Nestor and the Russians in Gulgai Puli, Ukraine

Mennonites were not pacifists in Ukraine and a major tenant of Mennonite belief is supposed to be the avoidance of the sword, but this was not consistently obeyed prior to the revolution. From the spring of 1918, Mennonite colonies began to establish an armed force which they referred to as the sopt Schultz. Now gangs of men armed themselves in zealous support of the invading Austro-German armies. It is worth observing a sort of logical contortions that were necessary to defend this course of action. For those who participated in their descendants, this resort to violence presents a problem of conscience for 400 years through various persecutions and martyrdoms Mennonites