Then, when Germany attacked the Soviet Union during World War II, most of those of German descent were transported to Siberia and to such Soviet republics as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
وأثناء حكمها الطويل ،‏ دعت زوفي ،‏ التي اصبحت في ما بعد تُعرَف بكاثرين العظمى ،‏ المزارعين الالمان الى السكن في روسيا .‏