Wir Wollen Deutsche Bleiben: The Story of the Volga Germans

by George J. Walters

The story of the Volga Germans. Easy-to-read book, in English, packed with photos, poems, songs and stories of Volga Germans — both in Russia and the U.S. The complete history of a people that helped settle and create the agriculture of the Midwest. A poignant glance at what life would be like if your forebears hadn’t migrated.

Genres: History

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book as my family on one side is German from the Volga River area of Russia. They migrated from German to Russia in 1763. There is a long history of some good times and many bad times while they lived in Russia. From about 1873 to 1920 many migrated to the Americas. Eventually the Germans in Russia were rounded up in 1941 during the war and sent on long travels in cattle cars to Siberia and Kazakstan. Many died enroute and those that lived spent years in labor camps or abandoned to be on their own.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of German immigration to Russia and then 100 years later to the mid west where they established the plains states as the bread basket of the world. Told mostly from the author's family point of view, they were Catholic immigrants from the Volga region of Katharienenstadt. Could use a serious re-editing as many points were repeated and clarity on some points was lacking. He did not use endnotes or footnotes, so some of his points are difficult to verify.

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