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Social Structure

In the 1700s and through much of the 1800s, Russia was a very hierarchical society, ranging from the ruling family of the Czar or Czarina down to the nobles, clergy, merchants, townspeople, free peasants, and peasants (serfs). Serfs were a branch of peasants whose service was to be performed under one particular lord forever.  In 1732, lords were granted the right to transfer, trade, and do almost anything with their serfs. Serfdom became increasingly popular and ubiquitous during the reign of Catherine II ("the Great").

The Volga Germans were granted their social standing as kolonisten (colonists). This designation remained in place for the generations that followed the founders.

Irina Mukhina discusses this social classification in her book The Germans of the Soviet Union:

There were many social stratums in Russia and the Volga Germans were often referred by the Russian government as "colonists." This term reflected a different position in society from positions held by Russian peasants at the time.

Although the vast majority of the Volga German settlers were involved in farming, they were granted a higher status as "settlers and owners of their lands."

The German colonists were not serfs and could not be enserfed. This difference from the Russian peasants (serfs) was significant from both a practical and social standpoint.

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Sources

Mukhina, Irina. The Germans of the Soviet Union. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.

Last updated November 4, 2023