The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University

Settlements in Argentina

Following the elimination of the last vestiges of the promises that had enticed the Germans to settled on the Volga in the 1760s, immigration began to North and South America.  A group of approximately 200 families settled in southern Brazil intending to continue raising wheat as they had in Russia, but they found the soils there while fertile to be unsuitable for wheat.

In August 1877, four representatives of the group (Andreas Basgall, Santiago Lechmann, Johann Berger, and Adam Weimann) traveled to Buenos Aires where they met with Bernardo de Irigoyen, the Minister of the Interior.  Mr. Irigoyen proposed a guarantee for up to 50,000 immigrants to be allowed into the country.  The Volga German representatives, however, were more interested in reinstating some of the privileges that they had enjoyed earlier in Russia.  In addition to good soil for wheat cultivation, the final agreement provided the colonists with exemption from military service, freedom to worship as they chose, and freedom to educate their children in the German language.  Following ratification of the contract by the Argentine Congress, immigration began with the founding of the colony of Hinojo in the region of Olavarria in the Province of Buenos Aires on 5 January 1878.  By the end of 1878, over 1,100 colonists had arrived from Brazil.

Over the years, the following colonies were established:

These colonies have remained largely inhabited by Volga Germans through the years.  Even in 2005, approximately 90 percent of the inhabitants of these Volga German colonies are descendants of the original colonists.

Book celebrating the 50th year of Volga German settlement in Argentina

Book celebrating the 50th year of Volga German settlement in Argentina.

According to the Centro Argentino Cultural Wolgdeutsche (C.A.C.W) It is estimated that there are 2 million people of Volga German ancestry living in Argentina in 2007. Many of these people live in the larger towns and cities of Argentina.

The Russian Germans by Jakob Riffel

Book cover of "Die Russlanddeutschen" (The Russian Germans) by Jakob Riffel, published in 1928 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Volga German settlement in Argentina.

Old map of Crespo Argentina

Old map of the Volga German colony (Aldea) of Crespo, Argentina contributed by Sergio Keiner Klug (click on the thumbnail for a larger image)

Ten Churches in Argentina

Photographs of ten Volga German churches in Argentina:
BA= Province of Buenos Aires
ER= Province of Entre Rios
From left to right, and up to down:
San Miguel Arcángel (BA)
Colonia Hinojo (BA)
Aldea Salto (ER)
Aldea Santa María (ER)
Santa Anita (ER)
Spatzenkutter (ER)
Valle María (ER)
San Jose or Colonia II (BA) (the biggest) Aldea San Juan (ER) Aldea Brasilera (ER)
Provided by Gerardo Waimann

Volga German Cultural Center video taken at the Museum of Immigration in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Music "O, Susanna" by Jakob Fischer of Germany.

Volga German Cultural Center Festival the third weekend in October 2007