THE GERMAN MINORITY IN THE REGION OF LUBLIN IN THE YEARS 1914-1918

A discussion concerns the situation of the German minority in the region of Lublin under the occupation of the Central Powers. Due to the nature of the titular problem the author carried out a retrospection of the beginnings of the German settlement movement in the 'gubernia' of Lublin. The outbreak of the first world war proved to be a breakthrough in the existence of an ethnic group which progressed from the end of the eighteenth century and constantly increased its ownership status. The radicalisation of the policy pursued by the tsarist authorities in relation to 'the subjects of states at war with Russia and the German colonists' as well as the expansion of wartime operations meant that the Germans living in the region of Lublin were deported to the inner recesses of Russia and their property was confiscated. The Central Powers offensive and the withdrawal of the Russians from the region of Lublin accelerated the return of the German colonists from Russia. The greatest tide of repatriation, with the German colonists assured the protection of the military occupation authorities, took place in 1917-1919. Re-émigrés of German descent were offered help in rebuilding their war-ravaged property. They were also provided with financial support and their property was exempt from war requisition. The outcomes of the defeat suffered by the Central Powers included demographic losses among the German minority living in the region of Lublin and the reduced number of the colonies established by its members. This development transformed the remaining German settlements to the rank of sui generis enclaves; upon the threshold of the Second Republic their major part was entirely or partially colonised.