the Volga Germans

In Russian and European historiography D. V. Gorbachev’s article presents the first example of a critical analysis dealing with memoirs of I. A. Fessler, being a German thinker, public and religious figure, writer and freemason. The author purposes to estimate the reliability of information about Fessler’s stay in Saratov Volga region in 1810–1820th which is described in these memoirs. In connection with this aim author ascertains the subjects, which are passed by Fessler over (circumstances of his journey from St.

The article deals with the history of the Mennonite village life in the Volga Region at the beginning of the XX century, as seen through the prism of the first years of the Soviet power and the Volga region famine of 1921. This article is based on archival documents and historical sources of personal origin – diaries, letters, memoirs, etc.