People of German descent in CIS States — areas of settlement, territorial autonomy and emigration

Abstract

Until 1989 the ethnic Germans tended to live in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and South-West Siberia. Not only German but also Russian and Ukrainian residents in Kazakhstan and Central Asia have been induced to leave. In South-West Siberia attempts are beeing made to keep the ethnic Germans there. Two autonomous German districts have been established. The mass scale emigration to Germany has, however, affected these areas, too. That means that not only push factors are effective but also pull factors play a role. They concern the privileged immigrant status of “Aussiedler” in Germany. The economic damage suffered by Siberia on account of this kind of undifferentiated drain of workers and specialists puts whole economic regions in jeopardy. The German Home Office tried to support the re-establishment of the German Volga Republic which was dissolved by Stalin in 1941. Some German unprofessionally organised economic projects and severe diplomatic mistakes actually strengthened the nationalistic Russian opposition so that the reestablishment failed. An improvement of the ethnic Germans' perspectives in the CIS is only possible if Germany makes use of the tried and tested instruments of development aid and regional planning. German consulates and trade agencies should be opened in the Volga region, and in Siberia. It is necessary to establish a Siberian-German bank and Russian-German universities. A special programme should provide support for well-qualified people whose knowledge and skills are vital for a continuation of the ethnic Germans' economy and culture.