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Location: Germany > Return to Germany
Return to Germany
Since 1950, about 2.2 million ethnic Germans
(Volga Germans, Black Sea Germans and Germans from other regions)
have left the former Soviet Union
for Germany, in search of better economic and social conditions and an escape from
post-World War II persecution. Most of these people come from
from Kazakhstan particularly the northern part near Siberia. Another
1 million Germans remain in Russia, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine.
In 1950 a small group of Germans from Russia who resided in Stuttgart established
an organization of their own which they named
Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, or
the Society for Compatriots of Germans from Russia. The organization supported the returning
Germans from Russian in may ways including:
- promotion of family reunion.
- advice and support of the emigrants from Russia (Aussiedler).
- promotion of the linguistic, cultural, ethnic and religious identity of Germans (in the former Soviet Republic).
- promotion of the youth by linguistic, academic, professional, social and cultural integration.
- promotion of international ties between ethnic Germans at home and abroad.
- former homeland and their origins.
- support of research projects.
- support for the realization of human rights.
This organization has been active for over 50 years,
and this article, 50
Years of the Landsmannschaft of the Germans from Russia
discusses the organization's history.
The return of Germans to Germany has often been difficult and the numbers have
been declining in
recent years. The following article, translated and made available by North Dakota
State University (NDSU)
on the GRHC website explains the decline and the difficulties Germans from Russia
face upon their return to
Germany.
Fewer Late-Arriving Aussiedler, Fewer Entry Applications, but More Problems with Integration
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Year
|
No. of Aussiedler
from former USSR
to Germany
|
| 1975 |
5,985 |
| 1976 |
9,704 |
| 1977 |
9,274 |
| 1978 |
8,455 |
| 1979 |
7,226 |
1980 |
6,954 |
| 1981 |
3,773 |
| 1982 |
2,071 |
| 1983 |
1,447 |
| 1984 |
913 |
| 1985 |
460 |
| 1986 |
753 |
| 1987 |
14,488 |
| 1988 |
47,572 |
| 1989 |
98,134 |
| 1990 |
147,950 |
| 1991 |
147,320 |
| 1992 |
195,576 |
| 1993 |
207,347 |
| 1994 |
213,214 |
| 1995 |
209,409 |
| 1996 |
172,181 |
| 1997 |
131,895 |
| 1998 |
101,550 |
| 1999 |
103,599 |
| 2000 |
94,558 |
| 2001 |
97,434 |
| 2002 |
90,587 |
| 2003 |
ca. 71,000 |
source:
Fewer Late-Arriving Aussiedler, Fewer Entry Applications, but More Problems with Integration
A 7 part series of articles discussing the Germans from Russia and their travels from Germany
to Russia and
back to Germany and America is provided by NDSU on the GRHC website.
Wanderings: The Germans from Russia Today
And this particular article focuses on their return to Germany.
Caught
in the Middle
While much of these articles focus on Black Sea Germans the information is valid
for Volga Germans also.
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