[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] German Migration to Volhynia

[Jerry Frank]

The statement is correct for those colonists who came to Russia under the promises of Catherine II and Alexander I.  Their manifestos and decrees were very specific about who they applied to - not just Germans but all Europeans who entered Russia under those conditions.  However, none of the Volhynian Germans (not even the Mennonites) came into Volhynia under the regulations and promises of these two monarchs.  They were not protected by the royal promises that were made.

Browsing through Chapter XII, Broken Promises Spark Emigration, of your referenced quote, you will see that the concept of broken promises is specifically directed only to Volga and Black Sea Germans.  Volhynia Germans are only mentioned in passing as part of the migration to North America.

Also, quoting the same source, "The settlement here [Volhynia] arose not as a result of the initiative of the Russian government but due to the Polish landlords in the region.  These invited in German peasants from time to time and leased to them parts of their extensive undeveloped lands to be brought under cultivation.  The settlers here received no help from the crown and were free from the supervision imposed on German settlers elsewhere in Russia.  They came at their own expense, obtained long-term leases on land, cleared it, drained it, and made it productive."

Jerry



----- Original Message -----
From: George Shoning <shoning at q.com>
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:44 pm
Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] German Migration to Volhynia
To: lloydfriedrick at telus.net, ger-poland-volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org

> 
> >From Adam Giesinger's from Catherine to Khrushchev:
> 
>  
> 
> "For the German coloists, however, the law of 1874 represented a 
> breach of faith, a unilateral repudiation of a solemn promise 
> made to them in the manifesto of Catherine II and confirmed by 
> Alexander I in his decrees of 1804 and 1813.  They were now 
> subject to military service like all other Russian citizens and 
> they were very unhappy about it." - P.227
> 
>  
> 
> George Shoning
>  
> > From: lloydfriedrick at telus.net
> > To: ger-poland-volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org
> > Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:16:17 -0700
> > Subject: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] German Migration to Volhynia
> > 
> > This latest discussion of the German Migration to Volhynia has 
> been very informative to me. I enjoy it.
> > 
> > There is another line of myths that have been mentioned at 
> various times, I would appreciate commentary.
> > 
> > This is the story that many of these new immigrants had been 
> promised that they could retain their culture and religious 
> affiliation.> Also, that they were not subject to serve in the 
> Russian military. 
> > 
> > I suspect that these promises were not an official policy but 
> misconceptions handed down to us by our forbearers as hearsay.
> > 
> > I await
> > 
> > lloyd friedrick on Vancouver Island
> > 
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