German state children (Staatskinder) of the Evangelical denomination in the colonisa-
tion of the eastern provinces of the Prussian state. The orphanage in Ruchocin/Mielżyn 1899–
–1918 Cover Image

Niemieckie „dzieci państwowe” (Staatskinder) wyznania ewangelickiego w kolonizacji wschodnich prowincji państwa pruskiego. Sierociniec w Ruchocinie/Mielżynie 1899–1918
German state children (Staatskinder) of the Evangelical denomination in the colonisa- tion of the eastern provinces of the Prussian state. The orphanage in Ruchocin/Mielżyn 1899– –1918

Author(s): Wojciech Ziółkiewicz
Subject(s): Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Sociology of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek
Keywords: Protestantism; Prussia; Colonization; Germanization; Ernst Hasse;

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the mechanism of the Prussian authorities using „state children”[Staatskinder] in the process of colonization of the eastern Prussian provinces, and combin-ing charity activity with the program of Germanization of the area in question. The actionstaken by the Prussian authorities in the late 19 and the early 20th century were in reaction tothe internal migration movements, which directly affected the eastern Prussian provinces,from Berlins perspective negatively influencing their national structure. In 1895, Ernst Hassepresented a plan to colonize the eastern Prussian provinces by bringing „state children”, i.e.orphans and illegitimate children from the metropolitan areas of central and western Ger-many, and placing them in orphanages established in the East. The article describes, amongothers, one of such orphanages which operated between 1899 and 1918 and was supervisedby the Protestant Association for the Care of Orphans in the Province of Poznań [Evange-lischer Verein für Waisenpflege in der Provinz Posen].

  • Issue Year: 41/2024
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 186-208
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Polish
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