Russian Germans Day 2024

Russian Germans Day is a German Memorial Day taking place on the 28th of August in 2024. That day is observed since 1982 and commemorates August 28 in 1941. Due to the decree of the Soviet leaders, after the beginning of World War II the Russian Germans were deported from the European parts of the Soviet Union to the East within a few weeks. The destinations were Siberia, Kazakhstan and the Ural. This forced relocation aimed to prevent collaboration between the Russian Germans and Nazi-Germany.

Most of these deported Russian Germans were between 14 and 60 years old. They had to work in labor camps. Several hundred thousands of them died due to the miserable working living and medical conditions. Russian Germans are people of German origin belonging to the ethnical German minority in Russia, who in the meantime have moved to Germany in large numbers. Often the term Russian Germans also refers to people of German descent living in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. To avoid confusion it is better to call them “Germans from Russia”.

While the Russian Germans were accused their German descent, Germans from Russia in Germany are often classed as foreigners or Russians. That is most often the case when they speak German with an accent or speak Russian among each other. Altogether the Russian Germans are quiet well-integrated compared to other groups with migration background. Russian Germans Day reminds of the difficulties on that way to integration.

More dates:

• Russian Germans Day on Aug 28, 2025
• Russian Germans Day on Aug 28, 2026
• Russian Germans Day on Aug 28, 2027