Orenburg, Orenburg Oblast, Russia

Volga German settled in the city of Orenburg, both before and after the 1941 Deportation.

From 1938-1957, Orenburg was known as Chkalov (named after prominent test pilot Valery Chkalov).

Of importance to Volga German history, Orenburg was a major center of the Pugachev Rebellion (1773-1774), the largest peasant revolt in Russian history.  After fleeing Orenbaum, Pugachev's forces led incursions into the region of the Volga German colonies during August of 1774.