| Volhynia, Ukraine |
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G. Randy Rothenberger
G. Randy Rothenberger
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Volhynia is the northwestern most province of modern day Ukraine. Poland is on its western border with
Belarus to the north.
For centuries Volhynia had belonged to the Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was later acquisitioned by Poland,
through a marriage of royalty. In the first partition of Poland in 1772, the region was annexed by Russia. It
stayed part of Russia until after World War I. The Treaty of Versailles in 1920 split Volhynia in half. The east
remained part of Russia while the west was returned to Poland. After World War II, the entire region of
Volhynia was made part of Ukraine, which in turn was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
There were Germans scattered throughout Volhynia, primarily in the Zhitomir and Berdichev regions.
Mennonites attempted an early farming settlement there but did not stay long. The first major and more
permanent migration of Germans into Volhynia did not occur until the mid 1830s. These were primarily of the
Lutheran faith. By 1860, the German population was still only estimated to be 4000 to 6000.
After the 1863 rebellion in Poland, Germans began to flood into Volhynia. Most of them settled in a broad band
extending from Wladimir Wolhynsk in the west to half way between Zhitomir and Kiew in the east. By 1900,
census figures indicate there were approximately 200,000 Germans living there. In addition to Lutherans, many
of these were now Baptist, Catholic, Mennonite, Moravian, and Reformed.
Belarus to the north.
For centuries Volhynia had belonged to the Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was later acquisitioned by Poland,
through a marriage of royalty. In the first partition of Poland in 1772, the region was annexed by Russia. It
stayed part of Russia until after World War I. The Treaty of Versailles in 1920 split Volhynia in half. The east
remained part of Russia while the west was returned to Poland. After World War II, the entire region of
Volhynia was made part of Ukraine, which in turn was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
There were Germans scattered throughout Volhynia, primarily in the Zhitomir and Berdichev regions.
Mennonites attempted an early farming settlement there but did not stay long. The first major and more
permanent migration of Germans into Volhynia did not occur until the mid 1830s. These were primarily of the
Lutheran faith. By 1860, the German population was still only estimated to be 4000 to 6000.
After the 1863 rebellion in Poland, Germans began to flood into Volhynia. Most of them settled in a broad band
extending from Wladimir Wolhynsk in the west to half way between Zhitomir and Kiew in the east. By 1900,
census figures indicate there were approximately 200,000 Germans living there. In addition to Lutherans, many
of these were now Baptist, Catholic, Mennonite, Moravian, and Reformed.
Old photo of house in Volhynia
Source: 1897 World Atlas
