In the mid and late-19th century, about 15,000 Czechs left for Russia in search of a new life. Most of them settled in the Volhynia Governorate. They bought land, established Czech villages, developed hop growing. In World War I they supported the foundation of the Czechoslovak legions, and many of them also joined the legions. After this war, several hundred Czechs returned to their homeland. In World War II, they rejoined the resistance and formed the foundation of the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps. After the war, most of them claimed re-emigration. The Czechs in Volhynia experienced what Soviet communism was like, as well as persecution, collectivization, and also Ukrainian nationalism. However, returning to the homeland was not easy, and their repatriation was accompanied by many difficulties. Many of them disagreed with the incoming communist regime and warned the population of Czechoslovakia against it. A big number of Volhynian Czechs were kept under surveillance and imprisoned by the communist regime. Love for the country and hard work have always been significant in the history of Volhynian Czechs.