Deutschum im weichselland

Germanness in the Weichselland (Territory of the Vistula River)

Picture book for the training of the Hitler Youth Produced in cooperation with the German Foreign Institute in Stuttgart

“We will begin, where we ended six centuries ago. We will stop the eternal Germanizing towards the south and west of Europe and glance at the lands in the east.�

--Adolf Hitler

From the Beskiden (Carpathian Mountains) in the south‌

over the low mountains‌

to the wide lowland plains‌

the Vistula territory extends to the sea.

In the south the mountain peasant group called Goralen.

In the central Vistula area the main group of settlers was composed of Poles.

City and countryside were interspersed by Jews.

In islands of folk groups Germans have served

forever as models.

Some 8oo years before the Christian calendar Germanic tribes lived in the Vistula area. In powerful tribal displacement of the period of migration Goths and Burgundians possessed the land. After their departure to the south Slavic tribes followed, who then mixed with the remaining Germanic group

A thousand years later German knights and merchants, burghers, handworkers and citizens conquered the land again.

Their castles, cities and villages gave the territory a German face.

Map of German cities in the east.

Map of German cities in the east.

Pictures of Gollub and Marienburg

Danzig, the important Vistula city.

Mewe and Plozk, built by Germans in the 13 th century

German burgher homes on the old market square in Warsaw.

German creativity made watch towers and circular walls.

Art and beauty paired together.

German energy made Lodz into a major industrial city

German energy made Lodz into a major industrial city

The Weichsel territory illustrates the German spirit in buildings and in deeds the struggle and desire to succeed. Its history remained changeable and continued through wars and pestilence.

The third division of Poland in 1795; Poland in 1919 (Versailles).

The shameful treaty of Versailles robbed Germany of people, land, natural resources, and cultural treasures.

The entire world expressed unlimited hatred toward things German.

Losses in population, land and natural resource: Map I--The German population loss in Pomerania and Posen, 1910-193 Map II--:Loss in agricultural land in Pomerania and Posen, 19140-1920.

Losses in industrial factories in Upper Silesia—1Coal mines-zinc/lead--zinc and lead--iron--blast furnaces--steel and iron-- rolling mills

No burden so difficult, No suffering so great that German faithfulness will be stronger Strong and trusting the ethnic German youth answers: Nevertheless!

But terror and horror grow‌

force us to a decisive struggle‌

and to a solution.

The tortured land still has the traces of destruction as the Leader calls for reconstruction. A German migration begins.

Thousands follow the Leader’s call and command.

Refugees return to their homeland.

On the harbor docks the luggage of the returnees is piled high

Those who built cities and manors in the Baltic countries

and their sons and daughters served happily

they demonstrate their will power for the new task

In the Ukraine they build farms and settlements---

they travel for days through snow and wind into the greater German Reich.

To the German youth of the old empire! The area in the east waits for you! Wait with dangers and adventures, expect challenges to your ability, offer yourselves for a fruitful promise.

The flags are being raised in the eastern wind!