Volga Germans were Germans who Empress Catherine II the Great, born of German ancestry, welcomed to live in the lower region of the Volga River in the Russian Empire. These people maintained their culture- language, religion, customs and traditions- while they lived in the Russian Empire. [1] Volga Germans, who mainly spoke the Hessian dialect, were known for woven Sarpinka, thick felt boots called Filzstiefel and carved tobacco pipes. [2]
The German immigrants to Russia were promised exemptions from taxes and military service and freedom of religious expressions, in addition to being offered land to colonize. [3]
The Volga Germans (known as Wolgadeutsche in German) were among the two largest groups of Germans who settled in Russia. The other large group of Germans were called the Black Sea Germans, who formed communities in the Crimea and on the steppes that are now located in Ukraine.
The MyHeritage DNA test was the first to identify Volga Germans who came from Samara, Russia, and resettled to Ellis County, Kansas, as a unique genetic group.[4]
History of the Volga Germans
More than 30,000 Germans arrived in Russia from 1764 to 1772. The number of German colonists grew to more than 38,000 Germans colonists who were living within 101 communities near Saratov along the Volga River by 1798. [5]
Many of the Germans who arrived in Russia were escaping the aftermath of central Europe from the Seven Years' War that ended in 1763. Some of the original Volga Germans were Germans who immigrated first to Denmark in the 1760s before arriving in the area of the Volga River. [6]
The Volga Germans were pressured to assimilate to the Russian culture during the 19th century, leading the ethnic group to immigrate abroad to countries such as Canada, United States, Brazil and Argentina. Many of those who left for South America chose that area as their homeland due to the shared Catholic religion. [7]
During World War II when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, about 1.5 million Volga Germans were among the ethnic Germans who died when they were sent to labor camps in Siberia and central Asia. [8]
Today, the descendants of the Volga Germans can be found in Canada, the United States, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Kazakhstan and some remain in the European portion and Siberian area of Russia. [9]
Researching Volga German ancestry
The main state archives in Russia that have records on Volga Germans are in Engels, Volgograd, and Samara. FamilySearch was only able to microfilm a small collection of Volga German records at Samara. [10]
An example of some of FamilySearch's Volga German collection is revision lists (census-like records) that are available online. FamilySearch also microfilmed transportation of the Volga Germans from Oranienbaum to the Volga colonies from 1766 to 1767, but these records must be viewed at the library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Various organizations online help those researching their Volga German ancestry. The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University is one organization that pinpoints where church records, census lists and gazetteers can be found on Volga Germans.
For those whose genealogy research moves onto the United States and Canada to document Volga German ancestors in their new home, the Center for Volga German Studies in Portland, Oregon, provides a thorough guide on genealogy research.
When records are difficult to find on Volga German ancestors in Russian archives, obituaries can be a useful tool to research their lives. Names and places noted in obituaries can give clues on places and names of relatives to research in Russian archives. MyHeritage has an index of obituaries from the USA and Canada to help with researching Volga Germans who immigrated to those countries.
In addition to traditional genealogy, those with Volga German ancestry also can look into genetic genealogy. The MyHeritage DNA test identifies the Volga German community as a genetic group, so receiving this result suggests Volga German descent.
Explore more about Volga Germans
- Russia, Births and Baptisms, 1755-1917 record collection at MyHeritage
- Germans Immigrating to the United States record collection at MyHeritage
- Volga German Institute at University of North Florida- The institute offers information on locations, surnames, biographies and other additional information on Volga Germans.
- Volga Parish Records- This website has several parish records indexed and provides scanned records and a chart detailing which villages were members of parishes.
- Germans from Russia Settlement Locations- This website pinpoints the locations of Volga German villages on a current map.
References
- ↑ “Who are the Volga Germans?” The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, http://www.volgagermans.org
- ↑ German Russians, Encyclopedia.com, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/german-russians
- ↑ German Russians, Encyclopedia.com, German Russians, Encyclopedia.com, https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/german-russians
- ↑ MyHeritage Launches Genetic Groups, Https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/12/myheritage-launches-genetic-groups/
- ↑ “To Russia,” The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, http://www.volgagermans.org
- ↑ “To Russia,” The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, http://www.volgagermans.org
- ↑ Volga Germans, Wikiwand, https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Volga_Germans
- ↑ Volga Germans, Wikiwand, https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Volga_Germans
- ↑ History, The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, https://www.volgagermans.org/who-are-volga-germans/history
- ↑ Germanology Unlocked, Who are the Volga Germans, Maggie Hein, https://germanologyunlocked.com/volgagermans/