73,385
edits
Germans from Russia Historical Geography (view source)
Revision as of 00:57, 8 March 2009
, 8 March 2009bread crumb trail
(bread crumb trail) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[Germans from Russia|Germans from Russia ]] > Historical Geography''<br> | |||
[[Category:Germans from Russia]] | |||
As a result of wars, treaties, and political realignments, the internal and external boundaries of the Russian Empire have changed many times. This section describes the changes that have taken place in the provincial structure and external frontiers of the Russian Empire. This information will help you in finding records in the ''Family History Library Catalog'' for the place your ancestors lived. This section will describe the jurisdictions used in the ''Family History Library Catalog''. | As a result of wars, treaties, and political realignments, the internal and external boundaries of the Russian Empire have changed many times. This section describes the changes that have taken place in the provincial structure and external frontiers of the Russian Empire. This information will help you in finding records in the ''Family History Library Catalog'' for the place your ancestors lived. This section will describe the jurisdictions used in the ''Family History Library Catalog''. | ||
| Line 9: | Line 13: | ||
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. Germans from Russian Poland are covered in greater detail on the Poland Portal. | '''''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. | ||
| Line 19: | Line 23: | ||
'''''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. | ||
'''''Commonwealth of Independent States.''''' On January 1, 1992, the former Soviet Union was dissolved. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania become independent countries. Russia was joined by Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova (much of Bessarabia), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and several other former Soviet republics in Asia to form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The borders of these states are largely the same as they were under the Soviets. | '''''Commonwealth of Independent States.''''' On January 1, 1992, the former Soviet Union was dissolved. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania become independent countries. Russia was joined by Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova (much of Bessarabia), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and several other former Soviet republics in Asia to form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The borders of these states are largely the same as they were under the Soviets. | ||
==Provinces== | == Provinces == | ||
In addition provinces [''guberniias''] have been reorganized, changed names and boundaries, and local place-names have changed. You may need to determine previous boundaries and jurisdictions to locate your ancestors' records. German-speaking people tended to give German language names to places they settled even when Russian names for those places already existed. Gazetteers and histories are helpful sources of information about a these changes. The following list describes the location of selected guberniias. | In addition provinces [''guberniias''] have been reorganized, changed names and boundaries, and local place-names have changed. You may need to determine previous boundaries and jurisdictions to locate your ancestors' records. German-speaking people tended to give German language names to places they settled even when Russian names for those places already existed. Gazetteers and histories are helpful sources of information about a these changes. The following list describes the location of selected guberniias. | ||
| Line 71: | Line 75: | ||
'''''Yaroslavl''''' [Jaroslavl] Province and city on the Volga River about 250 km northeast of Moscow. In the St. Petersburg Consistory. Now Dnepropetrovsk in Ukraine. | '''''Yaroslavl''''' [Jaroslavl] Province and city on the Volga River about 250 km northeast of Moscow. In the St. Petersburg Consistory. Now Dnepropetrovsk in Ukraine. | ||
'''''Yekaterinoslav''''' [Jekaterinoslav, Dnepropetrovsk] Province and city on the Dnepr River about 400 km north of the Black Sea. In the St. Petersburg Consistory. | '''''Yekaterinoslav''''' [Jekaterinoslav, Dnepropetrovsk] Province and city on the Dnepr River about 400 km north of the Black Sea. In the St. Petersburg Consistory. | ||
==German-Speaking Settlement Groups in Eastern Europe== | == German-Speaking Settlement Groups in Eastern Europe == | ||
[[Image:Germans in Eastern Europe5.png|Germans in Eastern Europe | [[Image:Germans in Eastern Europe5.png|right|600px|Germans in Eastern Europe]] | ||
The following list describes various groups of Germans from Russia, as well as several groups that settled eastern Europe, but are not considered Germans from Russia. | The following list describes various groups of Germans from Russia, as well as several groups that settled eastern Europe, but are not considered Germans from Russia. | ||
| Line 117: | Line 121: | ||
'''''Odessa.''''' Germans settled near this Black Sea port in Kherson, Ukraine, starting in 1804. In 1872 and 1873 several groups from this area emigrated to Nebraska and the Dakotas in the United States. | '''''Odessa.''''' Germans settled near this Black Sea port in Kherson, Ukraine, starting in 1804. In 1872 and 1873 several groups from this area emigrated to Nebraska and the Dakotas in the United States. | ||
'''''Polish Germans.''''' Poland did not exist as an independent nation between the Partitions of the late 1700s through to WW I. | '''''Polish Germans.''''' Poland did not exist as an independent nation between the Partitions of the late 1700s through to WW I. There were numerous German settlements throughout the Prussian, Russian and Austrian controlled regions. Roughly 75% of Germans in Volhynia migrated from Russian Poland throughout the 1800s. Although east-central Poland was controlled by Russia, Polish Germans are not considered Germans from Russia. Details about them can be found in the Poland Portal. The vast majority of Russian Poland Germans were Evangelical Lutheran. | ||
'''''Samara Germans.''''' German Mennonites founded settlements north of the city of Samara, Russia between 1854 and 1859. | '''''Samara Germans.''''' German Mennonites founded settlements north of the city of Samara, Russia between 1854 and 1859. | ||
| Line 129: | Line 133: | ||
'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volga_germans Volga] Germans.''''' Among the earliest and largest German settlements. A largely Catholic group of settlers founded large colonies along both sides of the Volga River north and south of Saratov city in the Saratov and Samara provinces of Russia between 1764 and 1768. After 1874 many Volga Germans emigrated to Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. Over 150,000 Volga Germans still in Russia died of starvation from 1920 to 1923 following the Russia Civil War. | '''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volga_germans Volga] Germans.''''' Among the earliest and largest German settlements. A largely Catholic group of settlers founded large colonies along both sides of the Volga River north and south of Saratov city in the Saratov and Samara provinces of Russia between 1764 and 1768. After 1874 many Volga Germans emigrated to Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. Over 150,000 Volga Germans still in Russia died of starvation from 1920 to 1923 following the Russia Civil War. | ||
'''''[http://www.sggee.org Volhynian Germans].''''' 1816 saw the first German settlements in eastern Volhynia, Ukraine (then a province of Russia). Germans who had previously settled in Russian Poland migrated to Lutsk and Rovno in Volhynia in 1831 and 1832. A much larger group of almost entirely Evangelical Lutheran Germans settled in western Volhynia between 1860 and 1875 without the benefits granted earlier German settlers. They rented or bought their land from Polish nobles. There were also several Baptist and Moravian Brethren German settlements in eastern Volhynia. | '''''[http://www.sggee.org Volhynian Germans].''''' 1816 saw the first German settlements in eastern Volhynia, Ukraine (then a province of Russia). Germans who had previously settled in Russian Poland migrated to Lutsk and Rovno in Volhynia in 1831 and 1832. A much larger group of almost entirely Evangelical Lutheran Germans settled in western Volhynia between 1860 and 1875 without the benefits granted earlier German settlers. They rented or bought their land from Polish nobles. There were also several Baptist and Moravian Brethren German settlements in eastern Volhynia. In 1897 there were 170,000 Volhynian Germans. Volhynian Germans helped settle Michigan, Wisconsin, and western Canada but were also scattered in other areas as well. | ||
'''''Zipser Germans''''' settled near the Carpathian mountains in northern Hungary in the 12th Century. They are not Germans from Russia. | '''''Zipser Germans''''' settled near the Carpathian mountains in northern Hungary in the 12th Century. They are not Germans from Russia. | ||
For more about the history of German-speaking settlements in Russia see the “Emigration and Immigration” section of this outline. | For more about the history of German-speaking settlements in Russia see the “Emigration and Immigration” section of this outline. | ||
== Historical Atlases == | == Historical Atlases == | ||
The following atlases are the source of some of the information in this section and explain more about the historical geography of Russia and Germans from Russia. See also the “Gazetteers” and “Maps” sections of this outline. You can find these and similar material at the Family History Library and many other research libraries. | The following atlases are the source of some of the information in this section and explain more about the historical geography of Russia and Germans from Russia. See also the “Gazetteers” and “Maps” sections of this outline. You can find these and similar material at the Family History Library and many other research libraries. | ||
| Line 141: | Line 145: | ||
Chew, Allen F. An Atlas of Russian History: Eleven Centuries of Changing Borders. Rev. ed. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1970. (FHL book 947 E3c 1970; computer number 272497). Includes a greater variety of maps but with less details such as rivers and towns. | Chew, Allen F. An Atlas of Russian History: Eleven Centuries of Changing Borders. Rev. ed. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1970. (FHL book 947 E3c 1970; computer number 272497). Includes a greater variety of maps but with less details such as rivers and towns. | ||
Magoscsi, Paul Robert. Historical Atlas of East Central Europe. A History of East Central Europe; v. 1. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1995 (FHL book 940 H2ho v. 1; computer number 714420). Excellent maps and text about the geographic history. The maps of “Germans in East Central Europe ca 1900" and “The evolution of German settlement” on page 105 are especially helpful. '''HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!''' | Magoscsi, Paul Robert. Historical Atlas of East Central Europe. A History of East Central Europe; v. 1. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1995 (FHL book 940 H2ho v. 1; computer number 714420). Excellent maps and text about the geographic history. The maps of “Germans in East Central Europe ca 1900" and “The evolution of German settlement” on page 105 are especially helpful. '''HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!''' | ||
---- | |||
. Ukraine: A Historical Atlas. University of Toronto Ukrainian Studies; no. 1. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985. (FHL Q book 947.71 E7m; computer number 409943). Detailed maps, including “Minority populations in 19th century Ukraine” on page 18 showing German settlements. Maps often show areas beyond the Ukraine including most of the areas where Germans settled in Russia. | . Ukraine: A Historical Atlas. University of Toronto Ukrainian Studies; no. 1. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985. (FHL Q book 947.71 E7m; computer number 409943). Detailed maps, including “Minority populations in 19th century Ukraine” on page 18 showing German settlements. Maps often show areas beyond the Ukraine including most of the areas where Germans settled in Russia. | ||
| Line 153: | Line 157: | ||
Other sources about boundary changes are found in the Family History Library Catalog under: | Other sources about boundary changes are found in the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
<br> RUSSIA (EMPIRE) - HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY | |||
RUSSIA (EMPIRE) - HISTORY | |||
RUSSIA (EMPIRE) - HISTORY | |||
RUSSIA (EMPIRE), [PROVINCE] - HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY | RUSSIA (EMPIRE), [PROVINCE] - HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY | ||
RUSSIA (EMPIRE), [PROVINCE] - HISTORY | RUSSIA (EMPIRE), [PROVINCE] - HISTORY | ||
Important information about German-speaking villages in Russia and eastern Europe is available via computer network Internet sites described in the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline. | Important information about German-speaking villages in Russia and eastern Europe is available via computer network Internet sites described in the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline. | ||
[[Category:Germans_from_Russia]] | [[Category:Germans_from_Russia]] | ||