¹⁾. After the assassination of Alexander II in 1881 and the accession of Alexander III to the throne (1881-1894), Russification was intensified; nationalism became the state doctrine.
Although the Germans in Bessarabia got along well with the other nationalities living there (see para. 7.1 The Krasna colonists and their relationship with others), but the Pan-Slavists' hatred of Germans fell on fertile ground around the throne and was systematically fomented. The Germans were reviled as invaders and pests. The “Slavophiles” (a school of thought that referred to the Russian tradition - in contrast to the “Westerners” who advocated the adoption of Western ideas) saw the danger of a Germanisation of the border areas of Russia (where most Germans lived) and demanded the displacement of the German peasants.

In 1887, Alexander III's manifesto “Russia must belong to the Russians” appeared. The Aliens Act of 1887 met this demand. It temporarily restricted the acquisition of real estate by foreigners. It initially affected only the Volyniendeutsche, was then extended to all Germans in 1892, but was soon relaxed again for economic reasons.
The anti-German sentiment continued, however, and led to the Russification of the German school system (1891). Russian was introduced as the language of instruction at German schools in Russia, also in Krasna (see para. 5.2 The school in Krasna).
Another wave of “Russism” began in 1893. The names of the German settlement areas (villages) were partially Russified. Of course, the Germans continued to use the previous names.

Nicholas II (1894-1917) continued the xenophobic policy during his reign. But despite all the measures described above, the situation of the Bessarabian Germans up to the First World War can be described as satisfactory overall. However, the increased emigration and emigration from Krasna between 1880 and 1914 also shows that problems existed.

Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 led to a certain degree of domestic liberalisation²⁾. Stolypin's Land Reformm³⁾ finally made the peasants full owners of their plots (see section 4.2. Land Ownership and Inheritance Law in Bessarabia). Associations and cooperatives were allowed to be founded. This led to an economic and cultural upswing in the German villages that lasted until the First World War.

One can find confirmation of this in Krasna. Eduard Ruscheinsky writes⁴⁾: “From the year 1906 the rise in agriculture began for Krasna. …From this time on the price of land also began to rise sharply. From then until 1914 one desjatina cost 200 to 300 roubles…. In 1910 the peasants of Krasna felt so good on their feet that four landlords bought steam threshing machines. A large part of the prosperity was subsequently swallowed up by the World War through its various quarterings, requisitions and mobilisations of the best labour and the general devaluation of money.”

• 1884 a group of 25 Krasna families moved to Patrukas (also called Schalier) in the Kontemir Valley due to lack of usable land. In 1886, due to unfavourable tenancy conditions, the group moved on to the area which then became the daughter colony of Emmental.
• 1904-1905 Krasnaer took part in the Russo-Japanese War, some fell.
• 1907 some Krasna families moved to Siberia.
• 1908 some Krasna families moved to the Caucasus.
• 1909-1914 567 people from Krasna emigrated to America (USA and Canada).
• 1910 four farmers bought steam threshing machines (a significant innovation).
• In 1911, the last house from Krasna's founding period was demolished.
• 1912-1913, a cooperative bank was founded as a small credit society.
• In 1914, shortly before the beginning of World War 1, the new boys' school was completed.
• In 1914, a consumer shop was opened in Krasna.