Review article

The article describes the process of settlement of parent and child German colonies in the Volga region, Novorossiya, the Caucasus and the Don Cossacks. Russian authorities invited German colonists to Russia, took care of the organization of their journey and the creation of accommodation conditions. Regulation plans of the settlements and yard buildings were prepared. The authors have tried to identify the particular layout of the colonies, to compare construction techniques based on terrain features of living and the availability of building materials.