Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

Volga German ASSR Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика Немцев Поволжья / Autonome Sozialistische Sowjetrepublik der Wolgadeutschen
1918–1941
Flag Coat of arms
Government	Autonomous Socialist Republic

The Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) (German: Autonome Sozialistische Sowjetrepublik der Wolgadeutschen; Russian: Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика Немцев Поволжья) was an autonomous republic within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR). Established in 1924 out of the 1918-founded Workers' Commune of Volga Germans, it existed until its dissolution in 1941. The ASSR was the "first standing German socialist republic" and a unique example of Soviet autonomy for an ethnic minority.

Origins and Establishment

After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks supported national self-determination. In 1918 the "Workers' Commune of the Volga Germans" was created. On 19 October 1924, it was elevated to an autonomous socialist republic by decree of the Soviet authorities. The capital was a city called "Engels".

Society, Administration, and Culture

The Volga German ASSR was divided into 22 cantons. By 1939, its population included approximately 60.5% Germans, 25.7% Russians, 9.6% Ukrainians, and minorities such as Mordvins, Russians, Chinese, Jews, Poles, and Estonians.

Education and culture thrived:

There were 171 national secondary schools, 11 technical schools, 3 work schools, and 5 universities.

The Republic had numerous cultural institutions: 17 collective farm clubs, a German National Theater, a children's theater, and 21 German-language newspapers (such as "Rote Jugend").

Literacy rates were exceptionally high.

Government

The ASSR was governed by the Central Executive Committee of Soviets, later replaced in 1937 by the Supreme Soviet (elected by universal suffrage). The Council of People's Commissars was responsible for executive affairs, managing departments such as internal affairs, justice, health, education, finance, agriculture, labor, and welfare. Oversight organs included the Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate and the Economic Council.

Dissolution and Deportation

With the outbreak of the German-Soviet war in 1941, ethnic Germans in the USSR came under suspicion. In August 1941, the republic was dissolved on orders of the Soviet authorities. Its territory was divided among the Saratov and Stalingrad oblasts. The entire ethnic German population was affected by repression and mass deportation; after 1945, some Volga Germans returned to Germany, but the republic itself was never reestablished.

See also

Bavarian Soviet Republic