Case study: How a Siberian conscript came to preserve family stories
The Iron Broom: Turning Oppression into Opportunity, A True Story by David Sawatzki draws on family accounts and his own experiences.
The newly released AuthorHouse publication follows Sawatzki’s family through prison camps and relocation before turning to his service as a young Soviet conscript in a remote Siberian labor camp.
Here Sawatzki is forced to consider how far obedience should extend when conscience is at stake.
So keep reading to hear directly from men’s coach Sawatzki, how he wrote the book plus his suggestions for your own creating…
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David Sawatzki’s The Iron Broom
A memoir forged from challenges
I was born and grew up in the former Soviet Union.
Because of our German background and Christian faith, we and those like us, were considered enemies of the state.
For example, both my grandparents served in forced labour camps and of their six children, only my mother survived.
For this reason, I was not admitted into higher education.
Instead, the military sent me to guard prisoners in Siberia for my service and as punishment for my heritage and faith.
Even so, that extreme setting, hazing and orders designed to break me, forged instead a stronger character and faith within me.
Ultimately, adversity offers benefits when we accept its challenge.
Certainly I saw this lived out by my parents, grandparents and others who suffered unjustly without losing themselves.
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Motivated by a mother’s stories
My motivation to write The Iron Broom was twofold.
First, many books have been written and movies made about Hitler and the Holocaust.
By comparison, very little has been published about the suffering caused by Stalin’s authoritarian regime.
However, when my mother died, I realised that our family’s stories of struggle, resilience and perseverance would go to the grave with her if I didn’t write them down.
The value of role models can’t be underestimated.
Also Russia’s invasion of Ukraine kickstarted me into writing.
Support from those who rose from the rubble
After the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), I returned to Siberia with my own family to support the offspring of the Hammer-and-Sickle generations as they rose from the rubble.
As a result, 20 years of living and serving among them allowed us to see individuals, families and communities begin living in their God-given dignity, identity, purpose and moving forward as contributors to life rather than victims of it.
Due to our unusual life and service, friends and churches who stayed in touch with us through the decades have been eager for The Iron Broom to be released.
Certainly I’ve been surprised by the enthusiastic responses I’m receiving from readers.
David Sawatzki’s The Iron Broom
A memoir of determination
The Iron Broom was a lifetime in the making and four years in the writing.
However, English is not my first language but my wife is American.
So as I wrote the chapters she edited them for English readers.
Next a variety of beta readers gave us their input.
Most writing is rewriting and the hardest part was to finish.
In short, I never knew how difficult it would be to write a book worth reading.
Importantly, don’t give up, have people alongside to encourage and remind you it will be worth the effort.
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Thankful for the rewards
There were two rewarding things to come out of The Iron Broom.
First was holding the finished product in my hand.
Second was receiving steady feedback from readers that the book was having the effect I hoped it might: Read. Think. Change.
In truth, I didn’t write to tell people how to live or survive hardship.
Rather, I wrote authentically about our realities and hoped readers would consider their own lives and make changes as they see fit.
Favourite part of The Iron Broom
This story raises the question: How do we remain true to our convictions when the state demands compromise?
Specifically, The Iron Broom explores how faith and conscience can endure extreme adversity and how hardship can lead to growth.
Above all, my favorite part is the end of the story: that we truly survived the system, how my grandparents and parents’ pattern of life became a roadmap through my own hardships
Ultimately, it shows how those tough times led to my life’s work.
Lessons from The Iron Broom
Firstly, join a solid writers’ course.
During the first three years of The Iron Broom, I studied the craft of writing in an online writers’ guild for aspiring authors.
Certainly this helped greatly.
In fact I highly recommend taking the time to learn your craft well.
Next find a good writing mentor and faithful editors.
Related article – Working with a writing coach: 3 questions to ask when choosing a life-writing teacher
Final say: The Iron Broom
The Iron Broom: Turning Oppression into Opportunity, A True Story by David Sawatzki is a family memoir about persecution, forced labour and displacement under Soviet communism.
Importantly it offers a personal perspective on authoritarianism, faith, resilience and the choices that shape generations across time.
So grab a hardback, paperback or ebook version from AuthorHouse.
Also read more and connect with Sawatzki through his website.
Happy creating!
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Your say
Has a parent or grandparent’s stories inspired you to start a life-story project like Sawatzki? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send me an email or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.
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