Nach Sibirien verschleppt

On February 10, 1915, dark rumors were already circulating in Dorpat that a general house search would take place on the night before Sunday, through which the Bolshevik authorities intended to rid themselves of their opponents in the city. Primarily, it was aimed at the German population. Very soon, the rumors prove to be true, as that night Ernst Seraphim is awakened by the noise happening outside on the street. He sees soldiers dragging friendly neighbors from their apartments and knows that the pursuers would soon come for him as well. Eleven days later, he embarks on a journey to Siberia with 200 other arrested Germans. The humiliations and mistreatment at the beginning of the deportation provide a taste of what is yet to come. This factual report describes the deportation of German Balts from Dorpat (now Tartu; Estonia) and Reval (now Tallinn; Estonia).