Brian Driscoll

Komi-Land

This is a series of photographs of forgotten Germans who were exiled to the Komi Republic, Russia during and after WWII.  

The region in question is situated west of the Ural Mountains in the far north of the Russian-European plain. I was drawn to this culturally unique region because of its autonomous nature and an interest with the indigenous people that reside there, in particular Russian-Germans who make up a small amount of the population.  

The series is focused in and around German communities such as Syktyvkar, Ezhva, Maksakovka, Sedkyrkesch, Krasny, Zaton, and the industrial and woodworking areas. 

Russian Germans who wished to remain in the Komi, decided to consolidate. They began to band together in places where they could preserve their national identity, culture and language. Years later, Russian Germans struggle to maintain their identity and hold on to traditional values, as younger generations of Russian and German descent integrate. 

  • Oreshkina Anna Alexandrovna, born in 1933, served as a child prisoner at a labor camp in the Komi Republic. Her parents were Russian Germans from the Ukraine, they were exiled to the Komi Republic in 1946.
  • Komi Republic has a population of roughly 9,000 Germans, mostly live in the capital of Syktyvkar, Ezhva, Maksakovka, Sedkyrkesch, Krasny, Zaton, and the industrial and woodworking areas.
  • A street scene in the German neighborhood of Syktyvkar, Russia.
  • A view from inside a labor camp where German prisoners including women and children served time and were executed. Located outside of Korotkeros, Russia.
  • Edward Capyrin, a fourth generation Russian German stands for a portrait in a German folk costume in Syktyvkar, Russia. His great-grandmother was exiled to the Komi Republic in the 1940's.
  • Numerous lakes, rivers, and waterways were the main means of transportation and communication throughout the Komi Republic in the early days.
  • Komi villages, mostly consisting of wooden houses shown here, connect the stories of two nations, Russian and the Komi.
  • A view from inside a labor camp where German prisoners including children served time and were executed, located outside of Korotkeros, Russia.
  • Dima Dmitry, 8, a fourth generation Russian German, stands for a portrait at home in Korotkeros, Russia.
  • The Madonna and the Christ child hang on the wall, at the home of Ungelfug Gennadiy Rihardovich. Korotkeros, Russia.
  • The pastor of the Lutheran church in Syktyvkar, Russia, engages in conversation with Russian German church ladies after Sunday mass.
  • Old German bibles still remain at the Lutheran church in Syktyvkar, Russia.
  • Church, in the city of Syktyvkar, Russia.
  • A dried out plant inside a labor camp where German prisoners including women and children served time and were executed. Located outside of Korotkeros, Russia.
  • A young boy rests on a swing outside of his apartment house in Zaton, Russia.
  • An interior view from the home of a Russian German family living in Syktyvkar, Russia.
  • Maria Yurkina, a fourth generation Russian German sits for a portrait at her home in Syktyvkar, Russia. Maria's grandmother feels Russian, but speaks the German language. Her family was exiled to the Komi Republic in 1945.
  • The town of Zaton, Komi Republic.
  • Russian Germans struggle to maintain identity and hold onto traditional values as younger generations become integrated throughout the Komi Republic.
  •  Bekk Villi Oskarovich, sits in the Lutheran church after Sunday mass in Syktyvkar. He was held in captivity in a labor camp for years.  He is originally from Ukraine,  but lives in Syktyvkar, Russia.
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