Volga-German Colonies of Russia – Map & Descriptions

Catherine the Great ascended the Russian throne and issued a great manifest to open up colonization in the Volga river valley in southern Russia. Through effective marketing of her manifest, thousands of people throughout Germany immigrated to the area and founded colonies near Saratov. The colonies to the west of the Volga were on the hilly side of the river and were called “Bergseite”. The “Wiesenseite” or plains/grassy region was on the west side.

In trying to understand some of the places my ancestors settled and their reason for their move there, I’ve found a transcription of The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas very helpful. The following are the towns that related to my family lines as I’ve researched thus far:

The Volga-German Mother Colonies:

Map of the Volga-German colonies of Russia highlighting the towns of Pfeifer, Herzog, Mariental and Obermunjou Russia

PFEIFER (GNILUSHKA)

Other Names:
Faifer, Fajfer, Feifer, Gnilushka, Gniluschka, Gnilyshka, Gvardeiskoye, Gvardeyskoye, Pfeifer, Pfeiffer

Location:
50º39′ N 45º24′ E

History:
Pfeifer was founded on the right bank of the Ilava Rover on 15 June 1767 by the Government as a Roman Catholic colony. Pfeifer is 117 versts from the provincial capital of Saratov, 65 versts from the district capital of Kamyshin, and 6 versts from the local administrative center of Kamenka.

From the beginning of the colony, there was parochial education available in Pfeifer. The students were taught reading, writing, and religion by a local schoolmaster under the supervision of the parish priest. In 1888, a government school was constructed in the colony.

My Family Names: Pfeifer
Johannes Pfeifer (1793-1798) imigrated from Orb Germany to Russia and on June 15, 1767, at which date they arrived, Colony Pfeifer was founded. Originally believing Johannes (my 6th Great Grandfather) originated from Ulm, Germany, we later discovered that the Ulm was one of the gathering places for colonists leaving for Russia. His birthplace was probably Orb, Germany. The German immigrants were housed in temporary housing by the recruiter sent from Russia who arranged for their passage to Seritov and the Russian colonies. At the point of debarkation in Russia to go to their new land (colonies) when they arrived from Germany, respective leaders were chosen from their groups to lead them to their new homes. Thus the naming of Colony Pfeifer was taken after their leader, Johannes Pfeifer. Johannes Pfeifer’s grandson Adam Pfeifer was the first Pfeifer to leave Colony Pfeifer and cross over into Herzog with his family in 1828.

Read more information about Pfeifer at the Center for Volga German Studies.

HERZOG (SUSLY)

Other Names:
Herzog, Susly, Sussly

Location:
51º29′ N 46º43′ E

History:
Herzog was a Roman Catholic colony founded on 14 July 1766 by LeRoy & Pictet.

My Family Names: Pfeifer
My 4th Great Grandfather Adam Pfeifer left Colony Pfeifer and moved his family to Colony Herzog, Russia, in 1828. He was the first Pfeifer in Colony Herzog. It is not known to me at this time why he moved to a colony so far away. My only guess is better land. Adam’s son, Johannes Adam Pfeifer, Sr., was the first Pfeifer to immigrate to America in 1878.

Read more information about Herzog at the Center for Volga German Studies.

OBERMONJOU (OBERMANSHU)

Other Names:
Krivovka, Kriwowskoje, Obermonjou, Obermunjour, Ober-Monjou, Ober-Monjour (after 1941, Krivovka)

Location:
51º44′ N 46º51′ E

History:
Ober-Monjou was founded as a Roman Catholic colony on 5 March 1767 by Baron Caneau de Beauregard.

In 1859, a daughter colony was established by colonists from Ober-Monjou seeking additional farm land. The daughter colony was called Neu-Ober-Monjou.

Read more information about Obermonjou at the Center for Volga German Studies.

A slightly different version of the history I located online at www.volgagerman.net:
Two German-speaking Frenchmen by the name of Munjou were made the leaders of the two groups. The older of the two, Otto de Munjor, became the leader of the Catholic group which settled along the Volga, north of Saratov. The younger Munjou established a colony of Lutheran people considerably down the river. Both towns were named Monjou, which soon caused confusion. The civil authorities eliminated the confusion by referring to the Catholic colony located on the upper as Obermunjou and the down strean village as Niedermonjor. During the founding years of these colonies, 1764 – 1768, 104 colonies were established, 44 on the Berseite (Mountain side) which was west of the Volga and 60 on the Wiesenseite (Meadow side) which was located on the east side.

My Family Names: Rupp
The record of my 2nd Great Grandmother Cecelia Rupp (1866-1930) has her birthplace listed as Obermunjou, Russia. I am still working on the origins of the Rupp family line, but I recently noticed an Anton Rupp (Her father’s name) mentioned in one of the largest group of immigrants to leave Saratov. The article, transcribed from The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas is entitled “LARGEST EXPEDITION LEAVES SARATOV”. It includes in its list of immigrants hailing from Herzog a “… John Leiker, Anton Rupp, Caspar Rupp and Jacob Rupp, from Obermonjour, Russia.” I’m not quite sure if this is my Anton Rupp, as they say the ship he sailed on was the Mosel. (My Rupp family sailed on the Suevia arriving 3 Aug 1876)

MARIENTAL (MARIENTHAL)

Other Names:
Dubowoi, Mariental, Marienthal, Pfannenstiel, Sovetskoye, Tonkoshurovka, Tonkoschurowka

Location:
51º26′ N 46º45′ E

History:
Mariental was founded on 16 June 1766 by LeRoy & Pictet as a Roman Catholic colony.

Read more information about Mariental at the Center for Volga German Studies.

My Family Names: Zimmerman and Ochs
My family records show that my 3rd Great Grandfather Daniel Zimmerman (1845-1865) was born in Marienthal, Russia. His son Rochus who married Helen Ochs also has in-laws born in Marienthal.

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

Tags: Immigration, Ochs, Pfeifer, Rupp, Russia, Zimmerman