Germanisation

Germanisation, or Germanization, is the spread of the German language, people, and culture. It was a central idea of German conservative thought in the 19th and the 20th centuries, when conservatism and ethnic nationalism went hand in hand. In linguistics, Germanisation of non-German languages also occurs when they adopt many German words.

Under the policies of states such as the Teutonic Order, Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the German Empire, non-German minorities were often discouraged or even prohibited from using their native language, and had their traditions and culture suppressed in the name of linguistic imperialism. In addition, the Government also encouraged immigration from the Germanosphere to further upset the linguistic balance, but with varying degrees of success. In Nazi Germany, It was assumed that up to 50% of Czechs, 35% of Ukrainians and up to 25% of Belarusians could be "Germanised". Those unsuitable for Germanisation were to be deported to Western Siberia — beyond the future territory of German settlement. In particular, 80-85% of Poles were to be deported. The General Plan East devoted relatively little space to the Russian question, although in his memorandum Erhard Wetzell emphasised that its correct resolution was of great importance for Nazi policy in Eastern Europe. Contrary to popular belief, there were no plans to exterminate those deported to the east, as well as the Russians who already lived there, but rather to resettle them in specially created Reichskommissariats, where the "subhumans" would be kept separated. It was also planned to resettle some of the children who had sufficiently "Aryan" features to Germany.