Lindenau (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)

Lindenau was a village of the Molotschna settlement eight miles from Halbstadt, Ukraine, South Russia, established on 15 July 1804 by 11 Mennonite families from West Prussia. Before World War I there were 350 Mennonite inhabitants. The next railroad station was Svelodolinskaya, three miles (five km) away. The occupation of the village was mostly agriculture, principally small grains. Before the Revolution the village had 21 farms of 173 acres each, later 75 farms of 87 acres each. Before the Revolution about half of the population were craftsmen, such as carriage makers, upholsterers, smiths, and dyers.
During and after the Revolution the village suffered severely. The collectivization was accomplished in 1929. Many of the farmers were sent to Siberia as kulaks. This continued till the outbreak of World War II. In 1941, when the Germans approached, most of the male population was sent to Siberia. The remaining families continued farming in groups of four to five until they were evacuated westward when the Germans retreated in 1943. Some of them reached Canada, but most of them were returned to Russia.

Krahn, Cornelius. "Lindenau (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 17 Feb 2017. http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Lindenau_(Molotschna_Mennonite_Settlement,_Zaporizhia_Oblast,_Ukraine)&oldid=146571