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====Russia Background==== | ====Russia Background==== | ||
In 1763, Catherine the Great of Russia offered free land, no taxes for 30 years, freedom of religion, and other incentives to west Europeans to settle her vast, sparsely populated domain. Dozens of German and French (Alsatian) colonies were established and grew until World War I. Many Russian Alsatians moved to the United States, Canada, or South America, beginning in 1874. | *In 1763, Catherine the Great of Russia offered free land, no taxes for 30 years, freedom of religion, and other incentives to west Europeans to settle her vast, sparsely populated domain. Dozens of German and French (Alsatian) colonies were established and grew until World War I. Many Russian Alsatians moved to the United States, Canada, or South America, beginning in 1874. | ||
*A French Protestant colony was established at Schabo in Bessarabia. | |||
A French Protestant colony was established at Schabo in Bessarabia. | *Since many Alsatians (people in Alsace-Lorraine, France) spoke more German than French, they were often called Germans when they emigrated to other nations. For example, some of the "Germans from Russia" were actually from Alsace-Lorraine, instead of from Germany. See the [[Germany Emigration and Immigration|Germany Emigration and Immigration]] and the [[Germans from Russia|Germans from Russia]] Wiki articles for important emigration records that include German-speaking Alsatians of France. | ||
Since many Alsatians (people in Alsace-Lorraine, France) spoke more German than French, they were often called Germans when they emigrated to other nations. For example, some of the "Germans from Russia" were actually from Alsace-Lorraine, instead of from Germany. See the [[Germany Emigration and Immigration|Germany Emigration and Immigration]] and the [[Germans from Russia|Germans from Russia]] Wiki articles for important emigration records that include German-speaking Alsatians of France. | |||
The single most valuable source for researching German-speaking families of Alsace-Lorraine who moved to Russia is: | The single most valuable source for researching German-speaking families of Alsace-Lorraine who moved to Russia is: | ||