History & Culture

Who are the Germans from Russia?

Before a unified Germany existed, countless Germans were demoralized by years of religious strife, political chaos and economic hardship. In 1762, they received an enticing offer from the Russian Czarina Catherine the Great, a former German princess. She promised colonists autonomy and farm land in Russia should they choose to emigrate. Catherine believed these highly skilled farmers and tradesmen would promote progress leading to a more modern Russia. Many accepted her offer and colonized the Volga region first, to be known as the Volga Germans.

In 1804, Germans colonized the southern Ukraine (the Black Sea Germans). More emigrated from Württemberg and Prussia around 1812 and became the Bessarabian Germans.

In 1872, the Imperial Russian Government revoked colonists’ privileges to begin Russification, caused by growing Slavic resentment toward foreigners. Treasuring their own identity and culture and seeking better opportunities elsewhere, many of the German Russians decided to leave. Those immigrating to North America settled throughout the Great Plains from Saskatchewan to Texas. Wherever they settled world-wide, the German Russians preserved their distinctive identity, rich culture and heritage across borders and generations.