Migration from Western Europe to Russia

In the mid-18th century, Catherine II (Catherine the Great), tsarina of the expanding Russian Empire, encouraged the immigration of Germans and other Europeans to the Volga River basin.  Catherine believed that the Germans and other Europeans would bring their culture, knowledge, and work ethic to Russia and serve as a model to the Russian serfs.  Catherine also needed colonists to buffer Russia from nomadic Asian invaders. 

In 1763, Catherine presented her Manifesto.  The Manifesto offered free land, a thirty-year tax exemption, freedom of religion, exemption from military service and full political autonomy for any European (except Jews) who would establish colonies on her frontier. 

Initially about 27,000 Germans responded to her offer.  Many took this opportunity to escape the incessant warfare, poverty and land shortages that plagued central Europe.  There were a few settlers from other countries such as France, but they were a very small minority. 

Emigration began in 1764 and continued through 1772 with many colonists sailing from the north German port of Lübeck to Oranienbaum, Russia.  Oranienbaum was located near St. Petersburg.  From St. Petersburg the colonists traveled by land and ship down the Volga to the steppes near Saratov where the colonies were established.  The journey from Germany to the Volga region took nearly a year.  Nearly one-half of the Volga colonists died in route. 

By 1798, there were more than 38,800 individuals living in 101 German-speaking colonies along the Volga River.