Hegewald: A Fleeting Colonial Vision in WWII Ukraine
An examination of a short-lived German colony established near Zhytomyr during World War II, detailing its origins, implementation, and eventual collapse.
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Overview
Location and Timeframe
Hegewald was a short-lived German colony established during World War II, situated near Zhytomyr in Reichskommissariat Ukraine. It was repopulated in late 1942 and early 1943.
Purpose and Settlers
The colony was intended as part of the broader Nazi policy of Germanization of Ukrainian lands. It was repopulated by Volksdeutsche settlers transferred from occupied territories including Poland, Croatia, Bessarabia, and the Soviet Union.
Planning and Administration
The establishment of Hegewald was meticulously planned by entities such as the SS, the RKFDV (Reich Commission for the Consolidation of German Nationhood), and VoMi (Main Office for Volksdeutsche Affairs). However, significant logistical challenges arose from the outset.
Genesis and Implementation
Himmler's Announcement
Heinrich Himmler formally announced the plans to establish the Volksdeutsche colony at Hegewald in September 1942. This initiative was part of a larger strategy for territorial control and ethnic restructuring.
Settler Recruitment Challenges
The initial scheme faced considerable difficulty. Many Volksdeutsche were reluctant or fearful due to active partisan activities in the Hegewald region. Furthermore, Himmler's original plans to recruit settlers from Scandinavia and the Netherlands proved unsuccessful.
The Displacement of Ukrainians
The plan involved the forcible removal of Ukrainian peasants from their homes. The settlers were to receive the homes, furniture, livestock, and food supplies of these displaced individuals. New schools were also planned for the colony.
Conditions and Reality
Forced Relocation
The deportation of Ukrainians and the relocation of ethnic German settlers occurred rapidly, often with minimal noticeโmere hours for many. The process involved mass deportations, frequently conducted on foot, in October 1942.
Infrastructure and Shortages
Upon arrival, the settlers found many homes in a state of disrepair. Significant shortages of essential materials, such as lumber, and a lack of adequate winter clothing and footwear plagued the new colony from its inception.
Imposed Culture
Efforts were made to establish a semblance of normalcy and German cultural presence. Elaborate, deliberately irreligious Christmas pageants were organized to symbolize the "return of light," contrasting with perceived "dark powers." However, these efforts were often undermined by practical failures.
The Twenty-Seven Villages
German and Ukrainian Names
The Hegewald colony comprised 27 villages, each renamed with German designations. These settlements were strategically located along the Zhytomyr-Berdychiv road. Following the war, these villages reverted to their original Ukrainian names.
Collapse and Evacuation
Undermining Factors
The colony's plans were significantly undermined by internal issues. There was theft of skilled craftsmen, and promised supplies of food and clothing failed to arrive as anticipated. Furthermore, many of the previously evicted Ukrainians began returning to the area, seeking refuge with relatives.
Escalating Instability
The precarious situation necessitated increased security measures. Members of the League of German Girls were deployed, requiring gas masks and soldier escorts, highlighting the growing insecurity and the proximity of conflict.
Flight Before the Red Army
By November 1943, the inhabitants of Hegewald were forced to flee before the advancing Red Army. This event marked the beginning of the massive evacuations of Germans from Eastern Europe during the latter stages of World War II.
Historical Context
Volksdeutsche
Volksdeutsche were ethnic Germans living outside the borders of Germany. In Nazi ideology, they were considered part of the German "Volk" and were often targeted for resettlement in conquered territories as part of the Lebensraum (living space) policy.
Germanization Policy
Germanization was a core objective of Nazi policy in Eastern Europe. It involved the systematic displacement, expulsion, or extermination of non-German populations and their replacement with German settlers, aiming to reshape the demographic and cultural landscape of occupied territories.
Related Concepts
Hegewald can be understood within the context of Nazi settlement policies, which often aimed to establish strategic agricultural communities. The concept of the Wehrbauer (defensive farmer), a settler intended to secure territory through agricultural presence, is related to these broader aims.
References
- Nicholas, Lynn H. (2011). Cruel World: The Children of Europe in the Nazi Web. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0307793829.
- Nicholas, Lynn H. (2005). Cruel World: The Children of Europe in the Nazi Web. Borzoi. A.A. Knopf. ISBN 9780679454649.
- Lower, Wendy (2005). "Hitler's 'Garden of Eden' in Ukraine: Nazi Colonialism, Volksdeutsche, and the Holocaust, 1941-1944". In Petropoulos, Jonathan; Roth, John K. (eds.). Gray Zones: Ambiguity and Compromise in the Holocaust and Its Aftermath. Studies on war and genocide, Volume 8. New York: Berghahn Books. ISBN 9781845453022.
- Pringle, Heather (17 July 2007) [April 2007]. "Heinrich Himmler: The Nazi Leader's Master Plan". World War II. HistoryNet. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- Berkhoff, Karel C. Harvest of Despair: Life and Death in Ukraine Under Nazi Rule. ISBN 0-674-01313-1.
- Lower, Wendy: Nazi empire-building and the Holocaust in Ukraine. University of North Carolina Press, 2005.
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References
References
- Lower, Wendy: Nazi empire-building and the Holocaust in Ukraine, p. 176. University of North Carolina Press, 2005.
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