Plautdietsch in Russia

• Led to Mennonite emigration to southern Russia (present-day Ukraine) at the invitation of Catherine II:

• • First Mennonite families left Prussia in 1787 to found the Chortitza (“Old”) Colony
  • Followed within 20-30 years by a second wave of settlers, who formed the Molochnaya (“New”) Colony

• Dutch gradually replaced by High German as the language of church and education during this time, though the bilingual situation remained the same