Die Wolgadeutschen Unsere Leute

Book excerpt: This book is the first of a two-volume set, which together, tell the epic story of die Wolgadeutschen (the Volga Germans), from both a big picture and small picture perspective. This volume, Unsere Leute (Our People), relates the broad, overall story of the Volga German people and their place in history. It is a compelling saga in its own right, but it also provides the historical backdrop and context for the personal family stories told in the companion volume, Unsere Familien (Our Families). Although each volume can stand on its own, they are designed to complement one another. The story is divided into three parts: Part I: The Volga Colonies – This part covers the migration of a large number of Germans who settled the wild and barren Volga steppes in the 1760s; the hardships they overcame in establishing their colonies; and after a century of rapid growth and prosperity, the changing economic and political conditions that led many to seek a fresh start in the New World. Part II: The American Homeland – This part focuses on the story of the waves of Volga German immigrants who left Russia in the late 1870s, to establish new settlements on the virgin prairies in northwest Kansas; survived the severe economic hardships of the Great Depression/Dust Bowl era; fought against their primordial German fatherland in two world wars; and eventually assimilated into the fabric of modern American culture. Part III: Our Russian Kinfolk – This part follows the fate of the Volga Germans who remained in Russia after their kin departed to America. It details the tragic events that befell them during the Communist Revolution, the Russian Civil War, the Great Famine, collectivization, Stalin's ruthless genocidal purges, and their mass deportation to the Siberian hinterlands following the outbreak of World War II. This is the most important part of the book. The lessons of the Volga Germans' experience are particularly relevant for Americans today, and offer a stark reminder of the dangers of tyranny and the importance of protecting our precious individual liberties. This book is a great read for anyone interested in learning the history and culture of this unique ethnic group, especially those with family ties to the Volga German communities in Ellis County, Kansas.