Catherine the Great and the German Colonists on the Volga

In this episode of The Romanov Dynasty, Lucas and Luna explore Catherine the Great's 1763 manifesto inviting German settlers to colonize the Volga region. They discuss the economic and strategic motives behind the policy, the journey of the colonists, the privileges granted, and the long-term impact on Russia's ethnic landscape. The conversation touches on the Volga Germans' autonomous settlements, their role in agriculture and trade, and their fate in the 20th century. Specific details include the city of Saratov, the Lutheran and Catholic churches they built, and the eventual dissolution of their autonomy under Stalin. A fresh angle not covered in prior episodes, this story reveals a lesser-known aspect of Catherine's westernizing reforms and Russia's multicultural history. #CatherineTheGreat #VolgaGermans #RussianHistory #GermanColonists #1763Manifesto #Saratov #VolgaRegion #CatherineII #RussianEmpire #GermanDiaspora #EthnicGermans #18thCentury #EasternEurope #History #FexingoHistory #RomanovDynasty #RussianExpansion #AgriculturalColonization Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo