1 motivation creating list
1.1 germanization
1.2 multiple ad hoc categorization schemes
1.3 himmler s solution
motivation creating list
germanization
according testimony of kuno wirsich:
the aim of german people s list people of german descent , of german ethnic descent ascertained , germanized.
when germany invaded poland in 1939, annexed western part of country (basically gaue of danzig/west prussia, wartheland, , parts of upper silesia east prussia), , created new entity, general government, administration of rest of own occupied part of country.
the plan poland, set forth in generalplan ost, purify newly annexed regions in order create germanized buffer against polish , slavic influence. entailed deporting poles these westernmost areas under general government control, , settling region ethnic germans other places including general government area, within pre-war german borders , various areas came under control of soviet russia (baltic states, eastern polish territories, volhynia, galicia, bukovina, bessarabia , dobrudscha).
to further objective of germanization, nazi germany endeavoured increase number of volksdeutsche in conquered territories policy of germanising classes of conquered people, among czechs, poles, , slovenes had german ancestors. thus, nazis encouraged polish offspring of germans, or poles had family connections germans, join volksliste , applying pressure compel registration. joined enjoyed privileged status , received special benefits. registrants given better food, apartments, farms, workshops, furniture, , clothing—much of having been confiscated jews , poles deported or sent nazi concentration camps.
determining ethnic german not easy in regions had poles, ethnic germans, , individuals of german ancestry had been polonised. there many in western poland claimed german ancestry , resisted deportation general government on basis of it. similar ambiguities occurred in other eastern areas, such bohemia , moravia, slovakia, hungary, croatia, romania, , serbia. himmler impressed , said such resistance must evidence of nordic qualities. furthermore, nazi officials in charge of various annexed territories poland did not want see many economically valuable local nationals sent eastwards, they, too, desired form of criteria allow them avoid deporting skilled poles german blood. poles considered suitable germanization sent reich labourers. racial assessment performed regard ethnic german returnee disappointing results.
in 2006, german historian götz aly said nazi policy based on french republic selection criteria used after first world war expel ethnic germans alsace.
multiple ad hoc categorization schemes
from beginning of german occupation of poland, number of categorization schemes developed @ local level, leading confusion. example, in october 1939, governor of warthegau, gauleiter arthur greiser, established central bureau registration of volksdeutsche, deutsche volksliste (dvl: german peoples list), known volksliste. @ beginning of 1940, distinctions introduced divide registered in dvl 4 categories: ethnic germans active on behalf of third reich, other ethnic germans, poles of german extraction (poles german ancestry), , poles related germans marriage.
himmler s solution
himmler s solution confusing , competing categorization schemes deutsche volksliste (dvl), uniform categorization scheme applied universally. racial office of nazi party had produced registry called deutsche volksliste in 1939, 1 of precursors of himmler s final version.
the deutsche volksliste categorized 4 categories:
category i: volksdeutsche (german > ethnically german ) —persons of german descent had engaged in favour of reich before 1939.
category ii: deutschstämmige (german > of german descent ) — persons of german descent had remained passive.
category iii: eingedeutschte (german > voluntarily germanized ) — indigenous persons considered nazis partly polonized (mainly silesians , kashubs); refusal join list lead deportation concentration camp.
category iv: rückgedeutschte (german > forcibly germanized ) — persons of polish nationality considered racially valuable , resisted germanization.
those members of population rated in highest category tapped citizenship , concomitant compulsory military service in german armed forces. @ first, category considered membership in ss (schutzstaffel). similarly, women recruited labor in germany nannies required classified category or ii, because of close contact german children , possibility of sexual exploitation, , of children; himmler praised chance win blood , benefit women well.
himmler declared no drop of german blood lost or left behind mingle alien race . german blood regarded valuable german person of value country; therefore, germans not supporting reich danger it. persons had been assigned 1 of these categories denied ties germany dealt harshly, , ordered concentration camps. men had particularly bad political record —had supported persecutions or boycotts of ethnic germans—were sent concentration camps immediately; children removed germanization, , wives either sent camps well, if had supported actions, or removed germanization.
persons of categories iii , iv sent germany labourers , subject conscription wehrmacht.
Comments
Post a Comment