Germans from Russia Heritage Collection

09/08/2026

Wyatt and Sawyer will explore the experiences of ethnic Germans who remained in Russia amid the intensifying Russification efforts from 1871 through the post-world War era. The presentation explores the numerous historical events that shaped their lives including cultural repression, the impact of the Bolshevik Revolution, forced deportation, and hardships endured during the Holodomor and World War ll.

Through compelling first-hand accounts and historical analysis, the presenters shed light on the resilience and struggles of the Germans from Russia Community that stayed.

https://ahsgr.org/event/treffen-tuesday-13-18-9/

09/08/2026

GRHC exhibit featured in latest Herd Magazine

The NDSU Foundation's latest edition of Herd Magazine includes a feature story titled "In Search of a Homeland" highlighting the new museum exhibit at NDSU that gives one of North Dakota’s most essential and least-known stories the home it deserves.

The exhibit covers the full arc of the Germans from Russia experience: immigration and homesteading, foodways and faith, language and community traditions, and the resilience that carried families through hardship across two continents.

“This exhibit is not just about dates and historical events,” Jeremy Kopp ’11, GRHC outreach and operations coordinator, said. “It is about families, faith, food, hardship, resilience, and the deep sense of community that has carried this story forward.”

Read the story here:

A new museum exhibit at NDSU gives one of North Dakota’s most essential and least-known stories the home it deserves.

09/07/2026

Did you know Lawrence Welk had a favorite apple crisp recipe?

"Business & Leisure Homemakers Cookbook, Strasburg, ND", includes Lawrence Welk’s Favorite Apple Crisp along with many other autumn favorites, some Germans from Russia, and some community favorites:
🍎 Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings
🎃 Pumpkin Blachenta
🍂 Apple Turnovers

Fall is the perfect time to rediscover some of the recipes tucked inside our cookbook collection. Whether you’re looking for a familiar favorite or something you haven’t made in years, there’s plenty of inspiration for fall baking!

Order your copy of "Business & Leisure Homemakers Cookbook, Strasburg, ND" and other cookbooks with Fall Flavors here: https://grhc-northdakotastate-ndus.nbsstore.net/fall-flavors

09/03/2026

International Commemorative Initiative by the BKDR Cultural Center in North Dakota, USA

On August 28, 2026, organizations representing Germans from Russia in North Dakota, USA, joined the international commemorative initiative of the BKDR Cultural Center, which honors the victims of deportations and political repression directed against Soviet Germans. The commemorative events in North Dakota were organized by Michael M. Miller and took place at two locations: North Dakota State University in Fargo and the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS) in Bismarck.

Michael M. Miller is the founder of the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection at the North Dakota State University Libraries, established in 1978. He managed the collection for many years and dedicated a significant portion of his work to preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Germans from Russia in the United States and Canada.

The event in Bismarck was held at the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS). Founded in 1970 in Bismarck, North Dakota, the organization focuses on the history and cultural heritage of Black Sea Germans and Bessarabian Germans.

GRHS President Curtis Mertz also attended the event, while Dr. Olga Litzenberger, a research associate, represented the BKDR. Together, the participants commemorated the Germans who were subjected to deportations, political repression, forced labor, and other forms of persecution in the Soviet Union. Researchers Wayne Garman and Ramona Garman also took part in the commemoration.

This marked the first time that organizations representing Germans from Russia in the United States joined the international commemorative initiative, which takes place annually on August 28. The initiative was launched by the BKDR Cultural Center, which organizes and conducts the event. It brings together Germans from the former Soviet Union and their organizations across various countries to collectively commemorate the victims of deportation and political repression. The commemorative events in North Dakota represented an important step toward expanding the international culture of remembrance and preserving the shared historical memory of the victims of deportation and political repression among Germans from Russia.

09/02/2026

In Touch with Prairie Living, September 2026
By Michael M. Miller

Our community has lost a shining star with the passing of Rev. Leonard Eckroth (October 7, 1932–June 18, 2026). A dear colleague and friend, Fr. Leonard and his brother, Charles, were members of the Journey to the Homeland to Germany and Ukraine in May 2011. They visited their ancestral Black Sea German village of Karlsruhe, Beresan District, today near the city of Odesa. Fr. Leonard was interviewed for Dakota Memories Oral History Project in Strasburg, N.D., May 2006. The interview is available on Digital Horizons. He was Pastor at my home parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Strasburg (1987-2009). Fr. Leonard was very interested in his heritage and genealogy and had great respect for the Welk Homestead State Historic Site.

The North Dakota Council on the Arts published an excellent book, “Iron Spirits,” (1982) available from GRHC online store. From the book introduction: “This book is about the tradition of blacksmith-made iron crosses, the people who made them and the communities they served. The crosses are an inspiring body of work and can be considered some of America’s finest folk art. The story includes predominantly that of the Catholic Black Sea German Russians, but also includes Hungarians, Ukrainians, Poles and Bohemians, all of whom came from the steppes of Ukraine and Russia. The iron cross custom was brought with them from the old country, and in North Dakota was practiced from the first arrival of immigrants in the 1880s through the 1940s.”

Continue reading here: https://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/outreach/news/touch-prairie-living-september-2026

09/01/2026

Dr. Dina Rupp of Berlin, Germany, visits GRHC

Jeremy Kopp, GRHC Outreach & Operations Coordinator, provided an informative tour of the new permanent exhibit, "In Search of a Home: Journey of the Germans from Russia."

Dr. Dina Rupp is doctor in Berlin, Germany. She was born in Tomsk, Siberia, Russia. Her parents later moved to Ukraine and in 1993, they immigrated to Germany as Russlanddeutsch Aussiedler (Russian-German resettlement/repatriation to Germany).

Dina's grandparents were born in the village of Balzer, Volga Region, Russia. In August 1941, during World War II, as a child, her grandmother was deported to Siberia, and her grandfather was deported to Kazahkstan. They were married in Kazakhstan, later immigrating to Germany.

In 2003, Dina was an exchange student at Fargo South High School. Her host parents were Bob and Virginia Dambach. Bob was Director of Television at Prairie Public. Bob Dambach and I were producers of 10 documentaries of the award-winning Germans from Russia Series.

We welcome Dr. Dina Rupp back home to Fargo, North Dakota!