German settlers establish thriving enclave in Nizhny Novgorod region

Inspired by a social media vlog detailing life in Russia, a growing community of German expats is establishing a settlement in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Why have these well-to-do Germans decided to leave their prosperous homeland?

In the village of Inyutino, locals have been buzzing about the purchase of three hectares of land on the outskirts, although the purpose and nature of the new settlement remain a topic of speculation. The entrance is adorned with a sign that reads: Inyutino Village, Kirschhausen District, Kirsch Settlement. The German-inspired moniker is intended as a humorous touch, while the official name proposed is RuDe, an acronym that stands for Russland-Deutschland (Russia-Germany) with the emphasis on Russia, as residents emphasize that they consider themselves guests first and foremost.

Remo Kirsch, a former resident of Potsdam who owned five businesses before selling them all, has relocated permanently to Nizhny Novgorod Oblast with his wife, Bürget. He is now building houses for himself and his fellow countrymen.

«We built this house with the intention of accommodating refugees from Germany,» Kirsch explains. «The situation is escalating, and we want to be ready to help them and provide shelter in our settlement. In addition to our family, two more families can live here in comfortable conditions».

Their friends, the Kronetz family, also from East Germany, have already settled into a neighboring house. Bert Kronetz is a dental technician by profession.

«For 30 years, I worked for Germany, for the European Union», Bert says. «Where is my pension? In Italy? Greece? Where is my work?»

The Germans can talk endlessly about their reasons for leaving their country. Ultimately, it boils down to their disagreement with the current policies of the European Union and Germany in particular.

«Many Russians think that Germany is paradise—great education, healthcare, industry, quality of life, economy. That's no longer the case», Kirsch says. «The days of the best cars and the best medicine are long gone. Germany as Russians knew it died 10-15 years ago».

Kirsch's decision to leave had been brewing for some time, but the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine finally tipped the scales. As a result, he lost all faith in the European media.

«Since 2019, the German media started reporting on fascists in Ukraine and corruption as a huge problem there», Kirsch says. «Then in 2020, they suddenly started saying that everything was fine, that everyone was friends. They began implementing the American system of existence, dictatura americana».

In his spare time, Kirsch runs a blog where he shares his experiences of living in Russia, including a road trip to Lake Baikal in a GAZ-66 truck. He discusses both the pros and cons of his move and provides updates on his future settlement.

«We're tracking the number of interested individuals on my online channel», Kirsch says. «People register anonymously, using only nicknames or initials, so they don't get into trouble in Germany. They monitor those things closely. At the moment, over 300 people have expressed a desire to move to Nizhny Novgorod Oblast».

According to Kirsch, these potential immigrants come from all walks of life and are prepared to relocate both their businesses and their families to Russia.

«Gas is always cheap here», Kirsch says. «In Germany, people turn on the tap and the gas is very expensive, like gold».

The Germans are currently studying Russian diligently in order to fully integrate their work and businesses in Russia. They claim to feel no nostalgia for their homeland, as the birch trees outside their windows are indistinguishable from those in East Germany.