- Document ID: 138775236
- Document Collection: 7-2-1-5_Briefe von Zwangsarbeitern und Zwangsarbeiterinnen
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Василий Симчук (Wassilij Simtschuk)
postcard to: Павлу Фоковичу Симчуку (Pawlo Simtschuk)
address: Гайсинський район, Hajsynskyj rajon; Гнатівка, Hnatiwka
occupied Estonia - could be Pikevere
not sure here: Поч. Агентур ТК 16 Килтси? / Post Agentur
TK16 Kiltsi - see below probably PK 10
more about postal history in Estonia
edit
additional insights from the team arge-baltikum in response to my inquiry (autom. translation)
The Estonian directory of post, telegraph, and telephone offices from 1934 lists a postal agency in Pikevere village that handled telephone services and telegram exchanges. It could also process money transfers up to 500 Marka. A 1929 directory notes that the agency was located in a dairy cooperative building. In 1934, mail was delivered there six times a week.
“PK 10” refers to “Postkast” (P.O. Box 10).
During the Estonian Republic (1918–1940), postal agencies were introduced in 1922 (about 600 by 1939), and auxiliary postal stations followed in 1926 (nearly 3,000 by 1939). These agencies handled regular and registered mail and sold stamps. P.O. box services in Estonia were discontinued in May 2024.
At the time, Pikevere belonged to Kapu municipality. The main post office serving the area was in Kiltsi, about 10 km northeast, which also functioned as a railway mail station. Today, Pikevere has a population of 76 (as of 2019), and both Pikevere and Kiltsi are part of Väike-Maarja municipality. The Väike-Maarja post office has operated only as a postal point since January 2020.
It is likely that Pikevere had at least 10 P.O. boxes, as the postal agency also served surrounding farms. The sender mentioned may have been a contract worker, forced laborer (“Ostarbeiter”), or a Soviet prisoner of war working on a local farm.