View source for Kharkov (Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine)

Kharkov (Kharkiv), a city in the [[Ukraine|Ukraine]] with a population of 1,461,300 in 2006 (833,000 population in 1957), a railroad and industrial center, founded in 1654, capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1917-1934, played a significant role for the Mennonites of the Ukraine. A number of small settlements were established in the province of [[Kharkov (Ukraine)|Kharkov]]. Some Mennonites found their way to the city before [[World War (1914-1918)|World War I]]. N. H. Hildebrandt was instructor of German in the high school of Kharkov (1898-1918). All of his children received a very good education. Käte was a physician. His son-in-law, J. L. Festa, was a tutor of many Mennonite teachers. The firm Braun and Epp, Mennonites originally from Tiegenhof, Danzig, had the agency of the Mercedes cars, etc., there. J. S. Ediger was a successful practicing homeopathic physician until 1917. Kharkov usually had a number of Mennonite students. Among them were Eliesabet Isaak and J. Dick, both of who studied medicine.

After World War I, [[Janz, Benjamin B. (1877-1964)|B. B. Janz]] and A. Dick resided for a time (1922- ?) in Kharkov. Both represented the Mennonites and were active in the <em>[[Verband der Bürger holländischer Herkunft|Verband der Bürger holländischer Herkunft]]. </em>In addition, Kharkov was always a stopping place for Mennonites traveling through. Evidently, however, the Mennonites did not organize a congregation here. Some attended the Lutheran Church and others worshiped with the Baptists.


= Bibliography =
Dueck, A. H. "Memorien." Unpublished manuscript.


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