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Schoenfeld (Pretty Field) was a Lutheran town located on the Jeruslan River 60 miles SE of Saratov, in the Krasny Kut Canton in the Samara province. It was founded in 1857 by 521 people from Pobochnoye. The names included the same names as those listed under Pobochnoye: Ackermann, Brack, Daubert, Erschlett, Felker, Fritz, Haas, Heinz, Herdt, Koch, Kniss, Krom, Krutch, Lamm (Lahm), Leinweber, Litzenberger, Mick, Miller, Nazarenus, Ochs, Ott, Popp, Richter, Rudy, Rupp, Schlegel, Schneider, Wagner, Wilhelm, Wittig and others. Although Schoenfeld was located 100 miles SE of the mother colony, there remained much social connection, i.e. family visiting and marriages. This village located in the Wiesenseite (meadow side) was much drier and hotter than the Bergseite (hilly side) of the Volga River that they came from. This areas was on the fringe of German settlements and came in contact with Asiatic people and customs. For example, hardy camels were adopted as beasts of burden, along with horses that they brought with them. The primary means of economic support was animal husbandry; cattle, horses, pigs, camels, chickens, ducks, and geese. Crops grown were barley, wheat, flax, and watermelons. After some years, other professions emerged, teacher, preacher, butcher, carpenter, and shopkeeper. In September 1941 the German villages were all deported to Kazakhstan and Siberia at the orders of Stalin. Many starved or froze to death. Men were put in forced labor work camps, "the Trudarmee". Women were also sent there a few months later. Children were left to fend for themselves; many starved to death. The homes of the village were abandoned. Some were lived in and some were used for firewood. The name Schoenfeld was changed to Polyana after 1941. A very few houses remain there today. Village Coordinator |