Paper war with the Russians, started 1991.

1991 I began seriously delving into the Soviet documents; my brother Karl had already earlier written to the Pskov local committee of people's deputies and requested to obtain some documents, but until then they had only replied that the inquiry had been forwarded to the appropriate authority. I seized upon the signatures of the respondents and wrote directly to them with a request to obtain the then-authorities' decision on the confiscation as well as a copy of the inventory of the confiscated property.

From P.S. Kostyrev (senior vice justice of the Pskov region) I then received yet another letter in which he communicated roughly the same thing that the recipients of the earlier letters had already conveyed: Your inquiry has been sent, etc.

On April 13, 1992, however, a completely disintegrated envelope landed, with only a Russian address on it, despite my having sent along a self-addressed envelope with the address in Latin script. The letter had traveled through the post's identification bureau and finally reached Nyköping, but in very poor condition.

A certain Mr. Pavlov, leader of the regional executive committee, had taken the trouble to obtain some documents: among others, the confiscation decision and the inventory of the confiscated property. Wonders never cease! Perestroika has achieved something, even if the brakes have not yet been fully released. In translation, the letter reads as follows:

--------------------------------------------------

Pskov Regional Council's Executive

Committee of People's Deputies.

29.08.91. no. K-232

Pskov region's Executive Committee of People's Deputies herewith sends to you archival copies of documents from the Novoselje region's executive committee concerning J.K. Kronberg's household:

a transcript of minutes from the 37th meeting of the Novoselje region's presidium executive committee on February 5, 1930, and an inventory of the property subject to confiscation.

Determining the specific boundaries of the land parcel previously belonging to your father has not been possible, due to the absence of the necessary documents. The approximate requested land parcel is located on the enclosed map.

At the same time, you are informed:

in accordance with the law of the Russian Soviet Republic of November 29, 1990 "Concerning the land reform" (Paragraph 4), land properties will not be returned to the former owners and their heirs.

Enclosure: archival copies – 2 sheets

land plan of the area – 1 sheet

Fragment of a map returned – 1 sheet

Director of Affairs

within the reg. exec. committee N.P. Pavlov

The archival copy with an extract from the minutes reads as follows:

Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic's

Executive Committee of People's Deputies

Pskov region's state archive.

Gogol Street 9, 180000 Pskov

08.02.91 no. K-31

ARCHIVAL COPY

"Extract from minutes no. 37 of the Novoselje region's presidium meeting of the regional Executive Committee on February 5, 1930.

DISCUSSED: Material concerning the expulsion of citizen P. Lainer /according to the document/ Kronberg Jaan. Kulak. Exploiter. Has been assessed with individual agricultural tax to a sum of 342 rubles 15 kopecks. Has 25.28 hectares of land, 2 horses, 5 cows, 2 heifers and 11 small livestock. Persons in the household = 7.

DECISION: To be expelled from the region within the course of 28 weeks; the property, according to the appended inventory, is confiscated.

Basis: (transcr.) F.R-531, op.3, d(iar?) 423, l(ist) II."

The second copy is:

" A inventory of the property to be confiscated

1. A dwelling house 22. cupboards – 2 pcs.

2. Stables 23. chairs – 2 pcs.

3. Outbuildings – 3 24. Spring harrow – 1 pc.

4. Larder 25. Unbarked sheepskins – 3.

5. Barn and drying shed 2 pcs. 26. Barked sheepskins – 6.

6. Horses – 2. 27. Harnesses

7. Cows – 5. 28. Flour – 7 poods

8. Heifers – 2 29. Oats – 80 poods

9. Pigs – 3 30. Barley – 15 poods

11. Chickens – 4 28. Flour – 7 poods (x 16 kg). 29. Oats – 80 poods

12. Flax-breaking machine 31. Wheat – 15 poods

14. Flax thresher 31. 32. Potatoes – 50 poods

15. Mowing machine 33. Various fabrics – 70 arshins

16. Cauldrons – 33 34. Seed drill

17. Wall clock 35. Flax seed – 19 poods

18. Hunting rifle 36. Clover seed – 20 pounds

19. Linen cloth – 200 m

20. Woollen fabric * pood = approx. 16 kg

From the above, however, it is evident that there was a considerable amount of desirable goods. At first glance it seems as though everything was recorded; the "Soviets" were very meticulous about this, but when my brother Karl saw the list he swore:

- That's not even half of the movable property listed here! They've already stolen most of it.

All foodstuffs in the pantries and larder (among other things, several barrels of salted meat and smoked pork), nor the clothing (such as Lida's new dress) that the Council seized and which Lida was very sad about. (The dress probably fit one of the daughters of a member of the "poor committee.") As far as I can recall from father's account, there were quite a few hand tools and other implements. Some he managed to save and bring with him to Khibinogorsk, where they came in very handy and without which life would have been considerably harsher. On site there were hardly any tools to speak of; if one did not have one's own, there was nothing to build with. Mother, who had no faith in the authorities, had acted quickly. She had apparently managed to save jewelry and gold coins. This was naturally against the prevailing rules – the gold should have been handed over to the state several years earlier. Lenin had promised the people that the urinals would be lined with gold when the Soviet state came to power, but naturally no one believed these promises. By that time the people had long since realized what communist promises were worth and acted accordingly. These gold coins later helped the family achieve a somewhat more tolerable existence and served as payment for certain services. It is (partly) thanks to the gold money that my parents got an opportunity to get away from their exile in Nizhny Tagil, Siberia.

The last remnants of the family's valuable coins and gold items were distributed by mother just before her death to us children. In 1978 I received 1 10-ruble, 2 5-ruble gold coins and 3 1-ruble silver coins. The gold coins were not worn specimens, even though they are from 1899 with Nicholas II's image on one side and the Russian double-headed eagle on the other. Mother had them neatly wrapped in a linen cloth. These coins could tell many stories: first about the hard labor to acquire them, and then about everything they had experienced. I have had these coins set into a couple of gold rings and fitted with gold chains; they can go to Maria and Katarina as a memento of their grandmother, whom they met a few times during our trips to Tallinn, but could not talk to at all due to the lack of a common language. From Karl and from Faina I have purchased an additional couple of five-ruble gold coins and had them set as well. Now each family member has a memento of their grandmother, and Anders can inherit my ten-ruble gold coin when the time comes.

There has been some correspondence between me and the various authorities in the former Soviet Union. From the Department for Special Funds (signed by V. Koroteev) came a letter on 1989-04-28 informing that the matter concerning rehabilitation and compensation had been forwarded to the Pskov city Prosecutor's Office for investigation.

My brother Karl receives a letter from the executive committee of the Pskov region's people's deputies dated 1989-06-07:

In response to your application, the regional executive committee informs:

Jaan Karlsson Kronberg together with members of his family, in connection with the classification of his household into the category of "kulaks," was deported from the Novoselje region of Pskov oblast in accordance with the regulation of the Novoselje regional executive committee of February 5, 1930, with the confiscation of property according to the inventory.

Payment of compensation for the confiscated property to persons deported in accordance with administrative decisions of the Russian Federative Socialist Republic is not currently foreseen. Exec. Comm. Secr. N.A. Simin

On 1991-02-28, however, the Executive Committee of People's Deputies through N. Pavlov in the Pskov region informs that: they are sending the copies from the poor committee's meeting and an inventory of the confiscated property, and that "in accordance with the laws of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) of November 29, 1990 concerning the 'Agricultural Reform' (art. 4), the return of land properties to the former owners and their heirs is not permitted"

1991-09-11 E. Sorokin from the Prosecutor's Office in Pskov informs that according to the RSFSR laws, they do not intend to settle any matters.

1992-03-17 a message came from the Pskov region's people's deputies (signed by N. Simin) stating that the question of compensating and rehabilitating those affected by the confiscation had not yet been discussed. Similarly, a certain E. Sorokin, prosecutor in a department of general supervision, writes in a letter from 92-09-11.

The correspondence continued with remarks from Karl and my side about the injustice of a democratic country like Russia today treating its former victims in this way. The situation in Russia has changed considerably, and the Russians began to make certain concessions and attempts at compensation.

1991-02-08 a deputy of the prosecutor's office, P. Koschtyrev, writes that the compensation claims have been discussed and the letter forwarded to the committee of people's deputies in the Pskov region.

The Russian Federation's Prosecutor's Office for the Pskov region announces on 1994-10-19 through an act 13-1113-94 of 18-10-1991 "Regarding the rehabilitation of victims of political repression" with the amendment introduced on 3 September 1993 wherein it concerns the return to rehabilitated persons/or their descendants according to the first-hand law of confiscated, extorted or otherwise dispossessed property in connection with repressions against property, to either replace the property's value, or replace it through an economic compensation. It is said, however, that: there is no return, replacement or compensation of property that has been nationalized or subject to nationalization under the laws prevailing at that time, etc.

Signed: Prosecutor for supervision of laws and federal security, justice councilor Yu. V. Sakulin.

1997-05-21 a letter came from the administration of the Strugo-Krasnenskij region stating that the Commission for Rehabilitation and Restoration of Rights for Victims of Confiscation informs that our submission of 1997-05-20 has been discussed and the commission decided to pay 100 minimum daily amounts for the confiscated property. What sum that might be I do not know, but I continue the matter and write that I and my relatives want the property back instead of money.

1997-12-01 a letter came from the Strugo-Krasnensky Administration stating that: "according to no. 3 of the Situation concerning the procedure for returning to citizens unlawfully confiscated, taken away or otherwise deprived property in connection with political repression of property, compensation of its value with monetary means, established by a decree from the Russian Federation number 926 of August 12, 1994, land, fruit and berry plantations and crops are not subject to return, compensation or reimbursement. On the basis of this paragraph, the land belonging to your parents cannot be returned to you.

If you are not satisfied with the commission's decision, you may appeal the decision to the district court within the Strugo-Krasnenskij region. Commission chairman L.I. Berestenj

1997-06-27 I received from Karl a power of attorney to handle the correspondence regarding this matter.

Now () I am writing an appeal addressed to the Strugo-Krasnensky district court and awaiting further developments in the case.

1997-05-21 the chairman of the rehabilitation commission, L.I. Berestenj, writes that our case involves payment of compensation for the confiscated property in the amount of 100 minimum daily wages. At the end of 1998, Karl receives a letter from a N.G. Kononova in which she informs that since we have refused to accept the sum of 8,349,000 rubles at an exchange rate of EC 426 rubles, 77 kopecks, which would amount to EC 19,563. My brother Karl wants us to take the compensation, but in my opinion it would not be proper.

Today (1998-04-04) a letter has arrived from M.B. Karpova informing that on January 20, 1998, the Strugo-Krasnensky court began examining my and my brother Karl's case concerning "appeals regarding the activities for rehabilitation of victims of political repression" at the said court, and that we must, by February 20, 1998, submit "a statement in 2 copies, receipt for paid duty (2), and in the statement point out the circumstances on which our claims are based, evidence, and confirmation of the presented circumstances."

In the summer of 2000-07 I visited my last cousin Vera (her brother Alexander died in February 2001) and believing that I now had all the papers in order, I went to Strugi Krasnye to collect the inheritance – but it was a fiasco – one certificate was still missing, and that was the certificate that I was the last heir of the family Jaan and Emely Kronberg. The bank director, a large woman, said that she unfortunately had no possibility to pay out the sum because she was not convinced that I had the right to it.

So it became a somewhat unsuccessful errand, but nothing to be done about it. It might have been possible to arrange if I had had time to go to the prosecutor and take Vera with me, but all such things take time and I gave up the attempt – for the time being.

At home in Nyköping I wrote a letter to a certain Mr. I.A. Rjazanov at the Pskov State Archives and asked him to send me more papers concerning my family's composition in the 1930s. When the confiscation and deportation became a reality, the family never lived together again. Later, when we had been exiled to Far Karelia, Lida lived for a while in the same house with us in Verchovje, but Karl worked at the logging site in Nilo (south of the Svir River) and at the start of the war all connections were broken.

A reply came on 2001-01-11, with more details than the first document. Now the Russians had become quite solemn: the document consisting of three sheets was sewn together and sealed. The letter came through the Russian embassy and was dated 2000-08-11 and one wonders where it had been during the 4 months after dispatch. There were many more details regarding the confiscation, but also some new things, something I had not heard of before, neither from mother, Lida nor Karl.

In the document, besides the parents, grandfather, Karl, Lida and me, there was another person – a certain Elfrida Jaansdotter Kronberg. I have never heard of any such person. Karl once mentioned that they had a herding girl named Pella, but Elfrida? A few weeks ago I wrote to Elfrida in Saint Petersburg, it can hardly be her. Her mother was sickly and according to Karl she stayed with our parents for a number of years.

The documents that came on 2000-01-11 have the following content:

The Russian Federation

Archive Board for

Pskov oblast (county)

179918, Pskov, Petrovgatan 1

Information about Kronberg, Jaan Karlsson.

Extract from protocol no. 4 of 5 February 1930 from the commission for liquidation of kulaks as a class in Novoselje area within Leningrad county:

”Heard:

Prosecution of citizen from the community Leiner (renamed Pustaperzha) Jaan Kronberg; exploits foreign labour, individually taxed, disenfranchised, leased land (13 ha), has own land 22 ha, threatens (frightens) the poor.

Decided:

Transfer the property to 2nd category, confiscate and hand over to the indivisible collective the following property according to list (list attached):

Appendix: on the first page

Extract from protocol no. 37 of 5 February 1930 at the Novoselje area presidium of the local government meeting:

”Heard:

Discussed documents regarding the deportation of citizen of the community Lainer, Kronberg, Jaan, kulak, exploiter. Individually assessed agricultural tax of 342 rubles and 15 kopecks. Owns land 25.28 desyatina (1 des. = 1.09 ha), 2 horses, 5 cows, 2 young cattle, 11 small animals. Family members – 7.

Decided:

Deport from the raion area within two weeks, confiscate the property.

The confiscated property:

One house, two barns, three outbuildings, hay barn, threshing barn, two horses, five cows, two young cattle, three pigs, eight sheep, four chickens, foot-treadle sewing machine, hand sewing machine, flax brake, flax processing machine, mowing machine, three cauldrons, wall clock, hunting rifle, 200 metres linen cloth, wool cloth, two cupboards, two chairs, feather dresser, three untanned sheepskins, 6 tanned sheepskins, two sets of harnesses, 7 poods of flour, 80 poods of oats, 15 poods of barley, 15 poods of wheat, 50 poods of potatoes, 70 alns of various fabrics, feather chaise, 9 poods of flaxseed, 20 pounds of clover seed.

list of the Kronberg family members in the community Leiner within the community Leiner agricultural council in Novoselje raion of Leningrad oblast.

Kronberg Jaan Karlsson, born 1868, head of family

Kronberg Emely Jaansdotter, born 1884, wife

Kronberg Karl Reinsson, born 1850, father

Kronberg Karl Jaansson, born 1913, son

Kronberg Alida Jaansdotter, born 1916, daughter

Kronberg Elfrida Jaansson, born 1923, daughter

Kronberg Albert Jaansson, born 1927, son

In the list of confiscated and deported property (owners) within Novoselje area in Leningrad county, Jaan Kronberg's property from pustosh (abandoned farmland) Leiner within Leningrad agricultural council is included. (The list is not dated)

Basis: fR-531, desc. I etc etc…

No other information about the Kronberg family exists in the area's state archive.

Director of the archive T.V Vasjutina

Exec. Responsible for information L.V Svetlova

Executed by Poljanovitj

Stamp

In the correspondence with Elvira Petrovna (cousin Vera), it emerged that she must be the missing daughter. Her mother was very sickly at certain times, and Vera lived with our parents in several periods. Those who handled the confiscation were always in a hurry to get hold of others' property, nor were they educated people (this can be seen from the protocol formatting), and in that context they probably did not ask who were family members and who were on temporary visits. So it happened that Vera was registered as our sibling, instead of our cousin.

Nitjevo! as the Russian says when something wrong has been done.

In connection with the aforementioned document, a somewhat more detailed list of the confiscated property came

List.

of the property subject to confiscation in Novoselje raion, the settlement Leiner at Jaan Kronberg's.

Genomfördes av företrädare för RIK…Sackart vid närvaro av Esko från (c/c) Kafar och Komson.

(Note: The weight notation "p" = pood  16 kg)

Certified to conform with the original, signed by

Secretary of RIKA….. Signature

In 2002 I made an attempt to write to the Russian Federation's General Prosecutor's Office (which handles relations) with a copy to "comrade" V. Putin. The letter in translation reads as follows.

Nyköping, 18 March.

Dear Mr. President V. Putin.

Нючёпинг, Швеция 18-го марта 2002-го года. Копия: Генпрокуратура РФ

Уважаемый господин Президент В. Путин.

8-го марта 1930-года, в международный день женьщин, вся наша семья, после раскулачивания, была выслана на Кольский полуостров и выброшена с снежные сугробы станции Апатиты и расквартирована в течении нескольких месяцев по палаткам.

В 1933 году пошла новая пересылка в Нижние Тагили, откуда нам удалось истощенными и полумертвыми возвратиться на Кольский полуостров.

В 1940-ом году новая высылка в Карело-Финскую Советскую Республику.

После долговременной переписки с Генеральной Прокуратурой Российской Федерации и письмом Вашему предшественнику Президенту Борису Ельцину, мне причитана компенсация за утраченное имущество в виду 100 минимальных оплат труда, в сумме 8349 рублей, от Администрации РФ Струго-красненского района. Это я рассматриваю как предварительной оплатой вплоть до полного возмещения и возврата земельного участка принадлежащего мне и моей сестре как наследникам Яна и Эмилии Кронберга.

Не имея достаточной докуменетации при требовании возмещения за конфискацией похищенногр имущества - на первой копии от Государственного Архива Псковской Области, 8-го августа 1991-го года, (приложение 1) цифры по оценкам конфискированных предметов не были указаны – я не смог в полной мере представить стоимость изьятого имущества в моем требовании на возмещение.

2-го августа 2000-го года я получил более подробную опись конфискированного имущества (поиложение 2) и рассматриваю, что поступает время Российской Федерации выплатить более полное возмещение за конфискированное имущество.

Финляндия выплатила 300 миллионов долларов золотом за ущерб принесенный ей войной против Советского Союза, Федеративная Германия выплатила большие суммы жертвам преследоваиниа евреев, цыган и словян и сегодня я рассматриваю, что и Российская Федерация должна уменьшить свой долг по совести и выплатить мне и моей сестре за Советским Союзом похищенное наследствие, что-бы хоть до некоторой меры экономически компенситовать за то страдание, голодование в Нижних Тагилях и все трудности в связи с конфискационным грабежом.

Во имя справедливости я прошу Вас, господин Президент, просмотреть подробнее дело касающееся требования меня и моей сестры и ввести воможные поправки. По вопросу земельного участка я возвращусь к Вам с просьбой позднее – когда Российская Федерация вполне усвоит закон о приватизации и защиты частного имущества и возмещения этого имущества тем, предки которых своим трудом пόтом подняли 25 гектар целины и развили нововременное крестьянство.

Исходя из списка и рассчитывая, что 1 рубль в 1930 году сегодна соответствует не менее 100 рублям, кроме того предметы оценены слижком низко, сумма конфискированного имущества составляет 1137.85 рублей умноженное на 100 = 113.785:- рублей по сегоднешней стоимости.

С уважением Альберт Кронберг, Эрикслундсвэгэн 7, 611 61 Нючёпинг, Швеция

Albert Kronberg, Erikslundsvägen 7, 611 61 Nyköping, Sweden

2 (два) приложения: Опись изьятого имущества.

Letter to the Russian Federation's President Vladimir Putin with copy to the General Prosecutor's Office.

On 8 March 1930, on International Women's Day, our whole family, after the confiscation, was deported to the Kola Peninsula and thrown out into the snowdrifts of Apatity station and housed in tents for several months.

In 1933 there was a new deportation to Nizhnie Tagili, from where we managed, emaciated and half-dead, to return to the Kola Peninsula.

In 1940 there was a new exile to the federative Finnish-Karelian Republic.

After a long period of correspondence with the Russian Federation's General Prosecutor's Office and a letter to your predecessor President Boris Yeltsin, I have been granted compensation for the lost property in the form of 100 minimum daily wages, a sum of 8340 rubles, from the Administration of RF Strugo-Krasnensky raion. I consider this payment as a preliminary compensation until full reimbursement and return of the land belonging to me and my sister as heirs of Jaan and Emely Kronberg.

Without being in possession of sufficient documentation regarding the claim for the confiscated property – on the first copy from the Pskov region's state archive of 8 August 1991 (appendix 1) no sums were mentioned concerning the confiscated property – I could not present any defined amount for my compensation claims.

On 2 August 2000 I received a more detailed description of the confiscated property (appendix 2) and now believe that it may be time for the Russian Federation to pay a more complete compensation for the confiscated property.

Finland has paid 300 million gold dollars for the losses caused in the war against the Soviet Union and the German Federation has paid large sums to victims of the Holocaust to Jews, Gypsies and Slavs, and today I believe that the RF should reduce its debt of honour and compensate me and my sister for the inheritance stolen by the Soviet Union in order to at least to some extent economically compensate for the suffering and hunger in Nizhnie Tagili and all the difficulties in connection with the confiscation (the theft).

For the sake of justice, I ask you, Mr. President, to investigate more thoroughly the matter concerning my and my sister's claim and to make possible corrections. Regarding the return of land, I will turn to you later – when the RF fully adapts the laws concerning privatization and the protection of private property, as well as compensation for confiscated property to those whose ancestors, with sweat and toil, cleared 25 hectares of virgin land and developed a modern farm.

Based on the list that 1 ruble in 1930 corresponds to no less than 100 rubles today, and moreover the goods are valued too low, the confiscated property amounts to a sum of 113.785 rubles, multiplied by 100 = 113.7885 rubles in today's monetary value.

With respect, Albert Kronberg, Erikslundsvägen 7, 611 61 Nyköping, Sweden

2 (two) enclosures: List of the confiscated property.

Администрация

Стругокрасненского Района

Псковской Области

18110, пос. Струги Красные

ул. П. Виноградова, 4

Господину В.М Никину

Дело Номер 361, выплата компенсации за утраченное имущество

Двухразовое личное посещение Струго-Красненского банка не привело в выплате возмещения и теперь я прошу Вас, господин В.М. Никин, обеспечить перевод на счёт моей родной сестры Эльвиры Петровны Бахлановой, из Сберегательного банка ОСБ номер 1911, Струги Красные, из счета Карла Яновича Кронберга, номер 4230181045103340537401, нашей семье Псковской Администрацией Струго-Красненского Района выделенное возмещение в сумме десять тысяч рублей, в Московское отделение 1877 северо-западного банка сбербанка России по адресу:

196105 г. С-Петербург

ул. Севастьянова, д. 7

(Полные реквизиты банка и счеты моей сестры в приложении нр 1)

Благодарю Вас, господин Никитин, предвременно за Ваше сотрудничество.

Нючёпинг, Швеция 2004-04-03

…………………………………………………

Альберт Кронберг Albert Kronberg

Эрикслундсвэген 7 Erikslundsvägen 7

611 61 Нючёпинг SE-611 61 Nyköping

Швеция Sweden

Реквизиты п приложения.

1. Банковые реквизиты Эльвиры Петровны Бахлановой.

2. Доверенность Эльвире Петровне Бахлановой от Альберта Я. Кронберга

3. Архивная копия состава семьи Яна К. Кронберга во время конфискирования.

4 Свидетельсво о смерти моего брата Карла Я. Кронберга 4-го ноября 1999 г.

5. Доверенносто от моего брата Карла Я. Кронберга Алберту Кронбергу

6. Письмо г-а В.М. Никина, Адм. Струго-Красненского Района.

Письмо г-а И.В. Бельтюкова, Комиссия по восстановлению прав реа-

билитированных жертв политических репрессий.

8. Письмо г-а С.А. Ершова, Рук. Отделения федерального Казначейства по

Стругокрасненскому району.

A new letter was sent to the Rehabilitation Commission on 2007-04-30 stating that they should transfer our money from the bank in Strugi Krasnye to Elvira Petrovna, my sister's account in St Petersburg.