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Contents.Ethnic composition Baltic Germans were not a purely German ethnic group. The early crusaders, tradesmen and craftsmen often married local women, as there were no German women available. Some noble families, such as the, claimed descent through such women from native chieftains. Many of the German soldiers died during the of 1558–1583. New German arrivals came to the area.

During this time the ( Plattdeutsch) of the original settlers was gradually replaced by the ( Hochdeutsch) of the new settlers.In the course of their 700-year history, Baltic German families had ethnic German roots, but also intermarried extensively with Estonians, Livonians and Latvians, as well as with other Northern or Central European peoples, such as Danes, Swedes, Irish, English, Scots, Poles, Hungarians and Dutch. In cases where intermarriage occurred, members of the other ethnic groups frequently assimilated into German culture, adopting German language, customs, and family names. They were then considered Germans, leading to the of the Baltic Germans.

The families of and of (1847-1912), who had emigrated from the British Isles, married into and became part of the Baltic-German community. Citizens (upper panel) and commoners (lower panel) in medieval Livonia, 16th centurySmall numbers of began to settle in the area in the late 12th century when traders and Christian missionaries began to visit the coastal lands inhabited by tribes who spoke.

Systematic conquest and settlement of these lands was completed during the of the 12th and 13th centuries which resulted in creation of the confederation, under the protection of Roman Popes. After the heavy defeat in the 1236 the became a part of the.During the next three centuries German-speaking soldiers, clergymen, merchants and craftsmen constituted the majority of the quickly growing urban population, as the native inhabitants usually were prohibited from settling there. Membership in the and active trade links with Russia and Europe increased wealth of Baltic German traders.Polish-Lithuanian and Swedish rule. Polish-Lithuanian and Swedish lands in the BalticsAs the military power of the Teutonic Knights weakened during the 15th century wars with the, and, the Livonian branch in the north began to pursue its own policies. When the Prussian branch of the Order secularized in 1525 and became a Polish vassal state as the, the Livonian branch remained independent while searching for a similar way to secularize.

Livonia became mostly Protestant during the.In 1558, the began the against which soon involved the Kingdoms of Poland, Sweden, and Denmark and lasted for 20 years. In 1561, Terra Mariana ceased to exist and was divided among Denmark (which took the island of ), Sweden (which took northern Estonia) and Poland, which annexed the newly created, and granted the, a vassal state of Poland-Lithuania, to the last Master of the Livonian Order. The secularized land was divided among the remaining knights who formed the basis of.The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia existed as a German-speaking country until 1795, while the northern part of Duchy of Livonia was conquered by Sweden which controlled between 1561 and 1710 and between 1621 and 1710, having signed an agreement with the local Baltic German nobles not to undermine their political rights and autonomy.The Academia Gustaviana (now ) was founded in 1632 by King of Sweden. It remained the only institution of higher education in the former Livonian territories and became the intellectual focus of the Baltic Germans.At the end of the 17th century Sweden introduced the land in its Baltic provinces and properties held by German nobility became the property of. That effectively turned serfs into free peasants, but it would be overturned when Russia conquered these territories in 1710 and restored the rights of German landowners under the.Russia's Baltic governorates (1710–1917). In LatviaBetween 1710 and 1795, following Russia's success in the and the three, the areas inhabited by Baltic Germans eventually became of -, and.Autonomy The Baltic provinces remained autonomous and were self-governed by the local.

Until the imperial reforms of 1880s local government was in the hands of the of each province, in which only members of the matriculated held membership and cities were ruled by German.Between 1710 and approximately 1880 Baltic German ruling class enjoyed great autonomy from the Imperial government and achieved great political influence in the Imperial court. Starting from the 18th century Baltic German nobility increasingly assumed leading posts in the Russian imperial government, after all, Russia was ruled by a German dynasty of, and Baltic Germans provided a well-educated, Westernized elite.Germans, other than the local estate-owners, mainly lived in the cities, such as,. As late as the mid-19th century the population of many of these cities still had a German majority, with Estonian, Latvian or Jewish minorities.

By 1867 's population was 42.9% German. Until the late 19th century most of the professional and learned classes in the region, the, were Germans.German political and ceased in the 1880s, when replaced German administration and schooling with the usage of. After 1885 provincial governors usually were Russians.Rise of native peoples Years of peace under Russian rule brought increasing prosperity and many new manor houses were built in country estates, but economic exploitation worsened situation of the native population.For examples, see and.The native and population enjoyed fewer rights under the Baltic German nobility compared to the farmers in Germany, Sweden, or Poland. In contrast to the Baltic Germans, Estonians and Latvians had restricted civil rights and resided mostly in rural areas as, tradesmen, or as servants in manors and urban homes. They had no rights to leave their masters and no last names. This was in keeping with the social scheme of things in, and lasted until the 19th century, when from brought those inhabitants increased civil freedoms and some political rights.In 1804 Livonian peasant law was introduced by Imperial government, aimed at improving conditions for serfs. Serfdom was abolished in all Baltic provinces between 1816 and 1820, about half a century earlier than in Russia proper.

For some time there was no outward tension between the German speakers and indigenous residents.If earlier any Latvian or Estonian who managed to rise above his class was expected to Germanize and to forget his roots, by the middle of 19th century German urban classes began to feel increasing competition from the natives, who after and produced their own middle class and moved to German and Jewish dominated towns and cities in increasing numbers.The led to attacks against the Baltic German landowners, the burning of manors, and the torture and even killing of members of the nobility. During the 1905 Revolution groups of rebels burned over 400 manor houses and German owned buildings and killed 82 Germans. In response Cossack punitive expeditions aided by German nobles and officers burned down hundreds of farms, arrested and deported thousands and summarily executed at least 2,000 people.Reaction to 1905 Revolution included a scheme by Karl Baron von Manteuffel-Szoege and Silvio Broedrich-Kurmahlen to pacify the countryside by settling up to 20,000 ethnic German farmers, mostly from, in Courland. World War I. Main articles: andThe Baltic Germans' rule and class privileges came to the end with the demise of the Russian Empire (due to the of October 1917) and the independence of and in 1918–1919.Baltic Germans greatly suffered under Bolshevik regimes in Estonia and Latvia. While short-lived, they pursued against Germans, often killing them purely because of their nationality.

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After the collapse of the German Empire, Baltic Germans in Estonia began forming volunteer units to defend against the Bolshevik threat. On November 27, 1918 this was authorized by the Estonian government, and the Volunteer Baltic Battalion ( Freiwilligen Baltenbataillon) was formed under the command of Colonel.During the Estonian and Latvian independence wars of 1918–1920, many Baltic Germans signed voluntarily into the newly formed Estonian and Latvian armies to help secure the independence of these countries from Russia. These Baltic German military units became known as the in Latvia and in Estonia. The State archives of Estonia and Latvia keep individual military records of each person who fought in this war.Baltische Landeswehr units took Riga on May 22, 1919 which was followed by White Terror in which up to 2,000 people, mostly Latvians, were shot as suspected Bolshevik supporters.Baltic German outlying estates were frequent targets of local Bolsheviks (as portrayed in the film, ) and the combination of local Bolsheviks and nationalists following independence brought about land nationalisations and a displacement of Baltic Germans from positions of authority. Baltic Germans of the Livonian Governorate found themselves in two new countries, both of which introduced sweeping agrarian reforms aimed at the large land owners, an absolute majority of whom were Germans.As a result of the and the subsequent, many Baltic Germans fled to Germany.

After 1919, many Baltic Germans felt obliged to depart the newly independent states for, but many stayed as ordinary citizens.In 1925 there were 70,964 Germans in Latvia (3.6%) and 62,144 in 1935 (3.2% of population). Riga remained by far the largest German center with 38,523 Germans residing there in 1935, while Tallinn then had 6,575 Germans.While the German landed class soon lost most of their lands after the agrarian reforms, they continued to work in their professions and to lead their companies. German cultural autonomy was respected. The in Latvia and in Estonia participated in elections and won seats.At the same time, as both young states built their institutions this often reduced the status of their minorities. In Latvia, children of mixed marriages were registered as Latvians while in Estonia they took the nationality of their fathers, who increasingly were Estonians. This quickly reduced the number of German children. German place names were eliminated from public use.

German congregations lost their churches. Was given to an Estonian congregation in 1927. In Riga was lost and taken away after another.Agrarian reforms. Main article:At the start of independence Baltic Germans owned 58% of land in Estonia and 48% in Latvia. Radical were implemented in both countries to break German power and to distribute land to the veterans of independence wars and landless peasants.

This largely destroyed the landed class of German noble families and their economic base.On October 10, 1919 the Estonian parliament expropriated 1,065 estates (96.6% of all estates). March 1, 1926 law set the compensation to the former owners of arable land at about 3% of its market value and no compensation at all for the forests. This almost instantly bankrupted the German noble class, even if they were allowed to keep some 50 ha of their lands.On September 16, 1920 the nationalized 1,300 estates with 3.7 million hectares of land. Former German owners were allowed to keep 50 ha of land and farm equipment. In 1924, the decided that no compensation would be paid to former owners. In 1929, the Saeima voted that veterans of the could not receive any land. Estonia In Estonia, there was only one German party, which from 1926 was led by , editor of Revaler Bote.

Their leading parliamentarian was Werner Hasselblatt (1890–1958). Germans never received ministerial posts in governments. The three largest minorities Germans, Swedes and Russians sometimes formed election coalitions. The Deutsch-baltische Partei in Estland was established to defend the interests of German landowners, who wanted to receive compensation for their nationalized lands and properties. After land nationalization they received no compensation, but could keep plots up to 50 ha which could not support their manor houses.Germans were banned from governmental and military positions. Many Germans sold their properties and emigrated to Scandinavia or Western Europe. Most of the grand manor houses were taken over by schools, hospitals, local administration and museums.Estonia's Baltic German population was smaller than Latvia's, so as Estonians continued to fill professional positions such as law and medicine, there was less of a leadership role for the Baltic Germans.

Baron Wilhelm, leader of the Baltic German cultural association between 1933 and 1938 was included in the Estonian Council of State after 1937 as a token representative of minorities. The last leader of Baltic German Cultural administration was.On February 12, 1925 Estonia adapted the Cultural Autonomy and national Minorities act which provided for some cultural autonomy of Germans. Despite this, German community in Estonia continued to decline as the majority of young people chose to emigrate. By 1934 there were 16.346 Baltic Germans in Estonia, 1.5% of the total population.Estonia allowed German schools in German language, they were overseen by the Gesellschaft Deutsche Schulhilfe, which was part of the Union of German Societies in Estonia. After adoption of the Minority law of February 5, 1925 the Baltic German Cultural Council was created on November 1, 1925. In 1928, German schools were attended by 3,456 pupils.

Building of the Large Guild in Riga, 1918In Latvia, Baltic Germans remained a politically active and organized ethnic group, although they lost some influence after the. A couple of times Germans received ministerial posts in coalition governments. Commander of Latvia's Navy between 1919 and 1931 was Admiral Archibald Count von.Six, later seven, German parties existed and formed a coalition in the. The leading politicians were Baron Wilhelm Friedrich Karl von Fircks, leader of the Baltic-German People's Party and, editor in chief of the newspaper and leader of the Baltic-German Democratic Party.

Increased activity of National Socialist supporters in the German community led to the resignation of Schiemann from the Rigasche Rundschau in 1933.Minority cultural affairs were overseen by the Ministry of Culture and the German section was led by pastor Karl Keller (1868–1939) and later by Dr. Wolfgang Wachtsmuth. In 1923, there were 12.168 pupils in German schools.

The Herder Institute, a private German university with three faculties (Theology, Jurisprudence and Political Science and Philosophy) was established.In 1926, the German community introduced voluntary self-taxation, asking all Germans to contribute up to 3% of their monthly income to community activities. In 1928, the Baltic German National Community was established as the central representative body of Baltic Germans in Latvia.Educational autonomy of Germans was severely limited in 1931–1933, when the Minister of Education introduced a policy of latvianization in minority schools. On July 18, 1934 the autonomous German schools were brought under complete control of the Ministry of Education.After the May 15, 1934 coup all associations and independent business organizations had to shut down, this affected the German community especially hard, as they lost their ancient communal centers –, and all of their property was nationalized. Then followed a wave of takeovers of Jewish, Russian and German businesses – banks, factories and trading companies were purchased by state owned banks at set rates in order to reduce minority control over businesses.Resettlement of all Baltic Germans (1939–1944).

Boxed goods of leaving Germans, Riga 1939As a result of the secret agreements of the between and the in 1939, Estonia and Latvia were assigned to the 'Soviet sphere of influence'. One of the main conditions posed by to in August 1939 was the prior transfer of all ethnic Germans living in Estonia and Latvia to areas under German military control.

These became known as the. Stalin proceeded to set up Soviet military bases in Estonia and Latvia in late 1939.In a speech to on October 6, 1939 with was broadcast live on radio, Hitler announced that German minorities should be resettled in the Reich (Back home to Reich, ). Resettlement was overseen by who created a new Reich Commisariat for the Strengthening of Germandom for this purpose.Treaties were signed with Estonia and Latvia in 1939 and 1940 concerning the emigration of Baltic Germans and the liquidation of their educational, cultural, and religious institutions. Total domination flash game. Nazi Germany succeeded in getting the Baltic Germans to abandon their homes and homeland in haste. Due to the imposition of wartime rationing, Germans were banned from taking along any valuables, objects of historic value, fuels and even food. Massive sell-off of household items and small businesses followed.

Some better preserved tombstones in Riga's.During the 50-year-long, Soviet occupation authorities governing the and the, politically empowered by their victory in, were keen to erase any traces of ethnic German rule in past centuries. Numerous statues, monuments, structures or landmarks with German writing were destroyed, vandalized or left to ruin. The largest Baltic German cemeteries in Estonia, and, both standing since 1774, were completely destroyed by the Soviet authorities. Of Riga, the largest burial ground of Baltic Germans in Latvia standing since 1773, also had the vast majority of its graves destroyed by the Soviets.1989 to present. Main articles: andThe present-day governments of Estonia and Latvia, who regained their independence in 1991, generally take a positive, or sometimes neutral, view towards the contributions of the Baltic Germans in the development of their cities and countries throughout their history. An occasional exception to this comes with some criticism in relation to the major landowners, who controlled most of the rural areas of the Baltics, and the ethnic Estonians and Latvians, until 1918. After Estonia regained independence from the on August 20, 1991, the exiled association of the German Baltic nobility sent an official message to the president-to-be that no member of the association would claim proprietary rights to their former Estonian lands.

This, and the fact that the first German ambassadors to and were both Baltic Germans, helped to further reconcile the Baltic Germans with these two countries. Cooperation between Baltic German societies and the governments of Estonia and Latvia has made the restoration of many small Baltic German plaques and landmarks possible, such as monuments to those who fought in the 1918–1920 War of Independence.Since 1989, many elderly Baltic Germans, or their descendants, have taken holidays to Estonia and Latvia to look for traces of their own past, their ancestral homes, and their family histories. Most of the remaining manor houses have new owners, and operate as hotels that are open to the public.Notable Baltic Germans. Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly.

Russia postage stamp, 2011Baltic Germans played leading roles in the society of what are now Estonia and Latvia throughout most of the period from 13th to mid-20th century, with many of them becoming noted scientists or explorers. A number of Baltic Germans served as ranking generals in the and, including, and.Many Baltic Germans (such as and Prince ) sided with the and related anti-Bolshevik forces (like the and the movement) during the.See also.