Germans of Kazakhstan
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The Germans of Kazakhstan are a minority in Kazakhstan, and make up small percentage of the population. Most of them are descendants of Volga Germans, who have been deported to Kazakh SSR (Now Kazakhstan) from Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic at the beginning of World War II and were subjects to labor slavery. About one third of them did not survive the labor camps.
After the deportation, Volga Germans as well as other deported minorities, have been forcibly assimilated into Russians. The naturalization methods have included the prohibition of German language, religion practice, education in native language, ethnic holiday observance; ban of relocation, etc.
After centuries of significant contribution to Russian prosperity, Volga Germans have been made enemies of the state with no relation neither to fascism nor to World War II. Tragedy of their fate has been relived to some degree in two after-war generations (with a higher degree for the first after-war generation). It was the main driver of Volga Germans’ mass-immigration to Germany, after the fall of Soviet Union.
Due to German Right of return law (that enables deported ethnic Germans return to Germany), Volga Germans were able to utilize a subsidized immigration process for the return to land of their ancestors.
Nowadays, the remaining numbers of Germans in Kazakhstan are urban dwellers. In the capital Astana, they make up about 6% of the population (unconfirmed).
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