George Repp
Humanitarian
Following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia the Volga colonists were forced to give up their seed wheat. Then in the fall of 1920 and 1921, total crop failures occurred along the Volga, and one of the greatest famines in years set in. Approximately 170,000 men, women, and children died of starvation in the Volga German colonies alone.
Family and friends in the United States received letters from Russia describing the terrible conditions. As a result of these letters, relief societies were organized in many different states in which the Volga Germans had settled.
George Repp was a local grocery and meat market owner who, along with John Miller, led the organization of the Volga Relief Society in Portland. Through their leadership, the society raised funds and donations to help their starving countrymen in Russia during the 1920's.
According to Emma Schwabenland Haynes in her college thesis written in 1929, the Volga Relief Society was organized in Portland, Oregon, on August 11, 1921 in the Zion Congregational Church. Their purpose was to raise funds for relatives along the Volga River, who at that time were suffering from one of the most disastrous famines in European history. At this meeting Mr. John Miller was chosen president and Mr. George Repp was to be its personal representative in Russia, working under the supervision of the American Relief Administration (ARA).
At the same time that this organization came into existence, similar gatherings were held by Volga Germans living in Fresno, California and in Lincoln, Nebraska. Before long money was contributed by communities in Colorado, Washington, Montana, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and many other states in which the German-Russian people had settled. As a result of their efforts, more than one-million dollars was raised for their unfortunate compatriots in Russia.
Historians have described the relief work accomplished along the Volga River during the years 1921-1923 as the most outstanding act of charity ever performed by the Volga Germans now living in the United States.
American Relief Administration Poster
The appreciation of the work done by Mr. George Repp is expressed in the following letter written by American Relief Adminstration (ARA) Secretary Herbert Hoover on September 14, 1922.
Dear Mr. Repp:
The German-Russian people both in this country and along the Volga owe you a great debt of gratitude. The American Relief Administration realizes this perhaps more than your own people do, for we have seen the efficiency and devotion displayed in your work at first hand. I should like to express to you both in the name of the A.R.A. and myself, personally, our hearty appreciation and thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Signed Herbert Hoover
Four years later when Hoover was in Portland, the following statement appeared in The Oregon Journal, August 23, 1926, under the caption "Hoover seeks Local Hero":
"There is one man in Portland that Hoover asked particularly to see again. He is George Repp, proprietor of a butcher shop at No. 774 Union Avenue. 'Repp is of German extraction, but he is really a Russian, or was until he became an American,' Hoover said. 'He left his butcher shop when Russia was in such a bad state and made up a relief fund among his people in this county. It was when the American Relief was extending help to those people of the Volga that Repp came to me in Washington. As soon as I saw his face I sent him right over. Why, those people over there worshipped him like a god. And when his work was done, he came back to his butcher shop.'
The Volga Relief Society did immeasurable good in the German colonies by feeding 60,000 adults and 75,000 children, and by distributing medicine, shoes, and warm clothing. The secretaries of the various relief societies state that approximately one half million dollars was raised by German-Russians living in the United States and sent to their friends and families either through general funds or by means of food drafts and clothing drafts.
A letter from the 24 May 1922 Die Welt Post
Balzer, April 18, 1922
Volga Relief Society, Portland, Oregon
My Dear Friends:
The American Relief Administration corn has landed. An enormous amount of this corn has gone to our German people, the Bergeseite colonies alone getting 45 carloads with 1000 pood to the car (note: a pood is equal to about 36 pounds) . I have sent orders to all the colonies, some of which have already got their share and the balance will get theirs soon.
I am expecting a boat load of food for the kitchens very soon. Have wired Saratov and received the answer that as soon as possible it will be sent.
The personal food drafts are coming fast but not enough good has arrived in Saratov to fill them. I have hope that food will come in great quantities soon, so that the food drafts that are now waiting may be taken care of, and the in the meantime, dear friends, do not give up sending more food drafts to your relatives. Keep them coming.
The weather is good, the snow is gone and the roads are almost dry. It is getting quite warm, in fact I believe it gets very hot here in the summer. I am already sunburned.
Advise people that the postal department does not accept "International Coupons." A good many people write their friends to send letters without stamps that they will pay in the United States. That does not work. The postal department either destroys the letters or returns them. Also inform everyone to write the return address on their letters plainly. I address a good many letters for people and many times cannot read the return address in the United States. This is important.
Regarding conditions there isn't much that I can add to what I have already written you. Death is surely reaping a harvest. Over 300 have died in Balser since January 1st, 1922. The Monday after Easter 10 people were buried that day in Balser. the pastors and school teachers are undoubtedly writing you regarding conditions in their colonies, so you can see from their letters just how things are in each colony. A lot of misery, hunger and dissatisfaction on all sides yet. I have been waiting for Rev. Wagner to come from Saratov to take my work over and then I will go to Saratov and handle the balance of the Volga Relief Society fund. I think that will be disposed of quickly as it will amount to about 100,000 pood which doesn't amount to much in this land. We figure everything by the thousand pood.
I have not received any mail in four weeks on account of roads. In fact there are were no roads here. Not a paved block outside of Saratov. My next letter will be from Saratov.
With kindest regards to all,
I am sincerely yours,
George Repp
Read A History of the Volga Relief Society by Emma Schwabenland Haynes, 1982, published by and available for purchase from AHSGR.
Read The Big Show in Bololand: The American Relief Expedition to Soviet Russia in the Famine of 1921 by Bertrand M. Patenaude, 2002, published by the Hoover Institution Press of Stanford University.