Treffen Tuesday
January 27, 2026 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
“The Gates of Europe – The History of Ukraine from a Germans from Russia Perspective”
Presented by Wayne Garman
Ukraine is rich in natural resources, especially for agriculture. Over the centuries, these resources, along with Ukraine’s location, have made it an invasion target of neighboring empires. Ukraine’s history is one of much tragedy, sorrow and hardships. Our German ancestors who lived there were significantly affected by Ukrainian history.
This presentation will cover the time period from the late 1700s expansion of the Russian Empire into the Ukraine Steppe, and how invitations to farmers to settle this newly conquered area brought our ancestors to Ukraine from Germany. I will discuss the development of the German colonies in Ukraine and how changes in Russian policies motivated immigration to the New World. I will also show how changes brought about by World War I upended the lives of Germans in Ukraine, resulting in 30 years of horrors and the eventual elimination of the German presence in Ukraine.
About the Speaker
Wayne Garman grew up on a mixed farm southeast of the town of Allan, Saskatchewan, Canada, a predominantly Germans from Russia town near Saskatoon in central Saskatchewan. His father’s family came from the Kutschurgan colonies of Elsass and Strassburg. His mother’s family is Mennonite and came from the Chortitza region, northeast of the Black Sea, from the village of Neu Chortitza in the Baratov Colony. History has always been an interest, and upon semi-retirement, he completed a Master’s of History degree from Texas State University. Historical research and writing are his retirement career. Wayne has presented at a number of AHSGR & GRHS conventions in the past few years and has written articles for the AHSGR Journal.
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