Based on the sources provided, here is a discussion about the German minority in the Lublin region:

The German settlement movement in the region of Lublin began before the uwłaszczeniowa reform (emancipation reform). W. Śladkowski attributes the reasons for settlement and further expansion of German colonists in the southeastern parts of the Polish Kingdom to socio-economic processes occurring both in these areas and in the countries from which they came. Factors attracting settlement included the decline of the feudal economy, the slow formation of capitalist foundations, the developing czynszowa economy (a system of rent payments), and the parceling and sale of landed estates after 1864. Additionally, a favorable attitude from the Tsarist authorities towards German newcomers encouraged settlement. The necessity of seeking new economic areas was also linked to repercussions of the emancipation reform in Prussia and the pauperization and stratification among peasants there. German settlers arriving in the eastern areas of the Polish Kingdom came from Prussia, Central Germany, and Southern Germany (including Badenia, Bavaria, Württemberg, and Palatinate).

In the Lublin region, German colonists primarily settled on private estates, with the exception of the Łuków district, where they also established farms on state lands. Colonists in the Lublin gubernia were almost exclusively engaged in agriculture.

Organized German colonies in the Lublin region included:
Michelsdorf on Chełm land, founded in 1782.
Franzdorf I and II in the Garwolin district towards the end of the 18th century.
Settlers also lived in Żelechów, Sokolniki, and Ciechomin.
Załucze was founded on Chełm land in 1803, followed by Nadrybie Stare, forming a third major center of German colonies.
After 1815, new settlers arrived. New colonies were founded in the Zamość Ordynacja: Horyszów (1822-1823), Sabaudia (1837), and Łom (1835). Dorbozy was another new German colony there in the early 19th century, and by the mid-19th century, Białobrzegi, Brody, Korchów, Płoskie, Rogoźno, and Sitaniec also belonged to the Ordynacja.
Dębowiec was added to the Chełm colonies in 1828, followed by Zabrodzie in 1838. Wytyczno was also among the older colonies.
In 1821, Germans settled cleared areas in Kozieniec and Złośnica in the Krasnystaw district, as well as Władysławów and Wanda.
In the Radzyń district, there was a cluster of new colonies: Juliopol, Sewerynówka, Amelin, Antonówka, and Wólka Siemieńska.
In the 1830s-1840s, colonization of state lands in the Garwolin district led to the founding of colonies such as Władysławów, Ewelin, Kępa Podwierzbiańska, and others.
Shortly before emancipation (1860), the holdings of colonists on Chełm land expanded with new colonies:
Klementynów, Tomaszówka, Aleksandrówka Krzywowolska, Felcin, and Nowiny. Colonies Bielin, Syców, and Radziejów were founded in the Hrubieszów district.
In the Lublin district, before the emancipation reform, colonists expanded their lands with the colonies of Łączki, Egersdorf, Miłoszówka, and Granica.

Before the introduction of the emancipation reform, approximately 95 German colonies were established in the Lublin and Podlasie gubernias. According to W. Śladkowski's calculations, in 1862, there were 6,000 German colonists in the Lublin gubernia, possessing 1,100 settlements. In the Podlasie gubernia, they were mainly concentrated in the Łuków and Siedlce districts, and less so in Radzyń. In the Lublin gubernia, they were concentrated in three districts: Lublin, Krasnystaw (including part of Chełm land), Zamość, and least concentrated in Hrubieszów.

A turning point for German colonists in the Polish Kingdom was the emancipation decree of March 2, 1864, which granted ownership rights to land for peasants, including colonists. The only condition was possessing or acquiring Russian citizenship. One reason for the influx of colonists after the reform was the difficult situation of landowners after the abolition of serfdom. Additional factors included low land prices in the Lublin gubernia and the anti-Polish policy of the Włościański Bank (Peasant Bank), which, after initial restrictions, stopped providing credit to Catholics from 1904, offering it only to Orthodox peasants. As a result of the parceling of landed estates and land sales, German colonists in the Lublin gubernia acquired approximately 31,000 hectares of land by 1915 in the post-emancipation period, with 21,000 hectares of this in the Chełm district alone.

The colonization of the Lublin gubernia had a secondary character (Tochtersiedlung), as these settlers were descendants of those who arrived in Central Poland and parts of Galicia in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This movement was driven by socio-economic changes and the search for new settlement opportunities. Tsar Alexander III issued a decree on March 14, 1887, aiming to limit the wave of colonization, though in practice it applied to subjects of foreign states and did not restrict land acquisition for foreign subjects who acquired Russian citizenship. This decree was a symptom of a new direction in Tsarist policy. German colonists in the Chełm land acted as a barrier to the decidedly Russification policy of Russia, which culminated in the separation of Chełmszczyzna in 1912 and its incorporation into the Kiev gubernia.

After the 1864 emancipation reform, colonization development occurred primarily in the Lubartów district, the then-Chełm and Włodawa districts, as well as the Lublin, Radzyń, and Łuków districts. The farming methods of German colonists in the years before World War I differed little from those of their ancestors. German colonists in rural areas were slower to undergo Polonization and the influence of the Polish environment than Germans settled in urban centers.

World War I caused significant demographic changes in the Lublin region. Comparing data from 1914 with the 1921 census for the former Chełm gubernia, the loss of Protestant population is estimated at 73.4%, or 28,222 people. The total population of the Lublin gubernia in 1913 was 1,653,545 people. The years 1914-1915 saw a sharp decline in population and natural growth. Estimates suggest an 18% depopulation in the Polish Kingdom, around 400,000 people, a significant percentage of whom were Protestants. German sources estimate the number of Germans deported into Russia, Siberia, and Central Asia at 140,000. The Chełm district suffered the greatest population losses in the Lublin region, with 83,344 people. The Chełm district had a total population of 204,819 in 1913, with the number of colonists in the district estimated at 31,241 in 1915. According to the Chancellery of the Chełm Governor, German colonists in this area possessed 43,199 morgs of land. The wealthiest colonists in terms of land ownership were in the communes of Bukowa, Nadrybie, Cyców, Staw, Turka, Świerże, and Krzywiczki. In the neighboring Włodawa district, colonists held 9,292 morgs, primarily in the communes of Hańsk, Wola Wereszczyńska, and Turno. In the Tomaszów and Hrubieszów districts (also part of the Chełm gubernia), colonists held 1,300 morgs in each.

Records from the Chancellery of the Chełm Governor indicate that colonists in the Chełm, Konstantynów, Biała, Zamość, Tomaszów, Hrubieszów, Biłgoraj, and Włodawa districts together held 84,012 morgs of land. Germans inhabited the northern and parts of the central Chełm district. In some communes, they constituted about 1/3 of the total population, while in others they were less than 1%. The city of Chełm had 1.4% Protestants, and seven small urban centers had 0.8% Protestant population. In 1914, “Ziemia Lubelska” listed communes with the highest percentage of German colonists: Cyców (41%), Turka (34%), Bukowa (29%), Staw (29%), and Krzywiczki (10%). Changes in the German colonist population in the Chełm district were due to migration within the Lublin gubernia, to Volhynia, and abroad in search of better living conditions.

Studies by the Warsaw Statistical Committee showed a negative growth in the number of Protestants in some communes of the Lublin district between 1893 and 1909. According to K. Lück, the number of Protestants in the Lubartów district decreased from 7,375 to 5,494 in the years preceding WWI. This decline is further supported by 1907 data showing losses in communes like Ludwin despite some growth elsewhere. In the city of Lublin, Protestants belonging to the Polonized Evangelical-Augsburg parish constituted 1.8% of the population in 1912 (1,410 people), an increase from 1,107 in 1906.

A map by Henryk Wiercieński illustrating the scale of German colonization in the Polish Kingdom before WWI was presented to Tsar Nicholas II in 1909. The Tsar's retention of the map suggests his interest in the increasing German settlement. While Wiercieński's map helps estimate the extent of German colonization in the Lublin gubernia, the relative numbers presented on the map are likely overstated.

The largest concentrations of German population in the Lublin region before WWI were in the Chełm, Włodawa, and Lubartów districts. The Chełm and Włodawa districts had the highest growth in Protestant population and only a relative decrease in some areas between 1893 and 1910. Districts with the largest absolute decrease in Protestant population included Lubartów, Janów, Krasnystaw, Garwolin, and Łuków. Slight increases (0-0.5%) were noted in the Sokołów, Siedlce, Puławy, and Hrubieszów districts, and slightly higher in Radzyń.

A census was conducted by Austrian military authorities on October 15-16, 1916, in areas under their administration. The main criteria were the mother tongue of the civilian population and religion. German-speaking Jewish people and German Protestants were distinguished from Polish Protestants. The census showed a clear decrease in the German population, especially in the eastern areas of the former Lublin gubernia, due in part to deportation by retreating Russians. According to W. Śladkowski, 32,340 German colonists lived in the Lublin gubernia in 1910. Statistical data from 1915 showed 31,241 German colonists in the Chełm district alone. According to Austrian authorities, 2,147 Germans remained in the former Lublin gubernia in 1916, including 1,139 Protestants.

Overall, the Austrian census of October 1916 recorded 1,439 German Protestants and 688 German Catholics in the former Lublin gubernia. The population of German origin in the area under Austrian administration constituted only 0.5% of the total population, but if considering only the German community in Lublin under Austrian occupation, this percentage was higher, reaching 11% of the total population. For three districts (Biłgoraj, Chełm, Hrubieszów), it is possible to determine the losses of the Protestant population between 1914-1915 based on the Austrian census data. A total of 27,955, or 91.7%, of the Protestant population left these three districts.

After the Central Powers' offensive in 1915, the Russian army withdrew from the Lublin region. The region was divided into German and Austrian occupation zones. The southern parts under Austrian occupation formed the Military General Government with its seat in Lublin. The northern districts of Łuków and Biała were included in the Warsaw General Government. The Austrian authorities introduced a new administrative division, abolishing the divisions created by the Chełm gubernia in 1912.

The withdrawal of the Russians accelerated the return of German colonists from Russia, with the largest wave of repatriation to the Polish Kingdom and Volhynia occurring between 1917-1919. The Central Powers' military occupation authorities assured protection for returning German colonists. German re-émigrés were offered help in rebuilding war-damaged property, provided financial support, and their property was exempt from war requisition. According to Z. Cichocka-Petrażycka, German colonists began arriving in the Polish Kingdom in 1916. Reports confirm the arrival of 50 families from Włodzimierz Wołyński to Piaski in June 1916, who were then directed to Lublin.

The German government in Berlin was interested in the situation of German colonists in the occupied territories and aimed to secure land for colonization purposes. They proposed controlling land trade and preventing speculation. However, these proposals were not implemented in the Warsaw General Government due to concerns about political consequences.

The policy of the occupying powers towards German colonists was initially inconsistent. There was an effort to secure colonization base in the occupied territories alongside support for the re-emigration of colonists from Poland to Germany, except for those farming their own land. The Fürsorgeverein für Rückwanderer zu Berlin (Society for the Care of German Re-émigrés in Berlin) handled the repatriation from the former Polish Kingdom to Germany. Attempts to resettle colonists from the Lublin region were thwarted in early April 1916 by a decisive counteraction from the Lublin Military Gubernatorstwo. They deemed it unacceptable for independent and progressive German farmers to leave their homesteads during the war and travel to Germany. A regulation from April 5, 1916, prohibited the activity of the Fürsorgeverein aimed at promoting the departure of German colonists, which was to be prevented “by all available means”. The society resumed activity at the end of 1916, but was limited to “bringing in landless German elements”.

Conflicting signals from military authorities and uncertainty led to chaos and misinformation among German colonists in the Lublin region in 1916. Reports from April 1916 describe colonists in the Cyców and Brzeziny communes selling livestock and grain, intending to leave due to agitation, but later changing their minds after consultation with a pastor. In the Brzeziny commune, 1,685 morgs of land lay fallow in spring 1916 due to deportations by the retreating Russians. However, some German colonists who returned to the Chełm and Lubartów districts in 1916 began rebuilding farms and cultivating land.

Abandoned German farms were placed under forced administration (Zwangsverwaltung). In 1917, the occupying authorities established the Urząd Opieki nad Nieruchomościami Niemieckimi (Office for the Care of German Properties). A similar office for Polish properties was also planned, but due to Polish opposition, only the law concerning German properties was published. The Office for the Care of German Properties, headquartered in Warsaw with a German representative in Lublin, aimed to secure and maintain abandoned German property in Poland. It had the right to acquire and resell properties, prioritizing the interests of German owners, and to administer forced management. The goal of the Office was not to resettle German colonists from Poland or encourage them to leave, but rather to maintain endangered German property in Poland, particularly where it suffered from war actions, to ensure its continued existence while considering the cohesion and numbers of the German population in the area. The Office was also obliged to provide immediate assistance to returning German colonists from Russia who were in difficult situations.

Returning colonists, such as those in the Cyców commune, sought help from the occupation authorities. There were instances of unfriendly treatment towards returning colonists by Austrian officials associated with the Fürsorgeverein, which initially agitated for their return to Germany. Complaints from repatriates and reports from evangelical pastors confirmed the lack of interest from some Austrian officials regarding the fate of German colonists.

Austrian and German authorities had different approaches to the problems of returning German colonists. W. Gastpary described the Austrian authorities' attitude in the Lublin region as decidedly passive; they did nothing, and colonists could not regain their property, leading to bitterness and a desire to emigrate further. In contrast, German authorities immediately began implementing assistance actions. The German General Government in Warsaw issued a leaflet regarding the treatment of returning displaced persons of German origin. Protocols confirm organized assistance for returning German colonists in the Lublin region under Austrian occupation, initiated by a German representative in Lublin, Colonel von Bülow-Stolle. The situation of Germans in the areas along the Bug river was reported as extremely difficult, requiring immediate help.

The Head of Administration at the Warsaw General Government stressed the General Governor's interest in German repatriates and called for cooperation between military and local administrations. The Evangelical-Augsburg Church also actively participated in assisting colonists. General Superintendent Juliusz Bursche issued an appeal in September 1918 for the evangelical community to secure basic living conditions for those returning from exile. The appeal included a system where evangelicals donating a cow would be compensated by occupation officials and exempted from future requisitions. The Head of Administration supported this initiative, as the authorities alone could not support every reactivating farm.

To streamline assistance and legal formalities, the Head of Administration at the Warsaw General Government decided to establish an Office of Forced Administrator for the property of absent German displaced persons in each district. This administrator, a senior occupation official or commissioner knowledgeable in repatriation issues, was responsible for restoring property rights, securing accommodation and financial support, and arranging transport for colonists traveling to other areas.

The Office of Forced Administrator was assisted by a special representative in charge of the area to which returning Germans were directed, often in whole colonies. This representative could be civilian or military personnel. Their duties included inspecting the area, gathering information about colonists, forwarding their requests, and ensuring the implementation of orders. Assembly points were organized in larger districts, often at teachers' homes, evangelical parishes, or smaller military commands. Gendarmerie patrols also provided information. The General Governor authorized local commands and military governments to provide assistance. Occupation authorities provided both financial and economic aid, including livestock (cattle and horses), seeds, agricultural tools, construction materials, and shelter.

The Referat IV for German Affairs, headed by prosecutor Huquenin (also president of the Office for the Care of German Properties), coordinated assistance efforts at the Warsaw General Government. German occupation authorities provided legal assistance, especially regarding the transfer of land under forced administration back to returning German owners. A simple written declaration was sufficient for the transfer. Financial aid was also provided upon the return of property. A regulation from June 14, 1918, stated that each family would receive 1,000 marks in cash, with district chiefs authorized to grant up to 5,000 marks to the poorest families. Initially, 2 million marks were allocated for aid, later increased to 50,000 marks with the possibility of further central funding. Interest-free loans were available for rebuilding or repairing war-damaged buildings. Wood and construction materials were provided free of charge. Demolished former Russian state offices and military buildings were used as sources for rebuilding materials for German colonists' homes. Occupation authorities in the Łuków Military Gubernatorstwo decided to provide building material from dismantled barracks, stone buildings, and a building from Dęblin Fortress. Colonists could also purchase wire and were offered horses from the army at favorable prices. These horses were often sourced from requisitions, from which colonists were exempted, placing them in a privileged position compared to the Polish population.

Authorities aimed to prevent rumors of expropriation of crops and livestock from tenants for returning German colonists. A regulation from April 13, 1918, protected tenants' interests regarding compensation for crops and livestock. The policy of official protection for the German population in the Warsaw and Lublin General Governments led to a regulation on June 16, 1918, granting German colonists property protection from requisitions and extensive economic assistance.

A key priority for the occupation authorities was to secure the livelihood of German re-émigrés. This included organizing transit camps, providing transport, household and agricultural equipment, passports, and coordinating with district chiefs. Equally important was strengthening the position of Germans in Poland through legal and structural support (associations, schools) and fostering emotional ties through religion and national belonging. German authorities were sensitive to expressions of national identity among the German population in the occupied territories.

Transit camps for returning German displaced persons were organized in places like Osowiec, Ostrołęka, Modlin, and Warsaw. Camps were managed by commandants responsible for accommodation, order, and transporting re-émigrés to their destinations. Supplies were provided by district chiefs. A particularly active figure in the Lublin region was the forced administrator for German properties in the Łuków district, von Gehren, who helped returning colonists exchange rubles for marks at favorable rates. Loans were available from Deutsche Spar- und Darlehnskassen (German Savings and Loan Banks). Financial assistance was available for colonists whose farms were under forced administration and were destroyed or damaged during the war.

Occupation authorities were interested in the economic and financial security of German property in Poland and in stimulating German political life. The Deutscher Verein (German Association), formed in Łódź in 1916 and expanded in 1917 to cover all German-occupied territories, played a significant role. This association, with its own newspaper “Deutsche Post,” included small and medium German bourgeoisie and German colonists. The Deutscher Verein had a legal aid office and a committee for aiding needy Protestants. It also established a society for mediating the purchase and sale of agricultural supplies and equipment. The association influenced many aspects of German community life, organizing lectures, courses, and maintaining contacts with other German minority organizations.

The Deutscher Verein was actively involved in assisting re-émigrés. Its chairman visited transit camps and met with General Governor Hans von Beseler to discuss the situation and coordinate assistance. The General Government presented a plan of assistance addressing the demands of the German population. The Fürsorgeverein für deutsche Rückwanderer established a branch in Chełm for the eastern occupied territories, but it was closed by the Austrian command. Efforts to reactivate it were unsuccessful before the occupation authorities evacuated from Lublin in autumn 1918.

The occupation authorities also prioritized the reconstruction and development of German schooling. In 1917, two nationwide school associations were formed: Deutscher Evangelische Landesschulverband and Deutscher Katholische Landesschulverband. These associations, in cooperation with the Warsaw General Government, developed a program to open schools for German re-émigrés from Russia. The Head of Administration provided assistance with construction plans, subsidized building materials, and other necessities. School associations covered the costs of opening schools and equipping classrooms.

German was to be the language of instruction in schools where the majority of students were of German origin and spoke German. In public schools east of the Lubartów, Lublin, and Janów districts with a Ukrainian-speaking majority, Ukrainian was to be introduced as the language of instruction. Statistics from 1915 and 1916 listed German-language public elementary schools but none with Ukrainian as the language of instruction. The German administration was the highest supervisory authority for school matters. Education in elementary and secondary schools was accessible to all children regardless of nationality or religion. Religious education was managed by church authorities under civilian administration supervision. German or Polish were set as the languages of instruction in German and Jewish schools. Russian was completely removed. Polish teachers familiar with German were required to teach German in higher grades. In German secondary and higher grades, half the language hours were for Polish, and in Polish schools, for German. Detailed regulations outlined language hours in different school types.

Regulations also detailed Evangelical religious education, aiming to strengthen students' ties with the Evangelical community. This broad curriculum was partly due to difficulties in rebuilding Evangelical schools after the war. On September 12, 1917, the General Governor transferred the administration of schooling to the Provisional Commission appointed by the Provisional Council of State. As of October 1, 1917, regulations passed by the Provisional Council of State and its Commission replaced the previous ones. A law from September 12, 1917, stated that public schools were accessible to children of minorities on the same terms as other residents.

Another task undertaken by the civilian administration to strengthen the German population was the reconstruction of church structures and solidifying the role of the Evangelical Church. Occupation authorities helped rebuild evangelical parishes and supported teachers and their families.

Under the patronage of German authorities, German and Austrian agricultural, economic, and credit societies and banks began operating in the Lublin region. Various cultural associations were also active, promoting self-education among the German minority. In Łuków, there were even two Jewish-German cultural societies.

The protection of the interests of the German minority was a central concern for the occupation authorities during negotiations with the Provisional Council of State. On June 4, 1918, the German General Government in Warsaw reiterated that protecting Germans in Poland was one of the most important tasks to be resolved in future state treaties. The German army's role included reminding German minority members of the need for integration with the German Reich and its representatives. Special officers were assigned for this. Landed property of returning German re-émigrés was particularly protected, with assistance provided, including exemption from compulsory deliveries to maintain farm stability.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918 reinforced the occupation authorities' desire to change Russian fundamental laws regarding land ownership in the Polish Kingdom, primarily to abolish the 1887 law prohibiting land acquisition by foreigners. This led to delays in transferring power over agrarian legislation to the Polish government, as the German authorities sought to protect the economic and property interests of the German population. Due to Polish refusal, the occupation authorities only partially transferred competencies regarding peasant matters to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The defeat of the Central Powers in WWI halted widespread German expansion in the conquered territories. People of German origin began emigrating from eastern areas to Germany. A. Czubiński states that due to mass migration, Eastern Europe lost approximately 1.5 million Germans. The defeat resulted in demographic losses among the German minority in the Lublin region and a reduced number of colonies. This led to the remaining German settlements becoming enclaves, many of which were entirely or partially colonized by the threshold of the Second Republic.

Based on the information in the provided source, here is a discussion of German settlement history in the Lublin region:

The source examines the situation of the German minority in the Lublin region during the years 1914-1918. It begins with a retrospection on the beginnings of the German settlement movement (osadnictwa niemieckiego) in the gubernia of Lublin, noting that this settlement progressed from the end of the eighteenth century and constantly increased its ownership status until World War I.

The reasons for settlement and further expansion of German colonists in the southeastern parts of the Kingdom of Poland, according to W. Sladkowski, stemmed from socio-economic processes occurring both in the destination areas and in their countries of origin. Attracting factors included:
The decline of the feudal economy and the slow development of the capitalist economy.
The developing leasehold economy.
The parceling and sale of landed estates after 1864.
A favorable attitude towards German newcomers by the Tsarist authorities.

The need to find new economic areas was also linked to the repercussions of the enfranchisement reform in Prussia, leading to pauperization and stratification among peasants there. German settlers arriving in the eastern areas of the Kingdom of Poland originated from Prussia, Central Germany, and Southern Germany (Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg, Palatinate).

In the Lublin region, German colonists primarily settled on private estates, with the exception of Łuków county, where they also established farms on state lands. Colonists in Lublin gubernia were almost exclusively involved in agriculture.

Early organized German colonies in the Lublin region mentioned in the source include:
Michelsdorf: The oldest colony, founded on Chełm land in 1782.
Franzdorf I and II: Developed as a larger center in Garwolin county at the end of the 18th century. German
settlers also lived in Żelechów, Sokolniki, and Ciechomin.
Załucze (1803) and Nadrybie Stare: Founded shortly after in Chełm land, forming a third significant center.

After 1815, a new influx of settlers began. Colonies were established or existed in Ordynacja Zamojska, including Horyszów (1822-1823), Sabaudia (1837), Łom (1835), and Dorbozy. By the mid-19th century, others in Ordynacja included Białobrzegi, Brody, Korchów, Płoskie, Rogoźno, and Sitaniec. Additional Chełm colonies like Dębowiec (1828) and Zabrodzie (1838) were established, and Wytyczno was an older colony. In 1821, Germans settled in various locations in Krasnystaw and Radzyń counties, and clusters of colonies formed in Garwolin and Węgrów counties. Shortly before the 1860 enfranchisement, new colonies were added in Chełm land and Hrubieszów county. In Lublin county, colonies such as Łączki, Egersdorf, Miłoszówka, and Granica were added before the reform.

Before the enfranchisement reform, about 95 German colonies were established in Lublin and Podlasie gubernias. In 1862, W. Śladkowski estimated 6,000 German colonists in Lublin gubernia, possessing 1100 settlements. They were concentrated in certain areas: Lublin, Krasnystaw (including part of Chełm land), and Zamość counties in Lublin gubernia, and Łuków and Siedlce districts in Podlasie gubernia.

A breakthrough moment for German colonists was the enfranchisement decree of March 2, 1864, which granted them land ownership rights, provided they had or acquired Russian citizenship. This reform, coupled with the difficult position of landowners and low land prices, encouraged settlement after 1864. German colonists acquired approximately 31,000 hectares of land in Lublin gubernia after enfranchisement until 1915, with 21,000 hectares in Chełm county alone. This post-reform colonization was considered secondary (Tochtersiedlung), involving descendants of earlier settlers, driven by socio-economic changes and the search for new opportunities. Expansion was notable in Lubartów, Chełm, Włodawa, Lublin, Radzyń, and Łuków counties after 1864.

Leading up to World War I, Tsarist policy became less favorable, exemplified by the 1887 decree aiming to limit colonization by foreign subjects. German colonists in Chełm land were seen as a buffer against Russification. German colonists in rural areas were slower to assimilate (Polonization) compared to those in urban centers. The largest concentrations of German population before WWI were in Chełm, Włodawa, and Lubartów counties. Some areas, like parts of Lublin and Lubartów counties, saw a decrease in the evangelical population in the years before the war. However, Chełm and Włodawa counties experienced growth or only slight decline. In 1914, German colonists constituted significant percentages of the population in certain communes of Chełm county, such as Cyców (41%) and Turka (34%). A map from 1906 by Henryk Wiercieński depicted the extent of German colonization and was presented to Tsar Nicholas II, suggesting official interest.

The outbreak of World War I was a breakthrough in the existence of this ethnic group. Military operations and the radicalization of Tsarist policy towards subjects of enemy states resulted in the deportation of Germans living in the Lublin region to the inner regions of Russia and the confiscation of their property. German sources estimate that 140,000 Germans were taken deep into Russia. The withdrawal of Russian forces and the offensive of the Central Powers in 1915 led to the return of German colonists from Russia, with the largest wave occurring in 1917-1919. Some returned as early as 1916. Colonists from Volhynia also fled to the Kingdom of Poland during the Russian offensive.

Under the occupation by the Central Powers (Germany and Austro-Hungary), the Lublin region was divided into two zones. The occupying powers, particularly German authorities, took interest in the situation of the German colonists. While Berlin aimed to secure land for colonization, policy regarding re-emigration was sometimes inconsistent. The Austrian authorities were described as having a passive approach to helping returning colonists, in contrast to the more active German approach.

Significant support was provided by the German occupational authorities to returning re-emigrants of German descent. This included:
Assistance in rebuilding war-damaged property.
Financial support, such as cash allowances and interest-free loans for rebuilding homes.
Provision of building materials, often free or at low cost, from demolished buildings.
Supply of livestock (cattle, horses), seed grain, and agricultural tools, often at favorable prices.
Exemption of their property from war requisition, giving them a privileged position compared to the Polish population.
Establishment of the Office for the Care of German Real Estate (Fürsorgestelle für deutschen Grundbesitz) to manage and protect abandoned German property.
Legal support for transferring property back to the returning owners.
Creation of transit camps for arriving re-emigrants.
Support for German-language schools and church structures to strengthen the German community.
Coordination of aid efforts involving military and civil administration, as well as organizations like the Evangelical-Augsburg Church and the Deutscher Verein (German Association).

The defeat of the Central Powers led to a halt in German expansion. Population shifts resulted in the emigration of the German population from eastern territories, including the Lublin region. The defeat caused demographic losses among the German minority and a reduced number of their established colonies. The remaining German settlements became like enclaves.

Based on the provided source, World War I had a profound and multi-faceted impact on German settlement history in the Lublin region:

1. Immediate Disruption and Deportation: The outbreak of World War I in 1914 marked a breakthrough moment for the German minority. Military operations and a radicalization of Tsarist policy towards subjects of enemy states led to the deportation of Germans living in the Lublin region to inner regions of Russia, such as Siberia and Central Asia. Simultaneously, their property was confiscated. German sources estimated that 140,000 Germans were taken deep into Russia. This deportation resulted in a significant decrease in the German population in the former Lublin gubernia. For instance, in the former Chełm gubernia, which contained the largest German settlements, the estimated loss of the evangelical population between 1914 and 1921 was 73.4%, or 28,222 people. Specific data from 1916 showed heavy losses, with 91.7% of the evangelical population leaving Chełm, Biłgoraj, and Hrubieszów counties.
2. Return under Occupation: The offensive by the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) and the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Lublin region in 1915 accelerated the return of German colonists from Russia. The largest wave of repatriation to the Kingdom of Poland and Volhynia occurred in 1917-1919. Some colonists returned as early as 1916, and Germans from Volhynia also fled to the Kingdom of Poland during the Russian offensive.
3. Support and Protection by Occupying Powers: Under the occupation by the Central Powers (Lublin region was divided into Austrian and German zones), the situation of the German colonists became a matter of interest, particularly for the German authorities. While Austrian authorities were described as having a passive approach to helping returning colonists, German authorities were more active. Significant support was provided to returning re-emigrants of German descent by the German occupational authorities. This support aimed to secure and maintain German property and strengthen the German community.
   1. Administrative Structures: The Office for the Care of German Real Estate (Fürsorgestelle für deutschen Grundbesitz) was established in 1917 to manage and protect abandoned German property. Compulsory Administrators were appointed at the county level to manage the property of absent Germans, facilitate the return of property to owners, and coordinate aid.
   2. Financial Aid: Returnees received cash allowances, with potentially larger amounts for the poorest families. Interest-free loans were provided for rebuilding damaged or destroyed buildings. Support was given for currency exchange.
   3. Material Aid: Assistance included help in rebuilding war-damaged property. Building materials, such as wood and salvaged materials from demolished Russian buildings, were provided, often for free or at low cost. Livestock (cattle, horses), seed grain, and agricultural tools were supplied, often at favorable prices.
   4. Property Protection: The property of German colonists was exempt from war requisition, giving them a privileged position compared to the Polish population. Legal support was provided for transferring property back to returning owners. Efforts were made to ensure Polish tenants on German land were compensated for crops/livestock.
   5. Community Support: The occupying powers supported German-language schools, church structures (especially the Evangelical-Augsburg Church), and German associations (like the Deutscher Verein) to strengthen the German community and foster a sense of connection to the Reich. Transit camps were organized for arriving re-emigrants.
4. End of War and Aftermath: The defeat of the Central Powers in World War I led to a halt in German expansion efforts in the conquered territories. This defeat also resulted in demographic losses among the German minority and a reduced number of their established colonies in the Lublin region. The remaining German settlements became like enclaves. The end of the war saw the emigration of the German population from eastern territories back to the Reich.

Based on the source provided, World War I significantly impacted German settlement history in the Lublin region, leading to a period of disruption, deportation, and subsequent repatriation efforts supported by the occupying Central Powers, particularly Germany.

Here's a discussion of these repatriation efforts according to the source:

The Need for Repatriation: At the outbreak of WWI in 1914, Tsarist policy towards subjects of enemy states became radicalized. This resulted in the deportation of Germans from the Lublin region to inner parts of Russia, including Siberia and Central Asia, with their property confiscated. German sources estimated that 140,000 Germans were taken deep into Russia. This led to a significant decrease in the German population in the former Lublin gubernia.

The Return: Following the offensive by the Central Powers and the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Lublin region in 1915, the return of German colonists from Russia accelerated. The largest wave of repatriation to the Kingdom of Poland and Volhynia occurred between 1917 and 1919. Some colonists began returning as early as 1916. Germans from Volhynia also fled to the Kingdom of Poland during the Russian offensive.

Support from Occupying Powers: Once the Lublin region was occupied by the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary and Germany), the situation of the German colonists became a focus of interest. While Austrian authorities were described as having a passive approach to helping returning colonists, German authorities were more active. Significant support was provided by the German occupational authorities to returning re-emigrants of German descent.

Goals of the Support: The support provided aimed to secure and maintain German property and strengthen the German community. It was also intended to foster a sense of connection to the Reich.

Administrative Structures and Aid:

The Office for the Care of German Real Estate (Fürsorgestelle für deutschen Grundbesitz) was established in 1917 to manage and protect abandoned German property. It was not intended to encourage emigration but to maintain threatened German property. It was also obligated to provide temporary aid to returning colonists in difficult situations.

Compulsory Administrators (Zarządca Przymusowy) were appointed at the county level to manage the property of absent German displaced persons, facilitate the return of property to owners, secure housing, and coordinate aid.

Returning re-emigrants received financial aid, including cash allowances. The basic allowance was 1,000 marks per family, with up to 5,000 marks for the poorest families. Interest-free loans were provided for rebuilding war-damaged properties. Currency exchange for rubles into marks was facilitated at favorable rates. Loans were also available from German Savings and Loan Banks.

Material aid included help in rebuilding war-damaged property. Building materials, such as wood and salvaged materials from demolished Russian state and military buildings, were provided, often for free or at low cost. Livestock (cattle, horses), seed grain, and agricultural tools were supplied, often at favorable prices.

The property of German colonists was exempt from war requisition, placing them in a privileged position compared to the Polish population. Legal support was provided for transferring property back to returning owners. Measures were taken to ensure Polish tenants on German land were compensated for crops or livestock before property was returned.

Community Support: The occupying powers supported German-language schools, church structures like the Evangelical-Augsburg Church, and German associations such as the Deutscher Verein. These organizations provided legal advice, material aid, agricultural support, and cultural/educational activities to strengthen the German community.

Logistical Support: Transit camps were organized for arriving re-emigrants. These camps handled registration, accommodation, and transport to their final destinations.

In summary, following the initial deportation by Tsarist forces, German colonists began returning to the Lublin region during WWI, particularly after the Central Powers took control. The German occupational authorities implemented a structured and multi-faceted system of support aimed at facilitating their return, protecting their property, rebuilding their lives, and strengthening the German community in the occupied territories.

Based on the source provided and our conversation history, the policies of the occupying powers towards the German minority in the Lublin region during World War I were significant and multi-faceted, particularly after the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) took control of the territory following the Russian withdrawal in 1915.

Key aspects of the occupying powers' policy include:

1. Overall Goal: The primary objective of the occupying powers, especially the German authorities, was to secure and maintain German property that had been abandoned or confiscated during the Russian retreat. Beyond property, the policy also aimed to strengthen the German community demographically, economically, and culturally, fostering a sense of connection to the Reich. This was linked to broader German colonization ambitions in the occupied territories.
2. Different Approaches: There was a notable difference in the approach taken by the two main occupying powers. While Austrian authorities were described as having a passive attitude towards helping returning German colonists, often showing a lack of interest, German authorities were considerably more active in implementing aid programs. Complaints about unfriendly treatment by Austrian officials towards returning colonists were reported.
3. Support for Repatriation: The offensive of the Central Powers facilitated the acceleration of the return of German colonists who had been deported to Russia. The largest wave of this repatriation occurred between 1917 and 1919. German occupational authorities provided significant support to these returning re-emigrants.
4. Administrative Structures and Aid Programs: To manage the situation and support the German population, specific structures and programs were put in place:
5. Office for the Care of German Real Estate (Fürsorgestelle für deutschen Grundbesitz): Established in 1917, this office's purpose was to manage and protect abandoned German property and provide temporary aid to returning colonists in difficult situations. It was explicitly stated that its goal was not to encourage emigration but to maintain threatened German property.
6. Compulsory Administrators (Zarządca Przymusowy): Appointed at the county level, these administrators managed the property of absent German displaced persons, facilitated the return of property to owners, secured housing, and coordinated aid. They worked with the economic section of the county office on matters like distributing seed grain, cattle, and horses.
7. Financial Assistance: Returning colonists received cash allowances, including a basic amount of 1,000 marks per family, with up to 5,000 marks possible for the poorest families. Interest-free loans were provided for rebuilding damaged or destroyed buildings. Currency exchange from rubles to marks was facilitated at favorable rates. Loans were also available from German Savings and Loan Banks. Initial funding for aid was 2 million marks, with possibilities for further donations.
8. Material Assistance: Aid included help in rebuilding war-damaged property. Building materials (like wood and salvaged materials from demolished Russian buildings) were provided, often for free or at low cost.
   1. Livestock (cattle, horses), seed grain, and agricultural tools were supplied, often at favorable prices. Horses from temporary army units were also made available for free use by colonists. The interests of tenants already on German land were considered, with provisions for compensating them for crops or livestock before the property was returned to the German owner.
   2. Property Protection: Notably, the property of German colonists was exempt from war requisition, which provided them with a privileged position compared to the Polish population. Legal support was also given for the formal transfer of property back to returning owners.
9. Support for Community Structures: The occupying powers actively supported German-language institutions to strengthen the community:
   1. Schools: Support was provided for establishing and maintaining German-language schools. Policies mandated German as the language of instruction in schools with a majority of German-speaking students. Aid was provided for rebuilding and equipping schools.
   2. Church: Efforts were made to rebuild and strengthen the Evangelical-Augsburg Church structure, recognizing its importance to the German minority. Schools were also mandated to provide extensive religious instruction in the Evangelical faith to strengthen ties to the community.
   3. Associations: German associations, such as the Deutscher Verein, were supported. These organizations provided various forms of support, including legal advice, material aid, agricultural assistance, and cultural/educational activities. They also helped coordinate aid efforts for re-emigrants.
10. Logistical Support: Transit camps were organized for arriving re-emigrants to handle registration, accommodation, and transport to their destinations. County chiefs and compulsory administrators were tasked with overseeing the welfare of the re-emigrants in their areas.
11. Economic and Political Integration: The policy included supporting German/Austrian economic and credit institutions. There were also efforts to foster a connection to the German Reich, including allowing re-emigrants to request a designation like “of German descent from Poland” on their passports. The authorities aimed to protect German economic and property interests in any future political settlements.

In summary, the policy of the occupying Central Powers, particularly the German administration, was a deliberate and active effort to facilitate the return of deported German colonists, protect their property, rebuild their lives, and strengthen the German minority's presence and connection to Germany in the occupied territories, distinguishing their treatment from that of the local Polish population. This involved establishing specific administrative bodies, providing significant financial and material aid, and supporting German cultural and religious institutions.