| DATES |
NOTES |
| April 21, 1729 |
Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst born. She later ruled Russia
under the name Catherine II. |
| 1756-1763 |
Seven Years' War. This was an important factor in bringing the Germans
to the Lower Volga to establish colonies. The areas of now central Germany
were devastated, creating more instability for the peasants. |
| June 28, 1762 |
Catherine II ascends the throne of Russia. |
| July 22, 1763 |
Catherine II issued her second manifesto inviting foreigners to settle
in Russia. It spelled out the conditions under which they could immigrate
and granted special rights and privileges. Large numbers of German peasants
accepted the invitation. |
| 1764-1767 |
Founding of German colonies along the Lower Volga River. |
| 1786 |
Mennonites from West Prussia began immigrating to Russia due to the
1772 Partition of Poland, which threatened their military service exemption
as conscientious objectors. |
| Nov 6, 1796 |
Death of Catherine II at age sixty-seven. |
| 1796-1801 |
Reign of Tsar Paul I, son of Catherine II. |
| 1801-1825 |
Reign of Tsar Alexander I, the well-beloved, grandson of Catherine
II. |
| Feb 20, 1804 |
Alexander I reissues manifesto of Catherine II, with some modifications,
inviting foreigners to settle in New Russia. |
| 1825-1855 |
Reign of Tsar Nicholas I, Grandson of Catherine II, and brother of
Alexander I. |
| 1855-1881 |
Reign of Tsar Alexander II, great-grandson of Catherine II; son of
Nicholas I. |
| 1860s |
Another wave of Germans immigrates to Volhynia prompted by the 1861
abolishment of serfdom.
Polish Insurrection of 1863 brought more Germans to Volhynia and other
areas of Russia. |
| Jun 4, 1871 |
Imperial Russian Government issues decree repealing the Manifestos
of Catherine II and Alexander I, terminating, after a period of ten years'
grace, the special privileges of the German colonists. |
| Jan 13, 1874 |
Russian Government issues second decree which amended the one of June
4, 1871. The second decree instituted compulsory military conscription
for the German colonists. These two decrees impelled thousands of German
Russians to immigrate to North and South America. |
| 1871 |
Germany unified as a nation for the first time. This created great
unease among the European nations and Russia. This is also the time of
increased animosity towards foreigners in Russia due to the slavophile
movement and growing nationalism in Russia. |
| May 5, 1872 |
Reinhart Yauk born Holstein, Saratov, Russia.
Died Winnipeg, Man, Can, Feb5, 1950 (age 78) |
| 1881 |
Katherine Fritzler-Yauk born Holstein 1881
Died Winnipeg, Man, Can, Mar 9, 1945. (age 64) |
| 1881-1917 |
Reign of Tsar Nicholas II, great-great-great-grandson of Catherine
II. He abdicated during World War I. On July 16, 1918, he and his immediate
family were executed by the Bolsheviks. Nicholas II was the last monarch
to rule Russia. |
| Spring 1912 |
Reinhart Yauk, wife Katherine, sons Godfreid
(Fred) & David; daughters Amelia (Molly) & Katherine; leave Holstein
to immigrate to Canada. The Yauks sail 3rd class from London aboard the
ship Scotian (Statendam 1) on May 9, 1912. |
| May 21, 1912 |
Yauk family arrives port of Quebec and completes
Immigration Medical detention at Grosse Ile, Quebec. |
| July 28, 1914 |
Outbreak of World War I. |
| Feb 1917 |
Revolution comes to Russia. |
| Nov 7, 1917 |
Bolshevik Revolution in Russia led by Nikolai Lenin. Beginning of the
Communist regime. |
| 1920-1923 |
Period of famine in Russia claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.
Death by starvation in the Volga- German colonies estimated at 166,000
lives, one third of the population. |
| 1928-1933 |
Second period of famine again claims many lives, throughout Russia. |
| 1928-1940 |
German farms and property expropriated by the Soviet government and
Germans are forced into collective farms or migrate to the cities. Period
of Stalinization. |
| Sept 1, 1939 |
Outbreak of World War II. |
| Aug 28, 1941 |
Deportation of All the Volga Germans to Siberia. (about 400,000 people) |
