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G. Randy Rothenberger
G. Randy Rothenberger
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| The Germans from Russia ...In Russia |
Why did our ancestors leave Germany?
The 17th and 18th centuries in Germany were very trying times. Religious persecution, the Thirty Years' War (1618-
1648), and the Napoleonic Wars (1804-1815) had virtually devastated parts of Germany, then divided in many
principalities. People were plagued by hunger, diseases and poverty, and some parts of Germany were overpopulated.
Jobs and farm land were difficult to find--millions of Germans felt depressed and discouraged.
Why did our ancestors go to Russia?
By the providence of God (many Germans believed), Russia was opening her vast empire to struggling peoples at just the
right time.
(Long before this time in history, however, German workers and traders had already enjoyed certain privileges in Russia.
Ivan the Terrible (1553-1584) had invited Germans with specialized occupations and trades to work in Russia, and Peter
the Great (1672-1725) had invited Germans to Russia to help him "westernize" his backward country.) Two important
invitations again called Germans and others to Russia--not just to work, but to settle and to adopt this strange place as
their home.
The first came when a Manifesto was published in 1763 by Czarina Catherine the Great (a German princess who had
married Czar Peter III). This invitation and agreement brought many Germans to the Volga area between 1763-1768. The
second Manifesto was published by Czar Alexander I in 1804, and brought many Germans to the Black Sea area between
1804-1842. Other groups followed and settled in the Ukraine, the Crimea, etc. They belonged to a variety of religious
faiths and brotherhoods: Lutheran, Catholic, Mennonite, Calvinist, Baptist, Separatist, Hutterite, and others.
Reasons for issuing these invitations were many, but perhaps the most important were:
1. to colonize the vast, empty part of Russia
2. to bring in people who could serve as good examples in agriculture and in other specialized occupations and trades
3. to use the Germans (and others) as a buffer zone between Russian and her enemy, Turkey.
The Manifestoes of 1763 and 1804 made many important promises, including:
* freedom of religion
* certain tax exemptions
* some free land and cash grants
* exemption from military service
* the right to use their own language
* the right to build their own villages, schools, churches, etc.
During this first century, more than 100,000 people migrated from German to Russia. By about 1870, the immigrants and
their descendants numbered 450,000.
Why did our ancestors want to leave Russia?
Over a period of about 150 years, many Germans in Russia enjoyed the privileges inherent in the Manifestoes. Although
the living conditions were very harsh at first, some of those Germans grew to be prosperous farmers, tradesmen and
business people.
Gradually, however, some Russians became jealous of the successes of the Germans. As a result, the Russian
government began a program of "Russification" in an attempt to make Russians out of these Germans. Many of Russia's
good promises began to be broken. Land shortages also became a problem for many German Russians. On top of this,
came the savage persecutions of the Bolsheviks and Communists who took power in Russia in 1917.
Sources: Youth Discover Your Roots! by Prof. Arnold H. Marzolf and the Youth Committee, Germans from Russia Heritage Society; From
Catherine to Khrushchev: the Story of Russia's Germans, by Adam Giesinger.
The 17th and 18th centuries in Germany were very trying times. Religious persecution, the Thirty Years' War (1618-
1648), and the Napoleonic Wars (1804-1815) had virtually devastated parts of Germany, then divided in many
principalities. People were plagued by hunger, diseases and poverty, and some parts of Germany were overpopulated.
Jobs and farm land were difficult to find--millions of Germans felt depressed and discouraged.
Why did our ancestors go to Russia?
By the providence of God (many Germans believed), Russia was opening her vast empire to struggling peoples at just the
right time.
(Long before this time in history, however, German workers and traders had already enjoyed certain privileges in Russia.
Ivan the Terrible (1553-1584) had invited Germans with specialized occupations and trades to work in Russia, and Peter
the Great (1672-1725) had invited Germans to Russia to help him "westernize" his backward country.) Two important
invitations again called Germans and others to Russia--not just to work, but to settle and to adopt this strange place as
their home.
The first came when a Manifesto was published in 1763 by Czarina Catherine the Great (a German princess who had
married Czar Peter III). This invitation and agreement brought many Germans to the Volga area between 1763-1768. The
second Manifesto was published by Czar Alexander I in 1804, and brought many Germans to the Black Sea area between
1804-1842. Other groups followed and settled in the Ukraine, the Crimea, etc. They belonged to a variety of religious
faiths and brotherhoods: Lutheran, Catholic, Mennonite, Calvinist, Baptist, Separatist, Hutterite, and others.
Reasons for issuing these invitations were many, but perhaps the most important were:
1. to colonize the vast, empty part of Russia
2. to bring in people who could serve as good examples in agriculture and in other specialized occupations and trades
3. to use the Germans (and others) as a buffer zone between Russian and her enemy, Turkey.
The Manifestoes of 1763 and 1804 made many important promises, including:
* freedom of religion
* certain tax exemptions
* some free land and cash grants
* exemption from military service
* the right to use their own language
* the right to build their own villages, schools, churches, etc.
During this first century, more than 100,000 people migrated from German to Russia. By about 1870, the immigrants and
their descendants numbered 450,000.
Why did our ancestors want to leave Russia?
Over a period of about 150 years, many Germans in Russia enjoyed the privileges inherent in the Manifestoes. Although
the living conditions were very harsh at first, some of those Germans grew to be prosperous farmers, tradesmen and
business people.
Gradually, however, some Russians became jealous of the successes of the Germans. As a result, the Russian
government began a program of "Russification" in an attempt to make Russians out of these Germans. Many of Russia's
good promises began to be broken. Land shortages also became a problem for many German Russians. On top of this,
came the savage persecutions of the Bolsheviks and Communists who took power in Russia in 1917.
Sources: Youth Discover Your Roots! by Prof. Arnold H. Marzolf and the Youth Committee, Germans from Russia Heritage Society; From
Catherine to Khrushchev: the Story of Russia's Germans, by Adam Giesinger.