While much of the history of Poland, Russia and Germany is well known to most, some events after World War II remained hidden behind the Iron Curtain, but local author Edmund Arndt's new book will impart a little-known portion of European history through the lives of his family.
The new book Dogs on my Heels: The Story of a Family chronicles the lineage of the Arndt family and how they were part of tragic and catastrophic events of Eastern Europe following World War II.
When the German Princess Sophie von Anhalt-Zerbst became the Tsarina Catherine the Great, she issued her famous Manifesto. Contained within it was a provision to encourage Germans to migrate to the Russian Empire. With the promise of free land, freedom of religion and exemption from military service, thousands of German settlers flocked to Russian-held territories.
Members of the Arndt family migrated to Kuyavia in Russian Poland in 1790 and started to homestead in Smolniki.
Dogs on my Heels chronicles the hardship the family endured and the fruits their labours produced.
As the family lay down roots and built a lasting legacy, the tribulations that plagued Eastern Europe continued to encroach on their lives.
At the conclusion of World War II, the Soviet army and hordes of national extremists forced tens of millions of ethnic Germans out of Soviet held territories, including Poland.
The second half of Dogs on my Heels tells the tale of the fate that befell those driven from their homes, including the Arndt family.
Arndt and his young family immigrated to Canada in 1967 and he and wife Ursula now live in Prince George.
Dogs on my Heels is self-published through AuthorHouse. To purchase the book visit www.authorhouse.com.
