Who Are the Volga Germans?

The Volga Germans are a unique ethnic group that settled in the lower Volga River region from 1764 to 1767 under a Russian colonization program promoted by Catherine the Great’s government. These colonists retained their native language, religious beliefs, customs and traditions while at the same time being influenced by the land and their neighbors. By 1875, many Volga Germans began migrating to both North and South America. While many Volga German descendants remain in Russia and Central Asia, large numbers have also migrated to Germany since the 1980’s.

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