Origins in Western Europe
Historic map of Hesse
On July 22, 1763, Russian empress Catherine II (aka "the Great"), issued a manifesto inviting foreigners to settle in Russia. This was an old Russian custom. This new manifesto was a skillful propaganda effort at opportune time. Russian agents spread it far and wide over war-scarred western Europe. The success of the Russian emigration agents was extraordinary; hoardes of impoverished farmers, tradesmen and soldiers signed up for emigration. Although the Russian government sent agents for the recruiting of foreigners to most states of Europe the greatest success was in the German speaking lands. These areas were in a very unsettled condition as a result of the Seven Years War. A very small portion of the colonists were French, Dutch, Italian, Polish, and Swedish.
Catherine II of Russia
During the 4 years from 1764 to 1767, seven thousand families, an estimated 25,000 to 27,000 people left Germany for Russia. A large fraction of these came from Hesse, but other parts of southwest Germany were well represented and there were smaller contributions from other areas of Germany and some neighboring countries.
Source: Volga Germans website
Primary Areas of Settlement Before Immigration to Russia 1764-1767
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Darmstad
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg
Freistaat Thueringen Historic Maps
Historical Maps of Germany at the end of the 18th Century
Historical Maps of Hessen in the 18th Century
Migration from Germany to Danish territories and then to the Volga
Resources
An excellent resource is a book published by AHSGR titled the German Migration to the Russian Volga 1764-1767: Origins and Destinations by Brent A. Mai and Donna Reeves Marquardt.
This book is the culmination of several years work by the authors locating, translating, and transcribing manuscripts to verify the previously published compilations and to look for additional clues about the origins and destinations of the Volga Germans. In addition to translations of the marriage lists previously published in part Büdingen, Danzig, Lübeck, Rosslau, Schlitz, and Wöhrd, an additional 72 marriages from St. Jacob's Lutheran Church in Lübeck were located, 3 in Fränkisch-Crumbach, and 57 in Friedberg are also included. The book includes three indices: by name of individuals; by German origin place name; and by Volga colony destination. In all 1,365 Volga Germans were located in these German records. This book can be purchased from AHSGR.
Other Resources for Finding Family Origins
Transport of the Volga Germans from Oranienbaum to the Colonies on the Volga 1766-1767 by Brent Mai
The Emigration from Germany to Russia in the Years 1763 to 1862 by Karl Stumpp
