Biographical Portrait Marek Makowski and Piotr Wagner Two passionate sailors, raised in Giżycko, not far from Sztynort. Marek Makowski (b.1984) and Piotr Wagner (b.1986) left at a young age, took advantage of the opportunities on offer in a united Europe and later returned to the world they grew up in. Marek, an entrepreneur and owner of a sailing school, and Piotr, a self-employed interpreter, tour guide and cultural professional, share a tangible vision for Sztynort.
Background Article On the connection between migration, diet, and belonging To what extent can diet create social and cultural belongings? What is its potential significance in contexts of migration? Russian German examples demonstrate the very diverse ways in which questions of identity and diet are connected.
Background Article Siberian food and European taste This article invites the reader to join a culinary journey through Siberia in the 18th century in a company of ethnographers from Europe and the Russian Empire. For the Russian Empire, the 18th century was a time of great expeditions to explore the vast imperial territory that extended all the way to the Pacific. Explorers investigated flora and fauna, natural resources, and land and sea routes, but also the inhabitants of Siberia and their way of life. Relying on the documents from the Second Kamchatka Expedition, we will learn how the Europeans reacted to Siberian cuisine and what could be hidden behind their “disgust” at it.
Background Article The History of the German-speaking Volhynians as Part of a Global Migration History From the mid-nineteenth century onward, innovations such as steam navigation and the advent of the railroad led to a sharp increase in global migration movements. The German-speaking Volhynians were part of this development, which moved between the ideal-typical poles of voluntary and forced migration and was significantly influenced by the enforcement of the ethnonational principle. This article focuses on the emigration movements of this group from the Russian governorate of Volhynia in the period between the 1860s and the First World War. The subsequent forced migrations of the German-speaking Volhynians are also briefly discussed.
Education and communication project mBook “Russian-German Cultural History” The digital mBook “Russian-German Cultural History” was a workbook published by the Institute for Digital Learning in collaboration with the Museum of Russian-German Cultural History in 2017. Using the example of the Russian-Germans, it conveyed that experiences such as being on the move and...