From Prussia to Russia
Prussia
When Karl V, King of the Holy Roman Empire gave the official death sentence for all Anabaptists, Anna of Oldenburg sought to keep her domain a refuge. She was only able to do so for 5 years, however, after which she was forced to sign a document decreeing all Anabaptists on her land be killed. This compelled the Mennonites to look to other countries for refuge. Many of them were farmers, who had vast experience with constructing dikes and canals to keep water off of their lands. They felt it was an answer to prayer when the then Polish King Valdislaw IV (Poland and Prussia often changed boundaries in this time span) invited the Anabaptists to live on the Vistula river delta and the Baltic Sea areas. He needed labourers to work the land and keep the marshy ground productive. Many Mennonites settled in this area and began farming. Unfortunately, times were hard and some sources say up to 80% of the people died of marsh fever.
In time, the Vistula river delta became western Prussian territory. Frederick I invited the Mennonites, specifically, to resettle in eastern Prussia in the early 1700’s. They didn’t stay more than a decade, however, because they refused to serve in the Military (on account of their belief in non-resistance) and so, were kicked out of the country. In 1740, they were given special military exemption in Prussia, and many Mennonites returned.
Between 1648 and 1815 the times changed drastically. First, discrimination subsided more and more, and diverse religious theology was tolerated. Second, the Mennonites experienced general economic success, which pleased the Prussian government, but built feelings of envy among the neighbouring peoples not of Mennonite heritage. Third, Mennonites increasingly attained high social status and even political positions.
After switching statehood numerous times, Poland once again switched to Prussian Sovereignty in 1772. Frederick the Great, ruler at the time, was very accepting of the Mennonite population, but demanded they pay military and church taxes (which went toward the church of the state, rather than their own church). Mennonites refused to pay both of these taxes. As a result, the government put a ban on Mennonites buying any more land, and thus began the migration to Russia.
When Karl V, King of the Holy Roman Empire gave the official death sentence for all Anabaptists, Anna of Oldenburg sought to keep her domain a refuge. She was only able to do so for 5 years, however, after which she was forced to sign a document decreeing all Anabaptists on her land be killed. This compelled the Mennonites to look to other countries for refuge. Many of them were farmers, who had vast experience with constructing dikes and canals to keep water off of their lands. They felt it was an answer to prayer when the then Polish King Valdislaw IV (Poland and Prussia often changed boundaries in this time span) invited the Anabaptists to live on the Vistula river delta and the Baltic Sea areas. He needed labourers to work the land and keep the marshy ground productive. Many Mennonites settled in this area and began farming. Unfortunately, times were hard and some sources say up to 80% of the people died of marsh fever.
In time, the Vistula river delta became western Prussian territory. Frederick I invited the Mennonites, specifically, to resettle in eastern Prussia in the early 1700’s. They didn’t stay more than a decade, however, because they refused to serve in the Military (on account of their belief in non-resistance) and so, were kicked out of the country. In 1740, they were given special military exemption in Prussia, and many Mennonites returned.
Between 1648 and 1815 the times changed drastically. First, discrimination subsided more and more, and diverse religious theology was tolerated. Second, the Mennonites experienced general economic success, which pleased the Prussian government, but built feelings of envy among the neighbouring peoples not of Mennonite heritage. Third, Mennonites increasingly attained high social status and even political positions.
After switching statehood numerous times, Poland once again switched to Prussian Sovereignty in 1772. Frederick the Great, ruler at the time, was very accepting of the Mennonite population, but demanded they pay military and church taxes (which went toward the church of the state, rather than their own church). Mennonites refused to pay both of these taxes. As a result, the government put a ban on Mennonites buying any more land, and thus began the migration to Russia.
Russia
Between 1762 and 1763 Katharine II (Katharine the Great), queen of Russia, gave an invitation to the Germans and other Europeans to become settlers of the land in southern Russia. This was land which they had acquired from the Turkish people. Within ten years, there were more than one hundred German villages, but the Mennonite people did not respond to the invitation earlier than the 1780’s. And even then, it was not so much the opportunity to settle in such a large agricultural area, as it was the oppression they faced in Prussia, that drew them. In 1786, Katharine the Great sent a group of Russian delegates to the Mennonites in Prussia. They gave such an appealing report of the settlement opportunities that two men were sent to Russia to scout out the prospects. After their return a year later, they gave a positive report concerning both the land and concord which they had made with the authorities in Saint Petersburg. They had, in fact, even had the honour of speaking with Katherine the Great.
The special charter that the Mennonites received was not that different from that which other settlers received. As a result of Russian colonial policy, the settlers were asked to sign a document, promising that they would remain separated from the general public of Russia, in order to keep their own affairs independent of their Russian neighbours. This suited the Mennonites just fine, as they placed utmost value on their own religious, educational and economical freedom. They did, in fact, receive a guarantee of complete religious freedom and unconditional exemption from military service. The first eight Mennonite families moved to Russia via covered wagon train in 1788. The journey took eleven weeks, after which these first families arrived in Dubrovna. Because the Russians were at war with Turkey at the time and winter was coming, they spent the next few months in this established town before travelling on.
The first four hundred families to arrive in Russia, settled on the banks of the Chortitza River, a tributary of the Dnieper River. This village became known as the Chortitza Colony. It later became known as the Old Colony because it was the first Mennonite village in the area. Establishing a farming community in previously untouched land was very challenging. The people lived in sod huts for the first while. The first settlers in Russia were the poorest of the Mennonites in Prussia, and although the Russian government promised that each family would receive 500 Rubbles, many only received it some 8 years later. In spite of the intense hardships experienced by these settlers, the Chortitza Colony quickly grew into 15 separate villages with 89,100 acres of land by 1800. A second Colony, Molotschna, was established one hundred miles southeast of Chortitz a few years later.
During these initial years in Russia there were very few regulations imposed on the Mennonites by their Russian rulers. Schools were established by each village, but many parents often kept their children at home to help with the immense amount of chores to be done. Each village elected their own teachers from the community and most schools used the Bible and the Catechism as their school texts. In most villages, the schoolhouse also doubled as a church building. Each village elected their own village mayor and the whole Chortitz colony also elected a leader, who acted as a delegate to the Russian authorities and handled all other outside business.
Between 1762 and 1763 Katharine II (Katharine the Great), queen of Russia, gave an invitation to the Germans and other Europeans to become settlers of the land in southern Russia. This was land which they had acquired from the Turkish people. Within ten years, there were more than one hundred German villages, but the Mennonite people did not respond to the invitation earlier than the 1780’s. And even then, it was not so much the opportunity to settle in such a large agricultural area, as it was the oppression they faced in Prussia, that drew them. In 1786, Katharine the Great sent a group of Russian delegates to the Mennonites in Prussia. They gave such an appealing report of the settlement opportunities that two men were sent to Russia to scout out the prospects. After their return a year later, they gave a positive report concerning both the land and concord which they had made with the authorities in Saint Petersburg. They had, in fact, even had the honour of speaking with Katherine the Great.
The special charter that the Mennonites received was not that different from that which other settlers received. As a result of Russian colonial policy, the settlers were asked to sign a document, promising that they would remain separated from the general public of Russia, in order to keep their own affairs independent of their Russian neighbours. This suited the Mennonites just fine, as they placed utmost value on their own religious, educational and economical freedom. They did, in fact, receive a guarantee of complete religious freedom and unconditional exemption from military service. The first eight Mennonite families moved to Russia via covered wagon train in 1788. The journey took eleven weeks, after which these first families arrived in Dubrovna. Because the Russians were at war with Turkey at the time and winter was coming, they spent the next few months in this established town before travelling on.
The first four hundred families to arrive in Russia, settled on the banks of the Chortitza River, a tributary of the Dnieper River. This village became known as the Chortitza Colony. It later became known as the Old Colony because it was the first Mennonite village in the area. Establishing a farming community in previously untouched land was very challenging. The people lived in sod huts for the first while. The first settlers in Russia were the poorest of the Mennonites in Prussia, and although the Russian government promised that each family would receive 500 Rubbles, many only received it some 8 years later. In spite of the intense hardships experienced by these settlers, the Chortitza Colony quickly grew into 15 separate villages with 89,100 acres of land by 1800. A second Colony, Molotschna, was established one hundred miles southeast of Chortitz a few years later.
During these initial years in Russia there were very few regulations imposed on the Mennonites by their Russian rulers. Schools were established by each village, but many parents often kept their children at home to help with the immense amount of chores to be done. Each village elected their own teachers from the community and most schools used the Bible and the Catechism as their school texts. In most villages, the schoolhouse also doubled as a church building. Each village elected their own village mayor and the whole Chortitz colony also elected a leader, who acted as a delegate to the Russian authorities and handled all other outside business.
By the beginning of the 1800’s, the Prussian government began to realize the impact of losing many of its valuable and contributing citizens. In order to slow the flow of emigrants, Prussia relaxed the land taxes and placed a tax of 10% of all one owned on anyone leaving the country. This, along with Napoleon’s march on Moscow, slowed the amount of emigrants drastically, but it still continued nonetheless. The Mennonite settlers who immigrated to Russia in the mid 1800’s were no longer granted the same benefits and exemptions as the early settlers. They had to pay for the land they settled and were no longer given military exemption. In fact, the government was threatening to lift all military exemptions they had priorly granted. Being a non-resistant people, the Mennonites felt that this was a breach of Russia’s original promises. Russian law also now required that the Mennonites teach the Russian language in their schools. This made the colony leaders anxious and they feared that this new turn of events would force the Mennonites to become integrated into mainstream society and lose their culture and values.
Five Mennonite delegates were sent to Saint Petersburg between 1871 and 1873 in order to appeal federal decisions. When the Russian officials realized that a mass exodus could occur among the Mennonites, they once again promised exemption of military service. They would, however, still be required to participate in an alternate service. Even with this allowance, Mennonite leadership feared that the Russians would continue to withdraw privileges and would demand more and more of the Mennonites. Indeed, they recognized the government as a necessary entity in the governance of a country and they took care to obey the laws of Russia in all ways that did not interfere with the beliefs of their faith. They also regularly prayed for the government and during the Crimean War they even donated a tremendous amount of medical and food supplies and took in and cared for 5,000 wounded men and women. The Mennonite hospitals regularly admitted Russians, and people built strong business relationships and friendships among their Russian neighbours upon learning the Russian language.
Many Mennonites feared they would need to leave Russia or they would slowly lose their autonomy. Between 1873 and 1884 approximately 18,000 Mennonites left Russia. With the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the Mennonite villages were repeatedly terrorized. One of the leaders was Nestor Machno, a man who had worked as a farm hand among the Mennonites. He held many grievances against them and had his men plunder and utterly destroy many Mennonite villages. This resulted in a dark time for the Mennonites, and many young men left their stance on non-resistance as some witnessed the cold murder of their parents and rape of their wives and sisters. This resulted in the formation of a group of men who took up arms against Machno called “die Selbstschutz”, which translates as the self protectors. During World War I, many of the Mennonites who had remained in Russia lost their lives as a result of various illnesses, such as epidemic typhus. Many also had their homes plundered and some families were massacred by bandits. After this time of war, revolution, anarchy and famine, approximately 25, 000 more Mennonites immigrated to North America in the 1920’s. After World War II another 12, 000 Mennonite refugees were accepted in Canada and the United States.
Five Mennonite delegates were sent to Saint Petersburg between 1871 and 1873 in order to appeal federal decisions. When the Russian officials realized that a mass exodus could occur among the Mennonites, they once again promised exemption of military service. They would, however, still be required to participate in an alternate service. Even with this allowance, Mennonite leadership feared that the Russians would continue to withdraw privileges and would demand more and more of the Mennonites. Indeed, they recognized the government as a necessary entity in the governance of a country and they took care to obey the laws of Russia in all ways that did not interfere with the beliefs of their faith. They also regularly prayed for the government and during the Crimean War they even donated a tremendous amount of medical and food supplies and took in and cared for 5,000 wounded men and women. The Mennonite hospitals regularly admitted Russians, and people built strong business relationships and friendships among their Russian neighbours upon learning the Russian language.
Many Mennonites feared they would need to leave Russia or they would slowly lose their autonomy. Between 1873 and 1884 approximately 18,000 Mennonites left Russia. With the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the Mennonite villages were repeatedly terrorized. One of the leaders was Nestor Machno, a man who had worked as a farm hand among the Mennonites. He held many grievances against them and had his men plunder and utterly destroy many Mennonite villages. This resulted in a dark time for the Mennonites, and many young men left their stance on non-resistance as some witnessed the cold murder of their parents and rape of their wives and sisters. This resulted in the formation of a group of men who took up arms against Machno called “die Selbstschutz”, which translates as the self protectors. During World War I, many of the Mennonites who had remained in Russia lost their lives as a result of various illnesses, such as epidemic typhus. Many also had their homes plundered and some families were massacred by bandits. After this time of war, revolution, anarchy and famine, approximately 25, 000 more Mennonites immigrated to North America in the 1920’s. After World War II another 12, 000 Mennonite refugees were accepted in Canada and the United States.
Above: The long journey many of the Mennonites took across land and sea.
Below: Videos (taken from YouTube) on Mennonite history.
Below: Videos (taken from YouTube) on Mennonite history.
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Resources:
Reuben Epp, The Story of Low German & Plautdietsch (Hillsboro, KS: The Reader's Press, 1993), 56, 57, 65, 84, 85.
Cornelius J. Dyck, An Introduction to Mennonite History (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1993), 164-175, 184-186, 196.
Photos retrieved from:
http://princessofeboli.wordpress.com/page/4/
http://www.mhsc.ca/index.php?content=http://www.mhsc.ca/mennos/wmigrations.html
httpthecommonlife.com.auc1-russian-mennonites
Reuben Epp, The Story of Low German & Plautdietsch (Hillsboro, KS: The Reader's Press, 1993), 56, 57, 65, 84, 85.
Cornelius J. Dyck, An Introduction to Mennonite History (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1993), 164-175, 184-186, 196.
Photos retrieved from:
http://princessofeboli.wordpress.com/page/4/
http://www.mhsc.ca/index.php?content=http://www.mhsc.ca/mennos/wmigrations.html
httpthecommonlife.com.auc1-russian-mennonites