Established between 1764-1766, a cluster of nine colonies
populated by Germans of the Lutheran faith were established by
the Russian government on the west side of the lower Volga
River. Among the 104 original colonies founded between 1764 and
1767, this group included both the first and last of the
colonies established. The lower Volga villages are Dobrinka,
Dubovka, Dreispitz, Galka, Holstein, Kraft, Mueller,
Shcherbakovka, Schwab, and Stephan. Most villages were
established on the Volga River or upstream on brooks which ran
into the Volga. Kraft, established on a brook which runs into
the Jiowija (Liolwa) River, is furtherest west of the nine
villages. Several Catholic villages are north of Kraft. Along
the Volga, north of Danilovka are numerous Russian villages.
Starting in 1846, daughter colonies were established to the
southwest and on the eastern or Samara side of the Volga. As a
result of increased population, many residents of the colonies
moved to the newly established daughter colonies. There was a