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Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany

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This article deals with territories annexed into Nazi Germany. For territories occupied in 1939 but not annexed, see General Government.

Fourth Partition of Poland - The Nazi-Soviet Pact
v • d • e
Germany Territorial changes of Germany
in the 20th Century
v • d • e
Poland Territorial changes of Poland
in the 20th Century

At the beginning of World War II, nearly a quarter[1] of the pre-war Polish areas were annexed by Nazi Germany and placed under German civil administration. The annexation was part of the "fourth" partition of Poland by the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, outlined months before in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Some smaller territories were annexed straight into the already existing Gaue East Prussia and Silesia, while from the bulk new Reichsgaue Danzig-West Prussia and Wartheland were created. Of those, Reichsgau Wartheland was the largest and the only one comprising solely annexed territory.[2]

Both the Jewish and Polish population was subject to repressive measures and ethnic cleansing policies, including murder, forced labour and expulsion of Poles and the deportation of Jews for forced labour and subsequent extermination. Germanization was to be achieved by a contemporary German settlement, and a large number of ethnic Germans displaced by the Nazi-Soviet population transfers was moved in before the war's turn stalled the Nazi plans.

After the Red Army took most of the territories during the Vistula-Oder offensive in early 1945, the Germans were expelled and the territories became part of the People's Republic of Poland.

Contents

[edit] Background

Invading Poland in September 1939, the Third Reich in October annexed an area of 92,500 km²[1] (23.7%[1] of pre-war Poland) with a population of about 10,000,000 people (30%[1] of the pre-war Polish population).[3][4]. The remainder of the Polish territory was either annexed by the Soviet Union (201,000 km²[1] or 51.6%[1] of pre-war Poland as per the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) or made into the German-controlled General Government occupation zone (95,500 km²[1] or 24.5%[1] of pre-war Poland). A tiny portion of pre-war Poland (700 km²[1]) was annexed by Nazi Slovakia.

Since 1935, Nazi Germany was divided into provinces (Gaue) which had replaced the former German states and Prussian provinces. Of the territories annexed, some were attached to the already existing Gaue East Prussia and Silesia (later Upper Silesia), while from others new Reichsgaue Danzig-West Prussia and Wartheland were constituted. Wartheland was the only Gau constituted solely from annexed territory,[2] Danzig-West Prussia comprised also former German areas and the former Free City of Danzig. The occupied Generalgouvernement remained outside the Third Reich.

The annexation violated international law (in particular, the Hague Convention IV 1907).[5][6] Nazi Germany's officials discussed the convention and tried to circumvent it by declaring the war against Poland over prior to the annexation, which in their view made the convention non-applicable.[6]

[edit] Administration

Map of Nazi Germany showing its administrative subdivisions, the Gaue and Reichsgaue and Polish-German border in 1939
Arthur Greiser in German occupied Poznań, 2 October 1939

[edit] Military and early civil administration, September 1939

Further information: German military administration in occupied Poland

On 8 and 13 September 1939, the German military districts of "Posen" (Poznan), commanded by general Alfred von Vollard-Bockelberg, and "Westpreußen" (West Prussia), commanded by general Walter Heitz, were established in conquered Greater Poland and Pomerelia, respectively.[7] Based on laws of 21 May 1935 and 1 June 1938, the German military, Wehrmacht, shared its administrative powers with civilian "chief civil administrators" (Chefs der Zivilverwaltung, CdZ).[8] German dictator Adolf Hitler appointed Arthur Greiser to become the CdZ of the Posen military district, and Danzig's Gauleiter Albert Forster to become the CdZ of the West Prussian military district.[7] On 3 October 1939, the military districts "Lodz" and "Krakau" (Cracow) were set up under command of major generals Gerd von Rundstedt and Wilhelm List, and Hitler appointed Hans Frank and Arthur Seyß-Inquart as civil heads, respectively.[7] Frank was at the same time appointed "supreme chief administrator" for all occupied territories.[7]

[edit] Hitler's annexation decree, October 1939

A decree[9] issued by Adolf Hitler on 8 October 1939 provided for the annexation of former western Polish areas and the former Free City of Danzig, and a separate by-law stipulated the inclusion of the Suwalki county.[4][10]

The first two paragraphs of the decree established "Reichsgau Posen" in Greater Poland with the government regions (Regierungsbezirk) Hohensalza, Posen, and Kalisch, as well as "Reichsgau West Prussia" (German: Westpreußen) in Pomerelia with the government regions Bromberg, Danzig, and Marienwerder.[4] These government regions were named after their chief cities Hohensalza (Inowrocław), Posen (Poznań), Kalish (Kalisz), Bromberg (Bydgoszcz), Danzig (Gdansk), and Marienwerder (Kwidzin). Except for the eastern half of the Hohensalza and nearly all of the Kalisch (Kalisz) government region, which had been part of Congress Poland during the partitions of Poland, these provinces roughly resembled the pre-1920 Prussian provinces Posen and West Prussia, however the northern parts of the former province of Posen were then in Danzig-West Prussia. On 29 January 1940, Reichsgau Posen was renamed "Reichsgau Wartheland" (Warthegau).[4] Reichsgau West Prussia was renamed "Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia".

The remaining annexed areas were not made separate provinces but included in the existing provinces of East Prussia and Upper Silesia per §4 of Hitler's decree.[4] Arthur Greiser was made Gauleiter of Reichsgau Posen, and Albert Forster of Reichsgau West Prussia.[4]

[edit] Administrative changes following the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, June 1941

After the German attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941, the district of Białystok, which included the Białystok, Bielsk Podlaski, Grajewo, Łomża, Sokółka, Volkovysk, and Grodno Counties, was attached to (not incorporated into) East Prussia.[11][12] Other Polish territories, first annexed by Soviet Union and then by Germany, was incorporated into Reichskommissariat Ostland (in the north), Reichskommissariat Ukraine (in the south) and the General Government (Distrikt Galizien in the utmost south).

[edit] Aministrative division

Nazi German administrative units Annexed administrative units
Reichsgau/Gau
(province)		 Regierungsbezirk
(government region)		 Polish voivodeship/
State		 Counties
Reichsgau Wartheland
(Warthegau)
initially Reichsgau Posen[13]		 Posen
Hohensalza
Litzmannstadt5		 Poznań all counties
Łódź most counties
Pomeranian five counties
Warsaw one county
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia1
(Danzig-Westpreußen)
initially Reichsgau West Prussia		 Bromberg
Danzig1
Marienwerder1		 Greater Pomeranian most counties
Free City of Danzig
East Prussia1
(Ostpreußen)
southernmost part2		 Zichenau
Gumbinnen1		 Warsaw Ciechanów, Działdowo, Maków, Mława,
Płock, Płońsk, Przasnysz, Sierpc;
parts of Łomża, Ostrołęka, Pułtusk,
Sochaczew, Warsaw
Białystok Suwałki and part of Augustów
Bezirk Bialystok
(attached in 1941)6		 Białystok Białystok, Bielsk Podlaski, Grajewo, Łomża,
Sokółka, Volkovysk, Grodno
(Upper) Silesia1,3
(Oberschlesien)
easternmost part4		 Kattowitz
Oppeln1		 Autonomous Silesian Sosnowiec, Będzin, Chrzanów, Oświęcim, Zawiercie
Kielce Olkusz
Kraków Żywiec[14]
1 Gau or Regierungsbezirk only partially comprised annexed territory

2 the annexed parts are also referred to as "South East Prussia" (German: Südostpreußen)
3 Gau Upper Silesia was created in 1941, before it was part of Gau Silesia
4 the annexed parts are also referred to as "East Upper Silesia" (German: Ostoberschlesien)
5 named after the chief city, Polish: Łódź. This area was joined into the Warthegau on 9 November 1939;[15] on 12 April 1940 the chief city's name was rendered to Litzmannstadt, thus the Regierungsbezirk's name was changed accordingly.[15]
6 not incorporated into, but administered by Gau East Prussia, attached after the Nazi German invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Demography in 1939

Prior to the Nazi German invasion in September 1939 and the subsequent annexation in October, the territories consisted a total of 10,568,000 people or some 30% of pre-1939 Poland's population.[4][13] While all estimates confirm an overall Polish majority, sources provide variing numbers when estimating the precise ethnic composition of the territories.

Area and population data according to Nazi German Bureau for Racial Policies, 25 November 1939[16]
Gau/Reichsgau East Prussia Danzig-West Prussia Warthegau Silesia Total of the four provinces Only annexed parts of these provinces
Area (km2) 52,099 25,705 40,309 46,908 165,021 86,295
Total population 3,113,000 2,156,000 4,203,000 7,258,000 16,729,000 9,082,000
Persons per km2 61 84 104 155 101 105
Germans 2,004,768 817,474 309,002 3,813,930 8,145,174 597,784
% Germans 71% 38% 7% 66% 49% 7%
Jews 79,198 23,302 322,947 123,202 548,649 494,913
% Jews 3% 1% 8% 2% 3% 5%
Poles 810,834 1,310,099 3,558,489 2,184,329 7,863,751 7,817,377
% Poles 26% 61% 85% 30% 47% 86%
Other 17,773 4,666 11,984 136,578 171,001 171,001

Heinemann gives identical numbers for Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia[17] and Warthegau.[18] For East Upper Silesia, Heinemann gives numbers based on the census of December 1939, saying there was a total of 2.43 million people, of whom ~1.08 million were ethnic Germans, ~930,000 Poles, and ~90,000 Jews.[19] Heinemann and Zaglembie also give a higher estimate regarding the Jewish population, whose number they put between 560,000 and 586,628 people.[20][21] Eberhardt confirms the number given by the Bureau for Racial Policy by saying about 600,000 people were Germans.[13]

Census data was compiled by the Nazi Germany in Danzig-West Prussia on 3 December,[22] and in Warthegau and Upper Silesia on 17 December.[23] A number of Poles tried to present themselves as Germans (Volksdeutsche) hoping to avoid the anti-Polish atrocities that occured during the invasion.[24] The Nazis classified people based on racial criteria with Poles and Jews being considered "untermenschen" (subhumans) as opposed to Germans who according to the Nazi’s ideology at the time were "herrenvolk" (master race). This classification had not only ideological meaning but was expressed in all aspects of practical daily life and treatment of the population.[2]

[edit] Nazi Germanization plans by expulsion, resettlement and genocide

Further information: Lebensraum and Generalplan Ost
Nazis assemble in Posen (Poznan) on 4 November 1939
Photo from Nazi-occupied Łódź just after its renaming for "Litzmannstadt" (1940). A board announcing a new name for a city.

On October 7, 1939 Adolf Hitler appointed Heinrich Himmler as his settlement commissioner, responsible for all resettlement measures in the Altreich and the annexed territories as well as the Nazi-Soviet population exchanges.[25] For his new office, Himmler chose the title Reichskommissar für die Festigung deutschen Volkstums ("Reich's commissioner for strengthening Germandom", RKF).[26] The RKF staff (Stabshauptamt RKF) in concert with the 'Main Department of Race and Settlement' (Rasse- und Siedlungs-Hauptamt, RuSHA) of the SS planned and executed the war-time resettlement and extermination process in the annexed territories.[27] In October 1939, Himmler ordered the immediate expulsion of all Jews from the annexed territories, all "Congress Poles" from Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia, and all "Reich's enemies" from the Warthegau, South East Prussia and East Upper Silesia.[27] The expellees were to be deported to the Generalgouvernement.[27]

This directive was superceded by another RKF-directive of early 1940,[27] ordering the replacement of 3,4 million Poles with Germans settlers in the long run, and the immediate expulsion of the remaining Jews.[21] This RKF szenario envisioned as a first step the settlement of 100,000 German families within the next three years, in this early stage planners believed the settlers would be relocated from the Altreich.[21] "Racially valueable" Poles were to be exempted from deportion and "racially valueable" ethnic Germans were also to be settled.[28] Himmler said he wanted to "create a blonde province here".[29] Responsible for "racial evaluation" were 'Central Bureau for Immigration' (Einwandererzentralstelle, EWZ) and 'Central Bureau for Resettlement' (Umwandererzentralstelle, UWZ) of the SS' RuSHA.[28] The annexed territories were to be Germanised in rural areas within 5 years and in urban areas within 10 years,[30] the General Gouvernment in 15 years[31]

In practice the war-time population shift in the annexed territories did not take on its planned extend, neither in regard to the number of expelled Poles and the resettled Germans, nor in regard to the origin of the settled Germans which was in the Soviet Union.[32] However, plans for a resettlement of Germans from the Third Reich were upheld in the Generalplan Ost but postponed to after the war.[32] This plan envisioned the elimination of all Jews and in the long run the deportation of initially 31, later 51 million Slavs to Siberia from a large area designated to German settlement.[33]

In addition, other Germanic settlers such as Dutch, Danes and Swedes were envisioned to settle. Small Dutch artisan colony was already established in Poznań in 1941.[34]

[edit] Expulsion and extermination of Poles and Jews

Further information: Explusion of Poles, Holocaust in Poland, and Treatment of Polish citizens by the occupants
Expulsion of Polish civilians, fall 1939

The Jewish and Polish population was subject to mass murder and expulsions already during the September invasion, triggering mass flight.[13][20] The Jewish population was to be exterminated immediately during the Holocaust, only a few survived. Major concentration camps and extermination camps set up within the annexed territories were Auschwitz (consisting of several subcamps), Chelmno (Kulmhof), Potulice (Potulitz), Stutthof, and Soldau.

According to Heinemann, about 780,000 non-Jewish Poles in the annexed territories lost their homes between 1939 and 1944.[35] Of these, at least 250,000 were deported to the Generalgouvernement, 310,000 were displaced or forced into Polenlager camps within the respective Gau, and the others were subject to forced labour either within the annexed territories or in the Altreich.[35] People were sometimes arrested from the street in so-called łapanki.

Heinemann further says that an additional 110,000 Jews were deported to the Generalgouvernement.[35] Another more than 400,000 Jews were later deported to Auschwitz, Treblinka or Chelmno (Kulmhof) concentration camps,[36] and thousands had died in the ghettos.[36] Of the deported Jews, more than 300,000 were from Warthegau, 2,000 from Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia, 85,000 from East Upper Silesia, 30,000 from the Zichenau district and 200,000 from the Bialystok district both in South East Prussia.[36]

Piotr Eberhardt cites numbers provided by Jastrzebski, 1968, who says that according to RKF documents, 365,000 were deported between 1939 and 1944.[37] Jastrzebski further says that adding the numbers retrieved from documents of local authorities yields a higher total of 414,820 deported, and estimates a total of about 450,000 including unplanned and undocumented expulsions.[37] Eberhardt says that on top of these numbers, many had fled, and cites numbers provided by Czeslaw Luczak, 1979, who estimates that between 918,000 and 928,000 were deported or evicted from the annexed territories between 1939 and 1944.[37] A similar estimate (923,000) is also given by the Polish Institute of National Remembrance.[38]

Ghettoization of Jews, Litzmannstadt 1941

Heinemann and Luszak as cited by Eberhardt detail the expulsions as follows: 81,000 Poles were displaced from their property in East Upper Silesia,[19][37] 22,000 of whom were deported to the Generalgouvernement.[19] They were replaced with 38,000 ethnic Germans primarily from Bukovina.[19] From the Zichenau and Suwalki areas of South East Prussia, 25,000[17] to 28,000[37] Poles were "evacuated", an additional 25,000[37] to 28,000[17] from the Bialystock area attached in 1941. In Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia, 123,000[17] to 124,000[37] were displaced until the end of 1942, 53,000 of whom were deported to the Generalgouvernement,[17] the others were forced into camps where they were "racially evaluated".[17] In the Warthegau, 630,000 were displaced between 1939 and 1944.[37][39] Additionally, Luszak estimates that between 30,000 and 40,000 were subject to "wild" expulsions primarily in Pomerelia.[37]

Poles about to be deported to the Generalgouvernement were prior to their deportation put in camps where they were subject to racial evaluation (Durchschleusung) by the UWZ similar to the Durchschleusung of ethnic Germans (see below).[40] Those deemed "capable of re-Germanization" (wiedereindeutschungsfähig) were not deported to the Generalgouvernement, but instead to the Altreich.[40] According to "Historia Encyklopedia Szkolna Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne", a total number of 1.5 million people was expelled or deported, including those deported for slave labor in Germany or concentration and extermination camps.[41] Eberhardt says a total of 1.053 million people were deported for forced labour from the annexed territories.[42]

Jews subjected to forced labour in Posen (Poznan), October 1941

Auschwitz concentration camp, most infamous camp of the Holocaust, located in annexed East Upper Silesia

Poles deported for forced labour in a camp in Germany proper

Ghetto Litzmannstadt: Children rounded up for deportation to the Chelmno death camp

Execution of Poles in Kóruik (Kursnik, Burgstadt), Warthegau; 20 October 1939

[edit] German colonization and settlement

See also: Nazi-Soviet population transfer

Throughout the war the annexed Polish territories were subject to German colonization. The Nazis' goal was to assimilate the territories politically, culturally, socially, and economically into the German Reich. Because of the lack of settlers from the Altreich, the colonists were primarily ethnic Germans from areas further East.[32][43]

1939 propaganda map showing the "most generous resettlement in world history".
"Baltenlager" (transit camp for Baltic Germans), Posen (Poznan), 1940

Piotr Eberhardt cites estimates for the ethnic German influx provided by Szobak, Luczak, and a collective report, ranging from 404,612 (Szobak) to 631,500 (Luczak).[44] Anna Bramwell says 591,000 ethnic Germans moved into the annexed territories,[43] and details the areas of colonists' origin as follows: 93,000[43] were from Bessarabia, 21,000[43] from Dobruja, 98,000[43] from Bukovina, 68,000[43] from Volhynia, 58,000[43] from Galicia, 130,000[43] from the Baltic states, 38,000[43] from eastern Poland, 72,000[43] from Sudetenland, and 13,000[43] from Slovenia.[43]

Additionally some 400,000 German officials, technical staff, and clerks were sent to those areas in order to administrate them, according to "Atlas Ziem Polski".[45] Eberhardt estimates that the total influx from the Altreich was about 500,000 people.[46]

Gitta Sereny says 200,000 Germans had settled by 1941.[47] William J. Duiker says that up to two million Germans had been settled in pre-war Poland by 1942.[48] Piotr Eberhardt gives a total of two million Germans present in the area of all pre-war Poland by the end of the war, 1.3 million of whom moved in during the war, adding to a pre-war population of 700,000.[46] According to Eberhardt, 536,951 were settled in Warthegau, 50,204 in Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia, 36,870 in East Upper Silesia, and 7,460 in Regierungsbezirk Zichenau.[49]

The increase of German population was most visible in the towns, in Poznań the German population increased from ~6,000 in 1939 to 93,589 in 1944, in Łódż from ~60,000 to 140,721, and in Inowroclaw from 956 to 10,713.[50] In Warthegau, where most Germans were settled, the share of the German population increased from 6.6% in 1939 to 21.2% in 1943.[51]

An official assignes a house in Warthegau to Baltic German resettlers

Only those Germans deemed "racially valuable" were allowed to settle. People were "evaluated" and classified in the Durchschleusung process in which they were assigned to the categories RuS I ("most valuable") to IV ("not valuable").[52] Only RuS I to III were allowed to settle, those who found themselves in RuSIV were either classified as "A"-cases and brought to the Altreich for "non-selfdetermined work and re-education", or classified as "S"-cases who were either sent back to their original Eastern European homelands or "evacuated" to the Generalgouvernement.[53] Initially, people classified as RuS III were to be deported to the Altreich for forced labour, yet since January 1940 were allowed to settle on smaller farms (20 hectar compared to 50 hectar farms for RuS I and II).[53] This change was based on a personal order by Himmler and led to a more restrictive categorization by the classifying officials.[53] About one million ethnic Germans were subject to Durchschleusung until the end of 1944.[54] RuS I and II were assigned to between 60% aand 70% of the Baltic Germans and 44% of the Volhynian Germans, while many ethnic Germans from the Soviet Union were put in the lower categories.[55]

[edit] Society

[edit] Ethnic segregation

German Wehrmacht soldiers remove Polish signs in Gdynia, renamed Gotenhafen, September 1939.

Because the Nazis envisioned a near-term complete Germanization of the annexed territories, measures there differed from those implemented in the General Gouvernment. Germans and the remaining Poles and Jews were strictly segregated. In case of the Jews, this was achieved by ghettoization.

The segregation of Germans and Poles was achieved by a variety of measures limiting their social interaction. Access to a variety of cinemas, theatres, museums, hotels, cafe’s, restaurants, parks, playgrounds,[citation needed] public transport such as first and second class train departments and best city trolleys, public bathouses, beaches, public phones[citation needed] and public benches was granted only to Germans, while forbidden by law for Poles and Jews.[2] Signs posted in public places warned: "Entrance is forbidden to Poles, Jews, and dogs".[56] Poles were not allowed to attend German-held masses.[2]Attending cultural activities or events for non-Germans was punishable, for example in Poznań, four young Polish women who attended an opera were sentenced by German court for 4 months of penal work camp[2] Other laws made it obligatory for Poles to give way to Germans in every occassion on sidewalks, all Poles were to bow down to Germans as form of greeting.[2].

Any friendly or supportive contacts Germans had to Poles and Jews were dealt with quickly and harshly by the authorities by imprisonment in concentration camps, confiscation of property or death sentences.[2] Sexual contacts of Germans and Poles were forbidden, a Polish women caught in an affair with a German was arrested and in some cases forced into a brothel.[2]

[edit] Privileging the German at the expense of the Polish population

In general, the Nazi administration put the German population in a position to economically exploit the Polish society, and provided them with privileges and a comparably high standard of living at the expense of the Poles, to ensure their loyalty.[2] While certain conditions under Nazi rule were limiting the freedoms of Germans, such as the dissolution of various German religious and political associations, the Nazi regime provided for political, cultural, and material benefits.[2]

All executive positions which were formerly occupied by Poles and Jews were given to Germans.[2] German was made the only official language, and Poles were ordered by law to use German subpoenally in all contacts with officials.[2] As a consequence, Poles who were not fluent in German had to hire translators, who in turn were imprisoned themselves when helping out for free.[2] This law also made it difficult if not impossible for Poles to correctly pay their obligations, including elevated taxes and obligatory donations for the German society.[2]

Numerous cultural events were organized for German community. A network of public schools engaging in various forms of education was set up across the territories. Reich University of Posen was set up in Poznań replacing the former Polish one. At this university, studies of Eastern Europe were conducted, including theories on extermination of non-Germans and means to Germanize the region with chairs for race policy and Jewish history.[57][58]

Germans received the right to enter any Polish home at will to perform revision and identification of people living there at any time, and could aquire possessions from Poles and Jews with little effort and mostly for free or at low price. For example, a German could easily request a Polish house or apartment from the government, even if the Poles were still inhabitants there.[2]

Łuczak says that the overwhelming majority of Germans in annexed authorities supported Nazi authorities and their policies, which gave the Nazi policians a degree of self-confidence based on popular support.[2] According to him, in Warthegau alone out of 309.002 Germans, 180,000 served in various organizations that provided assistance and were vital to Nazi plans against Poles and Jews.[2] They provided invaluable due to their knowledge of local conditions and society. Motives for cooperation ranged from ideological support for Nazism to material opportunism.[2] These local Germans were organized in the Selbstschutz paramilitia which engaged in arresting Jews and Poles, the oversight of their expulsions, and murder.[59]

[edit] Implementation of further repressive measures against Poles and Jews

Many Polish owned buildings and enterprises were confiscated, all jewelry, furniture, money, clothing were subject to forced confiscation.[citation needed] All Poles from age of 14 to 65 were subject to forced labour on behalf of Nazi German state. A network of outposts was established that coordinated forced labour together with German police.[3][clarification needed] Polish children were kidnapped for Germanization, forced labour and medical experiments.[3]

To reduce the biological growth of the Polish people, a partial ban of marriage was introduced-Polish women were allowed to marry only at the age of 26 and men at the age of 28. Married couples were seperated when subjected to forced labour, and calory intake was lowered for Poles.

A ban to use Polish language was implemented in all institutions and officies in annexed territories, as well in certain public places like public transport in the cities.

Education standards for Poles were significantly lowered, so that in future Polish population would become a cheap labour force for Germans. All Polish schools and cultural institutions were closed. Teaching of history, literature and geography to Poles was prohibited. The Polish population was banned to perform or create any type of music and to own radio receivers. Distribution of Polish books was forbidden and persecuted by the German police, at the same time Polish libraries were closed and many of their possesions destroyed[2]. A person lending Polish books would find himself in German court and possibility of concentration camp sentence[2].

The discrimination covered religion as well, and many Polish priests were arrested.[2] Historic churches were destroyed and in several cases Germans defiled icons or religious items symbolic for Polish people[2]. Poles were forbidden to attend funerals of other Poles unless they were direct and close family of the person which died.[citation needed]

In judicial system the proceedings against Poles were shortened. In court Poles had no legal protection[2]. Publih whiping, beatings of Poles were allowed by German authorities. Public beatings of Poles by Germans were accepted by law as long as the beating didn’t "lower the productivity of Pole".[2]

This repressive system unified the Polish reaction to German occupation, which went above political and ideological differences[2]. Part of the population was classified as Volksdeutsche, mostly German ethnic minority, either by its own free will or by force which included death threats.

[edit] Post-war changes

None of these territorial changes were recognized by the Allies of World War II,[citation needed] thus the annexed territories were returned to re-established Poland after World War II. Germans living east of the Oder-Neisse Line were expelled to post-war Germany. In post-war Poland, some captured German Nazi’s and collaborators were put on trial. West Germany did not extradite people charged in Communist Poland.[citation needed]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Maly Rocznik Statystyczny (wrzesien 1939 - czerwiec 1941), Ministerstwo Informacji i Documentacji, London 1941, p.5, as cited in Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.4 [1]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Położenie ludności polskiej w Kraju Warty 1939-1945. Dokumenty niemieckie", Poznań 1987, pages V-XIII
  3. ^ a b c Nowa Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe Warszawa 2004 page 149 volume 6
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Andreas Toppe, Militär und Kriegsvölkerrecht: Rechtsnorm, Fachdiskurs und Kriegspraxis in Deutschland 1899-1940, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2008, p.399, ISBN 3486582062
  5. ^ Hague IV SECTION III MILITARY AUTHORITY OVER THE TERRITORY OF THE HOSTILE STATE (Art. 42. and later)
  6. ^ a b Andreas Toppe, Militär und Kriegsvölkerrecht: Rechtsnorm, Fachdiskurs und Kriegspraxis in Deutschland 1899-1940, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2008, p.409, ISBN 3486582062
  7. ^ a b c d Andreas Toppe, Militär und Kriegsvölkerrecht: Rechtsnorm, Fachdiskurs und Kriegspraxis in Deutschland 1899-1940, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2008, p.398, ISBN 3486582062
  8. ^ Andreas Toppe, Militär und Kriegsvölkerrecht: Rechtsnorm, Fachdiskurs und Kriegspraxis in Deutschland 1899-1940, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2008, p.397, ISBN 3486582062
  9. ^ "Erlaß des Führers und Reichskanzlers über die Gliederung und Verwaltung der Ostgebiete"
  10. ^ Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.4 [2]
  11. ^ Leni Yahil, Ina Friedman, Ḥayah Galai, The Holocaust: the fate of European Jewry, 1932-1945, Oxford University Press US, 1991, p.261, ISBN 0195045238: confirms reaching Bialystok in June 1941 and subsequent annexation of Bialystok and the surrounding area, but does not detail the counties
  12. ^ Bruno Wasser, Himmlers Raumplanung im Osten: Der Generalplan Ost in Polen, 1940-1944, Birkhäuser, 1993, p.20, ISBN 3764328525: confirming that B was attached, but nott incorporated ("von Ostpreußen aus verwaltet")
  13. ^ a b c d Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, [3]: 10,568,000 people
  14. ^ Ryszard Kaczmarek Górnoślązacy i górnośląscy gauleiterzy Biuletyn IPN NR 6–7 (41–42) 2004 page 46
  15. ^ a b Bruno Wasser, Himmlers Raumplanung im Osten: Der Generalplan Ost in Polen, 1940-1944, Birkhäuser, 1993, p.20, ISBN 3764328525
  16. ^ E. Wetzel, G. Hecht, Memorandum: Die Frage der Behandlung der Bevölkerung der ehemaligen polnischen Gebiete nach rassenpolitischen Gesichtspunkten. Hrsg. von der Reichsleitung, Rassenpoltisches Amt, Berlin 25.11. 1939, cited in this paper including a reference to Bundesarchiv R 49/75, page 10
  17. ^ a b c d e f Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.228, ISBN 3892446237
  18. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.225, ISBN 3892446237
  19. ^ a b c d Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.229, ISBN 3892446237 For the data of East Upper Silesia, Heinemann in a footnote refers to the book "Musterstadt" for problems with the data compiled in 1939
  20. ^ a b Zaglembie at jewishgen.org [4]
  21. ^ a b c Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.193, ISBN 3892446237
  22. ^ Stutthof museum website [5]
  23. ^ Temple University presenting Götz Aly, The Nazi Census, commented by Edwin Black, [6]
  24. ^ [7]
  25. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.190, ISBN 3892446237
  26. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.191, ISBN 3892446237
  27. ^ a b c d Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.192, ISBN 3892446237
  28. ^ a b Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.195, ISBN 3892446237
  29. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.195, ISBN 3892446237: Himmler: Ich möchte hier eine blonde Provinz schaffen
  30. ^ dr hab. Bogdan Chrzanowski, GŁÓWNE ZAŁOŻENIA HITLEROWSKIEJ POLITYKI GERMANIZACYJNEJ, [8]
  31. ^ "Germany and Eastern Europe: Cultural Identities and Cultural Differences" by Keith Bullivant, Geoffrey J. Giles, Walter Pape, Rodopi 1999 page 32
  32. ^ a b c Michael G. Esch in Ulf Brunnbauer, Michael G. Esch, Definitionsmacht, Utopie, Vergeltung: "ethnische Säuberungen" im östlichen Europa des 20. Jahrhunderts, LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster, 2006, p.111, ISBN 3825880338
  33. ^ HITLER'S PLANS FOR EASTERN EUROPE (Selections from Janusz Gumkowkski and Kazimierz Leszczynski, POLAND UNDER NAZI OCCUPATION)[9]
  34. ^ Simone C. De Santiago Ramos, M.S., DEM SCHWERTE MUSS DER PFLUG FOLGEN: ŰBER-PEASANTS AND NATIONAL SOCIALIST SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED EASTERN TERRITORIES DURING WORLD WAR TWO, p.57 [10]
  35. ^ a b c Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.230, ISBN 3892446237. Heinemann also refers to the number given by Madajczyk: 987,217 displaced in the annexed territories and the Zamosc region, including Jews.
  36. ^ a b c Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.231, ISBN 3892446237
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.16 [11]
  38. ^ Zygmunt Mańkowski; Tadeusz Pieronek; Andrzej Friszke; Thomas Urban (panel discussion), "Polacy wypędzeni", Biuletyn IPN, nr5 (40) May 2004 / Bulletin of the Institute of National Remembrance (Biuletyn Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej), issue: 05 / 2004, pages: 628, [12]
  39. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.227, ISBN 3892446237
  40. ^ a b Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, pp.252,253, ISBN 3892446237
  41. ^ Historia Encyklopedia Szkolna Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne Warszawa 1993 page 357
  42. ^ Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.21 [13]
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Anna Bramwell citing the ILO study, Refugees in the age of total war, Routledge, 1988, p.123, ISBN 0044451946
  44. ^ Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.24 [14]
  45. ^ Wysiedlenia, wypędzenia i ucieczki 1939-1959: atlas ziem Polski: Polacy, Żydzi, Niemcy, Ukraińcy.Warszawa Demart 2008
  46. ^ a b Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.22 [15]
  47. ^ Gitta Sereny, The Healing Wound: Experiences and Reflections, Germany, 1938-2001‎, 2002 Page 38 At the end of 1939 by which time Hitler had conquered Poland in a two-week ...and settled with 2.oo,ooo ethnic Germans, it would by the summer of 1941
  48. ^ William J. Duiker, Jackson J. Spielvogel, World History‎, 1997: By 1942, two million ethnic Germans had been settled in Poland. page 794
  49. ^ Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.25 [16]
  50. ^ Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.26 [17] Eberhardt refers to Polska Zachodnia..., 1961, p.294
  51. ^ Piotr Eberhardt, Political Migrations in Poland, 1939-1948, Warsaw 2006, p.26 [18]
  52. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, pp.233ff, ISBN 3892446237
  53. ^ a b c Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.236, ISBN 3892446237
  54. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.244, ISBN 3892446237
  55. ^ Isabel Heinemann, "Rasse, Siedlung, deutsches Blut": das Rasse- und Siedlungshauptamt der SS und die rassenpolitische Neuordnung Europas 2nd edition, Wallstein Verlag, 2003, p.244-246, ISBN 3892446237
  56. ^ http://www.holocaust-trc.org/poles.htm
  57. ^ ”Biologists under Hitler” Ute Deichmann, Thomas Dunlap Harvard University Press, 1999
  58. ^ “The German dictatorship: the origins, structure, and effects of national socialism” page 272 Karl Dietrich Bracher, Jean Steinberg - 1970 Praeger Publishers, 1970
  59. ^ The Origins of the Final Solution Christopher R. Browning, Jürgen Matthäus page 49 University of Nebraska Press, 2007

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