Molotschna

The colony Molotschna ( in plaut Dietscher Language: Molosch, after its main town also called semi- Town) is a former russlandmennonitische settlement on the territory of the present Zaporizhia Oblast in Ukraine. The area of the settlement is bounded on the west by the river Molotschna ( or Russian Molotschnaja ). From this, the settlement got its name. Today, the country is administratively largely to the Rajons Tokmak, Tschernihiwka and Rajon Melitopol. The nearest large city is Melitopol to the southwest.

Molotschna was founded in 1804 by Mennonite settlers from West Prussia and consisted of 57 villages. It was the second (after the colony Chortitza ) and largest colony of Mennonites in Russia. After the move, and the deportation of the German end of the Second World War living in these villages, where they exist today, mostly Ukrainians and Russians.

History

After 1789, the settlement was founded Chortitza, visited Mennonites from West Prussia Chortitza. Although the settlers in Chortitza had trouble finding the Mennonite emigration appeared tempting in view of the situation in West Prussia to Russia. The Russian government wanted to settle more groups than the current pattern Mennonite farmers. 1800 adopted the Russian Tsar Paul I a privilege to the Mennonites in which they should be freed "for all time " from military service. In West Prussia, however, hampered by the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. land purchases for the Mennonites, who would not military service. Another reason could have been fear of changes in the wake of the French Revolution. They sought refuge in the supposedly secure Russia.

1803, the first settlers arrived in the already existing settlement Chortitza and wintered there. 1804, the first villages were founded. For the settlers a piece of land has been reserved at the river Molotschnaja by the Russian government. Each settler could desjatin 65 ( well 71 acres ) to get land. In contrast to the settlement in Chortitza now emigrated also wealthy Mennonites. They sold their farms and brought the money (after deducting tax in Prussia) to Russia. Therefore, they could build their economies easier. In the years 1803-1806, 365 families came to Molotschna. By the Napoleonic Wars, a further emigration was once prevented. 1819-20 were 254 more families to Molotschna. As in 1835, immigration to Molotschna was completed, a total of 1200 families had immigrated with about 6000 people. The settlement had about 120,000 desjatin country. Part of it should not be distributed and are reserved for future generations. For the growing number should be supplied to families.

A total of 57 villages were founded:

Note: * Today in Rajon Tschernihiwka; Rajon ** today in Melitopol; Rest in Rajon Tokmak

The inhabitants of Molotschna shared the fate of Chortitzaer settlement, they were evacuated in 1943 in the Warthegau and later deported by the Red Army as they marched back to Germany to the Soviet Union. There they were sent to Siberia and Kazakhstan. Many of their descendants now live in Germany, Canada, the United States and South America. A large part of them is now multilingual and is fluent in the local language also Plautdietsch.

Sons and daughters of the Molotschna Mennonite colony

• Johann Cornies (1789-1848), an important Mennonite in Russia, promoter of agriculture and a progressive approach to education
• Abram B. Enns (1887-1993), interpreters, scripture and educator