Emblem of the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

Coat of arms of Volga German ASSR

Emblem of the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

The Emblem of the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was the official symbol of the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Volga German ASSR), a territorial entity within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) of the Soviet Union. The emblem was used from the establishment of the Volga German ASSR in 1924 until its dissolution in 1941.

Design and Symbolism[edit | edit source]

The emblem of the Volga German ASSR was designed in accordance with the principles of socialist heraldry, which were common among the emblems of the various Soviet republics. The emblem featured the traditional symbols of communism and the Soviet state, including the hammer and sickle, which represented the unity of the workers and peasants.

The emblem also included a rising sun, symbolizing the future of the Soviet people, and a red star, representing the rule of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The emblem was framed by a wreath of wheat, symbolizing agriculture and the fertility of the land.

Inscription[edit | edit source]

The emblem bore the inscription in both Russian and German, reflecting the bilingual nature of the Volga German ASSR. The Russian inscription read "РСФСР" (RSFSR) and "АССР Немцев Поволжья" (ASSR of the Volga Germans), while the German inscription read "RSFSR" and "ASSR der Wolgadeutschen".

Historical Context[edit | edit source]

The Volga German ASSR was established in 1924 as a homeland for the Volga Germans, an ethnic German minority in the Soviet Union. The creation of the ASSR was part of the Soviet policy of korenizatsiya, which aimed to promote the cultural and political rights of national minorities within the Soviet Union.

However, the Volga German ASSR was dissolved in 1941 following the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. The Volga Germans were accused of collaborating with the enemy and were deported to Siberia and Central Asia by the Soviet government. The emblem ceased to be used following the dissolution of the ASSR.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

The emblem of the Volga German ASSR remains a symbol of the historical presence of the Volga Germans in the Soviet Union. It is a reminder of the complex history of ethnic minorities in the Soviet state and the impact of Soviet policies on these communities.