My grandparents immigrated to Canada during WWII. They are German, and were living in Poland when they were invaded. They passed quite a while back now, and recently my mom was going through some of their old belongings and came across this. It is written in old German, and is very difficult to translate.
Edit: Good lord took me at least 20 min to figure out the headlines on the map but after i "encrypted" it, it was quite obvious:-(
On the map: "Deutscher im Gau Wartheland merke dir".... "German in the Gau Wartheland remember". Its old german but with some weird writing style i have never encountered. What appears like a "V" is a "d", what looks like a "n" is an "e"the "x" is a "r".....
Your task in the liberated "East-Area" binds you to a special attitude and performance.
Remember: The differences [between] Volksgerman, Balticgerman ... and Reichsgerman need to disappear as soon as possible. All are "Volksgenossen" ( german nazi term for "people") of the same blood, same honor and same duty. All misunderstandings between Germans and every segregation will cause a weakening of German power.
Show the vulnerable and the ( no clue how to transalte means literally "all the people who were brought back [to the reich] ") that you understand their tragic fate. Meet them with respect and help them whenever you can.
You don't earn respect with arrogance or beeing cocky. The German attitude is with no doubt "nationalsozialistisch".
You are shameless when you become a hoarder ( here meant people who dont share ). You harm your people.
Remember: The Polish are your enemy. 58000 Germans were murdered by Poles. Don't get fooled/decived by disingenunous kindness und worminess ( "Kriecherei" is a very harsh word it shows some form of hatred )
Meet the Poles with respect and dignity. Treat him fair but brief and impersonal. Tolerate no procacity of them.
Retain your honor and avoid every encounter and association with Polish women. Avoid too much alcohol. You damage the German reputation and yours!
Be careful, only take work with you if you are able to lock it away at home. Don't give your gun to the cloakroom.
Your conversations will be understood by many Polies, particulary by the waitresses in hotels and restaurants, they will eavesdrop on you. Think carefully what you say and write in letters. Reports, factual and without boast.
Everybody is needed for the rebuilding of the Wartheland. Report for assistance by the next "Kreisleiter" ( Kreis is a german word for a geograhical region, Kreisleiter is the person in charge of this area )
Never forget you are a german and a nationalsocialist.
Wartheland was the German name for new Gau in Poland. Gaus were administration districts comparable to states in the US. Germany annexed some territories which should belong directly to Germany after the war, there were renamed to either new names or older names which were used in the past when the land was German. Big parts of Poland belonged to Germany before World War I. They didn't want to annex all occupied land tough.
Edit2: for people wondering why it sounds weird sometimes, some parts sound weird in german as well.
It seems to be a leaflet with instructions for Germans working in the Reichsgau Wartheland, which was one of those Polish territories which in the aftermath of the defeat of Poland was annexed by Germany into Germany proper. (Which basically means it was not to be seen as an occupied territory in times of war but as an integral part of the German Reich. Different from, say, occupied France for example.) Wartheland was one of the "liberated" territories claimed to be part of Germany and was to be thoroughly germanized.
The leaflet adresses Germans already living in occupied Poland, Germans resettled there for colonization efforts, and Germans working there during the occupation in administration etc. as well.
Normally I don't have any problem with reading Fraktur but I have to admit that right now I'm not able to decipher the italic Fraktur lines on the right side of the first sheet, which look like the headline. Perhaps someone helps can help out here.
The leaflet translates as follows:
[on the left side] NSDAP, Gauleitung [regional administration -- translator's note] Wartheland, Gau departement for schooling/education [they are most likely the publishers]
[second sheet] (no idea) in the Gau Wartheland (no idea) to you
[second page]
- Your job in the liberated Eastern territory obligates yourself to a certain attitude and effort.
- Remember: The differences between Volksdeutsche [lit.: "People Germans", the concept cannot be translated precisely, it was a term for Germans of German "blood"/nation living outside of Germany proper], Baltic Germans, Volhynian Germans, and Reichsdeutsche [lit.: "Reich Germans", Germans of German "blood"/nation living in Germany proper, in contrary to Volksdeutsche] must disappear immediately. Everyone is a Volksgenosse [lit.: "people's comrade" -- a National Socialist propaganda term not unlike "comrade" in socialist and communist parties and countries] of same blood, same honor, same responsibility. Any misunderstandings between Germans and any dissociations degrade German power.
- Show the locals and all repatriated people that you understand their hardships. Show them respect and help them where you can.
- Showing-off and blatancy won't get you respect here or anywhere. The attitude/stance of the German is straight, uncompromising -- National Socialist!
- You're shameless if you become a Hamsterer [a colloquial term in war-time Germany for someone who hoards/stockpiles supplies immoderately]. You're only damaging your people.
- Never forget: The Pole is your enemy! 58000 Germans were murdered by Poles. Don't let yourself get fooled by treacherous friendliness and servility.
- Meet the Pole with distance and dignity. Treat him fair, keep it short and impersonal. Do not tolerate any insolence from him.
- Keep your honor and refrain from interacting with Polish women. Moderate your alcohol consumption! You're damaging your reputation and that of the German people.
- Be on your guard: Only take official business/your work to your own home if you can keep it safe there. Do not leave your weapon in the wardrobe!
- Your conversations will be overheard and understood by many Poles, especially service personnel in restaurants and hotels. Think thorougly about what you are about to express in a letter or a conversation. Report factually and refrain from pomposity.
- In the buildup of Wartheland everyone is needed. Report immediately to your district director/supervisor to do your part.
- Always be aware that you are a German and a National Socialist!
If you have any questions regarding this, feel free to ask!
