Scholtoi in Bessarabia
Bessarabia is an historical region in southeast europe and is situated in today's Moldova and Ukraine. Many German emigrants settled in this area at the beginning of the 19th century, and more than 150 communities were established under very difficult conditions.
In the course of its history Bessarabia was always an object of dispute. Before 1918 Bessarabia was part of Russia, then part of Romania until the Second World War.
Due to the resettlement agreement between Germany and Soviet Russia in 1940 more than 93,000 Bessarabia Germans returned to the native land of their ancestors.
In the course of its history Bessarabia was always an object of dispute. Before 1918 Bessarabia was part of Russia, then part of Romania until the Second World War.
Due to the resettlement agreement between Germany and Soviet Russia in 1940 more than 93,000 Bessarabia Germans returned to the native land of their ancestors.
 The church of the Germans in Scholtoi. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist anymore. |
According to newer findings in church books, Scholtoi was founded in 1864. The village is located about 100 km straight northwest from Kishinev (the capital of Moldova), and southeast of the city Falesti. The settlers were German colonists who came from Galicia to Bessarabia, as well as Germans from other older communities in northern Bessarabia that were dissolved. Due to the deep poverty of most inhabitants, some families emigrated to Canada and Brazil in the first quarter of the 20th century. At the time of the resettlement on October 2, 1940, about 300 inhabitants lived there on 57 farms. Today the village is called Şoltoaia (Russian: Шолтоая, formerly Шолтой). Other German villages in Nortern Bessarabia were Naslawtscha, Staftschani, Alt- and Neu-Sarata (not to be confused with the eponymous places in South Bessarabia), Kodiasy (Gudias), Neu-Strymba, Ryschkanowka and Glückstal. |