A group photograph of men in the "forstei" (forestry service), the alternative service program for Russian Mennonite conscientious objectors. Written on back: "N. Fransen (oberste Reihe, der 6th von Rechts) geboren den 1879 in Mariawohl, Sued-Russland. Aufname in Iswar, bei Leningrad, dienste daselbst von 1915-1917." Translation: N. Fransen (top row, 6th from right) born 1879 in Mariawohl, South Russia. Taken in Iswar near Leningrad, served there from 1915-1917.
Alternative Service workers Irvin Bender (Baden, Ontario) and Orval Yantzi (New Hamburg, Ontario) with icicles. Date on back of photo is 1941, but they are on the list for the winter camp of 1942-1943.
Jakob Bergen, father of Elvera (Bergen) Goerz, helped build roads and railway tracks during WW I in the Ukraine as Alternative Service. In this photo the buildings under construction are in the distance while forest trees and stumps of trees are visible in the foreground.
Jakob Bergen, father of Elvera (Bergen) Goerz, helped build roads and railway tracks during WW I in the Ukraine as Alternative Service. In this photo there is a large building under construction at the right and others that are completed at the left with logs in the foreground.
Jakob Bergen, father of Elvera (Bergen) Goerz, helped build roads and railway tracks during WW I in the Ukraine as Alternative Service. In this photo a railway track is at the left and 3 buildings on the right with logs to the right of the tracks.
