
Forward in Faith
$28 plus Shipping & Handling
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