[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Re: Reasons for migration

[Jerry Frank]

The Mennonites (at least those that entered Russia early on) did indeed 
come under Catherine the Great's invitation.  This invitation, by the way, 
was extended to all Europeans, not just Germans and not just 
Mennonites.  The Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic Germans outnumbered the 
Mennonites by a significant amount.

Many Mennonites did not enter Russia until well after Catherine's death in 
1796, especially those that went to the Black Sea regions.  The Mennonites 
that settled or migrated through Volhynia were also not invited by royalty 
but rather by the nobility.  Those Mennonites that came after her death did 
not have the same privileges and rights that she extended under her 
Manifesto.  They also did not leave Russia upon her death but rather 
towards the end of the 100 year commitment to give them freedom from 
military service.  They saw their privileges eroding and decided to look 
elsewhere.

While Catherine was actively involved in the partitioning of Poland, no 
invitation was extended, by her or any other subsequent Czar, to Germans or 
any other people to settle in any part of former Polish territory.


At 01:19 PM 08/01/2003 -0800, Karen Miller wrote:
>I can say the reasons I know of were the Mennonites who came from both
>Germany and Switzerland where many had been severaly tortured for their
>belief and came for Catherine's 100 years as they were good farmers.  When
>her rule ended many came to the US.
>
>Karen

Jerry Frank - Calgary, Alberta
jkfrank at shaw.ca