Manifesto
of Catherine, The Great
Volk auf dem Weg: Deutsche in Rußland und in der GUS:
1763 - 1997
"Manifesto of Catherine, The Great." Volk auf dem Weg, 1997.
Translation from German to English by Ingeborg W. Smith,
Western Springs, Illinois
A
People on the Move: Germans in Russia and in the Former Soviet
Union: 1763 - 1997
Bells Are Ringing Again in Omsk, Western Siberia
Decree of
the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of 8/28/1941
Maps
My Homeland
Photographs
Settlement
Areas for Germans on the Volga Identified
To my Mother
Tongue
We, Catharina the Second, by God's Grace Czarina
and ruler of all the Russians, in Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod,
Czarina of Casan, Czarina of Astrachan, Czarina of Siberia, Mistress
of Pleskau and Grand Duchess of Smolensk, Duchess of Estonia and
Lithuania, Carelen, Twer, Jugoria, Permia, Wiatka, Bulgaria and
others; Mistress and Grand Duchess of Novgorod of the Low Lands,
of Tschernikov, Resan, Rostov, Jaroslav, Belooseria, Udoria, Obdoria,
Condinia and Commander of the entire North Side and Mistress of
the Iverian country, of the Cartalinian and Grusinian czars and
of the Cabardinian land, of the Tscherkassian and Goritsian rulers
and Hereditary Mistress and Ruler of others.
As the great extent of the lands of our empire is sufficiently
well known to us: so we acknowledge that not a small number of
such regions still lie fallow, that could be advantageously and
easily most usefully utilized to be populated and lived in. Most
of these lands have hidden within their bowels an inexhaustible
wealth of all kinds of valuable ores and metals; and because the
same are richly provided with woodlands, rivers, lakes and seas
situated for commerce, so they are also uncommonly well-situated
for the furtherance and increase of many kinds of manufacturers,
factories and for various other establishments. This gave us the
impetus for the distribution of the manifesto, which was published
on December 4, of the past year 1762, for the use of all of our
faithful subjects. However, as We in the same manifesto have only
transmitted a summary of our wishes to those foreigners who might
have the desire to settle in Our Empire: therefore, for a better
discussion of the same we order the following prescription which
We herewith most solemnly set down, and bid it be fulfilled by
being proclaimed to everyone.
1.
We shall allow all foreigners to come into Our Empire, in order
to take up residence in all provinces wherever it is agreeable
to each of them.
2.
Such strangers may after their arrival not only announce themselves
in Our Residence at the Tutel-Chancellory instituted for this
purpose, but also in the other border towns of Our Empire in accordance
with their comfort, at the governors, or where such are not available
at the most dignified commanders of the city.
3.
As, among those foreigners desiring the settle in Russia, there
will also be those that do not have sufficient funds to defray
the necessary cost of travel; those may report for help to the
ministers and residents at our embassies. These shall not only
send them to Russia at our expense without objection, but shall
also provide them with money for the journey.
4.
As soon as such foreigners shall have arrived in
Our Residence and have announced themselves at the Tutel-Chancellory
or alternatively in a border town; so shall the same be detained
that one may determine their real objective, what it is that they
actually wish, and whether they wish to be listed among the businessmen
or guilds and want to become citizens and also in which city;
or whether they have the desire to settle on free and fertile
land in entire colonies and lands to farm or to take up all kinds
of useful pursuits.
Our appreciation is extended to Ingeborg W. Smith for translation of this article.
