Germans of Kazakhstan
Encyclopedia
The Germans of Kazakhstan are a minority in Kazakhstan
, and make up a small percentage of the population. Today they live mostly in the northeastern part of the country between the cities of Astana
and Oskemen
, the majority being urban dwellers. Most of them are descendants of Volga German
s, who were deported to the Kazakh SSR
(now the sovereign state of Kazakhstan) from the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
soon after the Nazi German Invasion
during World War II
. Large portions of the community were imprisoned in the Soviet labor camp system
. About one third of them did not survive the labor camps.
After the deportation, Volga Germans, as well as other deported minorities, were subject to imposed cultural assimilation
into the Russian culture
. The methods to achieve that goal included the prohibition of public use of the German language
and education in German, the abolition of German ethnic holidays and a prohibition on their observance in public and a ban on relocation among others.
Those measures had been enacted by Joseph Stalin
, even though the Volga German community as a whole was in no way affiliated with Nazi Germany
, and Volga Germans had been loyal citizens of the Russian Empire
and later the USSR for centuries. These restrictions ended, however, during the "Khruschev Thaw".
A proposal in June 1979 called for a new German Autonomous Republic within Kazakhstan, with a capital in Ereymentau
. The proposal was aimed at addressing the living conditions of the displaced Volga Germans. At the time, there were approximately 936,000 ethnic Germans living in Kazakhstan, as the republic's third largest ethnic group. On June 16, 1979, demonstrators in Tselinograd (Astana) protested this proposal. Fearing a negative reaction among the majority Kazakhs and calls for a similar autonomy among Kazakhstan's Uyghurs the ruling Communist Party scrapped the proposal for a German autonomy within Kazakhstan.
According to a 1989 census, more citizens of ethnic German origin lived in Kazakhstan
, numbering 957,518, or 5.8% of the total population, than in the whole of Russia
including Siberia
(841,295).
Due to the German right of return law that enables ethnic Germans abroad who had been forcibly deported to return to Germany
, Volga Germans were able to immigrate to Germany after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. But due to widespread abuse of the system and the lack of interest from the part of newly arrived immigrants to assimilate, the repatriation was stopped during the early 21st century. Russia has replaced Germany as the major immigrant destination for German Kazakhstanis by 2009. In 1999, there were 353,441 Germans in Kazakhstan.
A small number of Germans had returned to Kazakhstan from Germany during the last several years, unable to assimilate in to the German cultural sphere. The "Rebirth" organization, founded in 1989, handles cultural and community affairs of the ethnic German community.
Most Germans of Kazakhstan speak only Russian
. Most are followers of Protestantism
.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, and make up a small percentage of the population. Today they live mostly in the northeastern part of the country between the cities of Astana
Astana
Astana , formerly known as Akmola , Tselinograd and Akmolinsk , is the capital and second largest city of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 708,794 as of 1 August 2010...
and Oskemen
Oskemen
Oskemen and Ust-Kamennaya , is the capital of the East Kazakhstan Province. It is served by the Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport.-History:...
, the majority being urban dwellers. Most of them are descendants of Volga German
Volga German
The Volga Germans were ethnic Germans living along the River Volga in the region of southern European Russia around Saratov and to the south. Recruited as immigrants to Russia in the 18th century, they were allowed to maintain German culture, language, traditions and churches: Lutherans, Reformed,...
s, who were deported to the Kazakh SSR
Kazakh SSR
The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Kazakh SSR for short, was one of republics that made up the Soviet Union.At in area, it was the second largest constituent republic in the USSR, after the Russian SFSR. Its capital was Alma-Ata . Today it is the independent state of...
(now the sovereign state of Kazakhstan) from the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
The Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was an autonomous republic established in Soviet Russia, with its capital at the Volga port of Engels .-History:...
soon after the Nazi German Invasion
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Large portions of the community were imprisoned in the Soviet labor camp system
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
. About one third of them did not survive the labor camps.
After the deportation, Volga Germans, as well as other deported minorities, were subject to imposed cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
into the Russian culture
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
. The methods to achieve that goal included the prohibition of public use of the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and education in German, the abolition of German ethnic holidays and a prohibition on their observance in public and a ban on relocation among others.
Those measures had been enacted by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
, even though the Volga German community as a whole was in no way affiliated with Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, and Volga Germans had been loyal citizens of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and later the USSR for centuries. These restrictions ended, however, during the "Khruschev Thaw".
A proposal in June 1979 called for a new German Autonomous Republic within Kazakhstan, with a capital in Ereymentau
Ereymentau
Ereymentau is a town in northern-central Kazakhstan. It is the seat of Ereymentau District in Akmola Province. Pop 11,221 ....
. The proposal was aimed at addressing the living conditions of the displaced Volga Germans. At the time, there were approximately 936,000 ethnic Germans living in Kazakhstan, as the republic's third largest ethnic group. On June 16, 1979, demonstrators in Tselinograd (Astana) protested this proposal. Fearing a negative reaction among the majority Kazakhs and calls for a similar autonomy among Kazakhstan's Uyghurs the ruling Communist Party scrapped the proposal for a German autonomy within Kazakhstan.
According to a 1989 census, more citizens of ethnic German origin lived in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, numbering 957,518, or 5.8% of the total population, than in the whole of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
including Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
(841,295).
Due to the German right of return law that enables ethnic Germans abroad who had been forcibly deported to return to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Volga Germans were able to immigrate to Germany after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. But due to widespread abuse of the system and the lack of interest from the part of newly arrived immigrants to assimilate, the repatriation was stopped during the early 21st century. Russia has replaced Germany as the major immigrant destination for German Kazakhstanis by 2009. In 1999, there were 353,441 Germans in Kazakhstan.
A small number of Germans had returned to Kazakhstan from Germany during the last several years, unable to assimilate in to the German cultural sphere. The "Rebirth" organization, founded in 1989, handles cultural and community affairs of the ethnic German community.
Most Germans of Kazakhstan speak only Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. Most are followers of Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.
Demographics
- Population: 178,000 (2009)
- Birth Rate: 21.81 per 1000 (2009)
- Death Rate: 11.90 per 1000 (2009)
- Natural Population Growth: +0.99% (2009)
- Migratory Population Growth: -1.18% (2009)
See also
- Demographics of KazakhstanDemographics of KazakhstanThe Demographics of Kazakhstan enumerate the demographic features of the population of Kazakhstan, including population growth, population density, ethnicity, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population...
- Population transfer in the Soviet UnionPopulation transfer in the Soviet UnionPopulation transfer in the Soviet Union may be classified into the following broad categories: deportations of "anti-Soviet" categories of population, often classified as "enemies of workers," deportations of entire nationalities, labor force transfer, and organized migrations in opposite...
- German as a minority languageGerman as a minority languageGerman-speaking minorities live in many countries and on all six inhabited continents: the countries of the former Soviet Union, Poland, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Belgium, Italy, the United States, Latin America, Namibia, South Africa, Israel, and Australia...