Russia Emigration and Immigration

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Online Records[edit | edit source]

Germans from Russia[edit | edit source]

In 1763 Catherine the Great of Russia offered free land, no taxes for thirty years, freedom of religion, and other incentives to encourage Germans to settle her vast, sparsely populated domain. Dozens of German colonies were established and grew until World War I. Many Russian Germans moved to the United States, Canada, or South America beginning in 1874.

Emigration Records[edit | edit source]

Emigration records list the names of people leaving and immigration records list those coming into Russia. There are passenger lists for ships coming into Russia and border-crossing records of people leaving for the United States or coming from the United States into Russia. These records may include an emigrant’s name, age, occupation, destination, and sometimes the place of origin or birth.