M. Melnychuk, Master's Student

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2022.154-155.6


GERMAN COLONISTS IN SOUTHERN UKRAINE: LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE LIFE OF SETTLERS IN 1787–1914


The article describes the reasons for German emigration to the Southern Ukraine (political, socio-economic, demographic and religious) and the motives of Empress Catherine ІІ and the government of the empire for inviting this ethnic group (the need to develop the Northern Black Sea region, the goal of weakening the Ukrainian influence in the region and securing the southern borders of the empire from the Ottoman-Tatar attacks). 4 stages of German migration (I stage – 1787–1803, II stage – 1804–1842, III stage – 1842–1871, IV stage – from 1871) are established. The main immigrant groups are characterized by religion – German Lutherans, German Catholics and Mennonites are determined. The legal basis, which was governed by the settlers during their life on the territory of the Russian Empire, was studied: in this scientific note the facts touch on the field of land legal relations, religious legislation and the exemption of young men from military service. The scientific article reveals the theses of specific legal acts, such as the manifestos of Catherine II, the "Plan for the settlement of the Novorossiysk Territory", the "Compendium of Laws on Foreign Colonies", the "Rules on the Obligatory Service of Mennonites", the "Statute of Spiritual Affairs of Foreign Confessions in the Russian Empire" etc. In the work, the author developed a table with the succession of administrations that managed the affairs of the colonists in the period between 1763 and 1914. The peculiarities of traditional German self-government, the functioning of self-government structures and the financial autonomy of the colonies are clarified. The main forms of management of German immigrants on Ukrainian lands (colony, farm, collective farm) are established. Also in this article are analyzed the nature of inheritance – "junior right" and the "marka" as a form of land organization of the settlers.

The characteristic features of the cultural life of Germans (associations, professional clubs, charitable organizations), education (organization of the educational process, book publishing), the state of medicine in the colonies are revealed. The presentation of the material reveals a gradual change in the attitude of the Russian ruling elite towards the German colonists during the period studied by the author.

Keywords: German colonists, Southern Ukraine, legislative framework, self-government, mennonites, junior right, marka.


Submitted: 30.12.2022

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