The Story of the Germans from Kars Who Lived in This Land for 150 Years

Although today there is more immigration from our country to Germany, it was about 150 years ago. the situation was the opposite. The Germans, who were under difficult conditions due to the war between Germany and Russia, had to emigrate. Although they first migrated to Estonia, they were exiled to Kars due to a war between the Ottoman Empire and Russia.

Come, those who immigrated to our country and now “Germans from KarsLet’s take a closer look at the story of Avgust Albuk and his family, known as ”.

Among the Germans living in Kars today, only Avgust Albuk and his children, his sister Kanida Turhal and their children remain.

Although his grandparents went to Germany many years ago because they were curious about their hometown, “Kars is the place where we get enough and see our homeland.” said.

The wives of Avgust Albuk and his brother Kanida Turhal are Turkish.

Avgust Albuk with Yadigar Albuk, a Muslim from Erzurum. is in a happy marriage. Two children named “Bünyamin” and “Meryem” were born from this happy marriage. Melisa, from Avgust’s first marriage, also lives with the couple.

Avgust Albuk said, “I had Melisa baptized. Hopefully, if I get the chance, I will get Benjamin baptized as well.” says.

their children non-religious The Albuk family states that their children can choose their religion when they turn 18.

so that family both Christian holidays and Muslim holidays celebrating.

So why did this German community come to Kars?

Germans captured in the 1893 German-Russian war are first settled in Estonia. Then, when the Ottomans were defeated in the Ottoman-Russian war, Kars is captured by the Russians and the Germans are settled here..

They chose a campus 4 km away from the center of Kars and named it “Karacaören”.

Thus, in Turkey first german village is established. Later, they settled in the surrounding villages and established Paşaçayırı Village, which is very close to the center of Kars.

The Germans love and embrace this place so much that in German it says “Caucasian GermansThe concept of “Kaukasiendeutsche”, which means ”, emerges.

The only blond-haired and blue-eyed people in the region, these Kars people are called “Malakan”.

In Tsarist Russia, the Orthodox Church ordered everyone to drink milk 2 days a week. When the Malakans refused this and continued to drink milk every day, they were excommunicated by the church. For this reason, in Russianmilk drinkerThe name “Malakan” was given, which derives from the word Molokan, which means “.

It is also among the rumors that the Malakans, who love milk and are engaged in the production of dairy products for their livelihood, made Kars cheese famous.

This community made a living not only from milk production, but also from various jobs such as farming, animal husbandry, racehorse breeding, labor and construction.

Some of the Moors went to Germany as “Turkish workers” because they could not make a living in our country, while others immigrated to other countries.

Today, the Albuk family, the only remaining community as Kars Germans, state that they have a lot of financial difficulties even though they lead an understanding and friendly life with their neighbors.

You can also watch this TRT documentary for the details of their stories: