Together, The Great Trek part one and two covers a timeline from 1939-1945, and some years following, with each event in order. These historical moments involve extreme hardship including famine, difficult travels, war and exile. This is briefly introduced, summarized and concluded by historian, Gerhard Ens. The film is produced and directed by Otto Klassen, who has produced several other films about Mennonite history. Many of his films such as these contain rare footage from European archives. Much of the information that Otto Klassen covers in his films comes from first-hand experience including witnessing Soviet propaganda, war, and famine in the 1930’s.

Both parts of The Great Trek are produced in black and white, comprised of archival footage from the German Bundesarchiv, and other archives such as the Mennonite Heritage Center in Winnipeg. The narration is voiced by Victor Sawatzky. These films unearth the brutalities endured by ethnic Germans, (many being Mennonites) throughout WWI and WWII. Maps are shown to distinguish areas of significant happenings, while archival video footage fills any momentary pauses in narration. Through voice and visuals, Klassen creates a highly educational film which does not take lightly the harsh realities of the past. These stories may be upsetting, especially for viewers who have family ties to those of first-hand experience. There is also some visual content that may call for careful consideration when choosing to watch with younger viewers, such as deaths (bodies shown in a few images), as well as a brief scene where a man is killed and bloodied. Other examples include various war scenes, shots fired, bomb explosions, and other attacks; however, the viewer does not see any graphic detail of these.

Part one’s run time is 35 minutes, looking at Germany’s attack on Poland, the Red army and the Polish campaign. The reasoning for the Mennonites’ migration from Danzig to Southern Russia is explored, with exemption from military service being one of the contributing factors. Following topics include settlement camps, Stalin’s mobilization procedures, torture chambers, the secret police, victims and imprisonment. Deaths and causes, work, and survival are largely discussed as well. Time is taken to explain the agriculture of the Mennonites and their struggles in regard to this type of work during these events. Brief history is given on Alfred Rosenberg who was in the National Socialist party, and how this party changed the ways that Germans were viewed. Another significant figure is addressed, however on a positive note- Johann Epp, a Regional Administrator, who did his best to improve conditions for Ukrainian workers in 1942.

Part two’s run time is 39 minutes and explains the trek back to the West by 350,000 Soviet Germans (many being Mennonites), as numerous people were repatriated. This also looks at the Mennonites as they fled from the red army in early 1945. Details throughout this second part elaborate on the experiences of German soldiers (some being Mennonites) building emergency bridges on the Dneiper river. Viewers are also informed of Hitler’s re-issuing of Stalin’s scorched earth policy, dynamite demolitions in 1943, and other intense moments of the journey(s)- answering questions of who, what, and where. The film discusses homeless refugees, those who were able to settle in new homes, and those who were exiled to Siberia.
In conclusion, Ens explains where many of the Mennonites lived post-1945.

-Teanna Rozek
2018-08-03T16:48:32

Bibliography

“The Great Trek Part 1”. CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Center. CommonWord 2018.
Web. July 2018. <https://www.commonword.ca/ResourceView/18/11217>

“The Great Trek Part 2”. CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Center. CommonWord 2018. Web. July 2018. <https://www.commonword.ca/ResourceView/18/11218>

“The Great Trek Part – 1 (1939-1943)”. An Otto Klassen Film Production. 2007.

“The Great Trek Part 2 –(1943-1945)”. An Otto Klassen Film Production. 2007.

“The Great Trek 1939-1945”. Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba. June 17, 2008. Web. July 2018. http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/holdings/papers/Klassen,%20Otto%20series1.htm

Huebert, Helmut T. and Susan Huebert. “Great Trek, 1943-1945.” Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April 2009. Web. 1 Aug 2018. <http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Great_Trek,_1943-1945&oldid=155816>

“Text to Terabytes”. Stoesz, Conrad. Mennonite Historian. A Publication of the Mennonite Heritage Center and the Centre for MB Studies in Canada. Vol xxxv, No. 2. June 2009. Web. July 2018.

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And When They Shall Ask is a film directed by John Morrow, and produced by David Dueck from Winnipeg. Dueck is the director of a nonprofit organization called Mennonite Media Society, which produces Mennonite films. Dueck also taught University and has won multiple awards for his films. The run time of this particular video is 88 minutes and covers history on Mennonites and their experience of Russia from 1788 to present. Throughout the film there are various layers which fully describe each turn of events. This is achieved through a compilation of film footage, old photographs and illustrations, interviews of witnesses, re-enacted scenes and narration. During the film, there is some conversation spoken in the German language. This is not translated for the English viewer. However, the narration which delivers the bulk of the information is in English.

To start off, a brief history of the Mennonite faith such as the first Mennonite Anabaptists, Menno Simons, and their beliefs is provided. One of the several featured interviewees contributes to this with their knowledge of what it means to be a true Mennonite. Following this, Dueck’s film gives detailed information on various events as the Mennonites endured hardship and turmoil under the ruling of Lenin and Stalin, through WWI, WWII, the civil war, and attacks of Machno. Furthermore, the viewer is informed of the harsh realities of Russian invasions, separation of families, travelling through the red gate, the secret police, exile, famine and more. Other aspects on a lighter note are touched on such as the earlier “golden years” of Russia for the Mennonites, prior to such difficult times.

As much of the content is quite heavy, there are moments of the film that may be disturbing for some, such as bombing, shootings, presumed dead bodies, and brief moments of abrupt violent attacks. There are also short discussions of how some were tormented, including sexual abuse. Families may want to keep this in mind when considering this film.

Over all, the film contains a great deal of information on these particular events, and is yet another helpful building block to further understanding Mennonites and their significant history.

-Teanna Rozek
2018-08-02T23:20:28+00:00

Bibliography

“And When They Shall Ask”. David Dueck Film Production. Mennonite Media Society. 2010.

“David Dueck Filmography”. CMW Journal. Center for Mennonite Writing at Goshen College. July 2018. Web. <https://www.mennonitewriting.org/journal/4/5/david-dueck-filmography/>

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