Russian Germans / Rossians and Russians

[atacama@global.co.za]

Dear Daniel,

>  But "russkii nemets"? - I 
have heard it said that this expression is perfectly normal (e.g., the 
large emigre population living in Berlin), while others have said it is 
impossible. 

Perfectly normal, and not only does it refer to the large
emigree population in Berlin and elsewhere in Germany,
(refugees having taken out German citizenship), but it also 
refers to large, almost 2-million (before the exodus back to 
the ancestral homeland Germany), ethnic Germans living in
Russia with Russian citizenship, such as the settlers on the
Volga since 1764....known also as Volga Germans, 
(povolzhskie nemtzy), Black Sea Germans, Siberian Germans, 
Volhynian Germans, etc/

If one were to be pedantic, then one would call
<ethnic Germans in Russia> = <nemtzy Rossii>

<Russkie nemtzy> would signify more Russian Germans,
those of German blood but fairly integrated into Russia,
and well as colloquially 
ethnic Russian emigrees living in Germany.

Yes, I know this is not always logical and sounds contradictory,
but, as said, it is a well-used colloquialism. 

When speaking loosely, conversationally, and not pedantically,
it could refer to a 
Russian living in Germany or a 
German living in Russia.
- so it depends on the topic of conversation.

Nemtzi Rossii is used more for the ethnic German colonists
(farmer/settlers from 1764 onwards),
who lived once in closed village communities,
safeguarding their German language, religion, traditions, etc.

Hope this makes it slightly clearer.

Vera Beljakova-Miller  


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