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Germans from Russia Historical Geography (view source)
Revision as of 10:37, 5 March 2009
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The boundaries of the Russian Empire have changed many times since German-speaking people began settling there in large numbers starting in 1763, including borders of some areas where Germans settled. The earliest German settlements were along the Volga River in old Russia, near St. Petersburg, and near Belovesh in the Ukraine. As Russia expanded, Germans were also encouraged to settle newly acquired Russian lands sometimes named “New Russia.” | The boundaries of the Russian Empire have changed many times since German-speaking people began settling there in large numbers starting in 1763, including borders of some areas where Germans settled. The earliest German settlements were along the Volga River in old Russia, near St. Petersburg, and near Belovesh in the Ukraine. As Russia expanded, Germans were also encouraged to settle newly acquired Russian lands sometimes named “New Russia.” | ||
'''''Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and Finland.''''' The Partitions of Poland expanded the Russian Empire into northeastern Belarus in 1772, further into Belarus and into the Ukraine in 1793, and after the defeat of a Polish uprising into Courland and Volhynia in 1795. In 1809 Russia took control of Finland. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 gave a revived but greatly reduced Poland to the Russian Tsar. Poland and Finland were allowed more autonomy than other areas. As a distinct entity within Russia, Poland was not at first divided into provincial units (guberniias) as the rest of Russia was gradually after 1802. In 1861 even Poland was divided into guberniias. | '''''Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and Finland.''''' The Partitions of Poland expanded the Russian Empire into northeastern Belarus in 1772, further into Belarus and into the Ukraine in 1793, and after the defeat of a Polish uprising into Courland and Volhynia in 1795. In 1809 Russia took control of Finland. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 gave a revived but greatly reduced Poland to the Russian Tsar. Poland and Finland were allowed more autonomy than other areas. As a distinct entity within Russia, Poland was not at first divided into provincial units (guberniias) as the rest of Russia was gradually after 1802. In 1861 even Poland was divided into guberniias. Germans from Russian Poland are covered in greater detail on the Poland Portal. | ||
'''''Black Sea and Bessarabia.''''' Russia first expanded to the Black Sea in 1774 in southeast Kherson (Ukraine), Tavrida (including the Crimea) in 1783, and northern Kuban in 1793. In 1792 the Jedisan in southwesterern Kherson was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia. During the 1806 to 1812 Russo-Turkish War the Russians occupied Moldavia and Walachia. These were returned to the Ottomans in 1812 except for the eastern part of Moldavia known as Bessarabia between the Dniester and Prut rivers. After the Crimean War in 1856 Russia turned over the Danube River delta and southern Bessarabia to Romania. | '''''Black Sea and Bessarabia.''''' Russia first expanded to the Black Sea in 1774 in southeast Kherson (Ukraine), Tavrida (including the Crimea) in 1783, and northern Kuban in 1793. In 1792 the Jedisan in southwesterern Kherson was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia. During the 1806 to 1812 Russo-Turkish War the Russians occupied Moldavia and Walachia. These were returned to the Ottomans in 1812 except for the eastern part of Moldavia known as Bessarabia between the Dniester and Prut rivers. After the Crimean War in 1856 Russia turned over the Danube River delta and southern Bessarabia to Romania. | ||
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'''''Caucasus.''''' Russia began expanding into the Caucasus in 1783. By 1801 eastern Georgia was annexed. Piece-by-piece Russia took control of most of the Caucasus in ten separate annexations mostly by 1830. A few remaining portions of the Caucasus were not assimilated into the Empire until 1878. | '''''Caucasus.''''' Russia began expanding into the Caucasus in 1783. By 1801 eastern Georgia was annexed. Piece-by-piece Russia took control of most of the Caucasus in ten separate annexations mostly by 1830. A few remaining portions of the Caucasus were not assimilated into the Empire until 1878. | ||
'''''Aftermath of the Russian Civil War.''''' World War I began in 1914, and led to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, and Russian Civil War from 1917 to 1920. After the civil war, the Bolsheviks reconquered Georgia, the Ukraine, and eastern Armenia, and suppressed national independence movements in Belarus and central Asia. However, several former Russian territories were separated during these conflicts. Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gained independence. Poland was given independence and territory which included the eastern third of Lithuania, and | '''''Aftermath of the Russian Civil War.''''' World War I began in 1914, and led to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, and Russian Civil War from 1917 to 1920. After the civil war, the Bolsheviks reconquered Georgia, the Ukraine, and eastern Armenia, and suppressed national independence movements in Belarus and central Asia. However, several former Russian territories were separated during these conflicts. Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania gained independence. Poland was given independence and territory which included the eastern third of Lithuania, and the western half of Volhynia. In 1917 Bessarabia declared independence from the Bolsheviks and in 1918 was joined to Romania. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was founded in 1922. | ||
'''''Soviet Union and World War II.''''' At the start of World War II in 1940 the Soviets annexed Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, but lost them back to Romania when the Nazi-Romanian alliance invaded in 1941. All Soviet territory claimed in 1940 was recaptured and restored to the Soviets at the end of the war by treaty in 1947. The Soviets also took over the northern part of the German territory of East Prussia including Königsberg/Kaliningrad, the eastern part of Poland including central Lithuania, western Belarus and Volhynia, eastern Galicia, and a part of eastern Czechoslovakia called Transcarpathia (Subcarpathian Rus’). German settlements are located in all of these areas, but those from East Prussia, Galicia, Transcarpathia, and Bukovina are normally not considered Germans from Russia because they were first acquired during the Soviet era. | '''''Soviet Union and World War II.''''' At the start of World War II in 1940 the Soviets annexed Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, but lost them back to Romania when the Nazi-Romanian alliance invaded in 1941. All Soviet territory claimed in 1940 was recaptured and restored to the Soviets at the end of the war by treaty in 1947. The Soviets also took over the northern part of the German territory of East Prussia including Königsberg/Kaliningrad, the eastern part of Poland including central Lithuania, western Belarus and Volhynia, eastern Galicia, and a part of eastern Czechoslovakia called Transcarpathia (Subcarpathian Rus’). German settlements are located in all of these areas, but those from East Prussia, Galicia, Transcarpathia, and Bukovina are normally not considered Germans from Russia because they were first acquired during the Soviet era. | ||