Drawing on the information in the sources, the “Krakauer Zeitung” and its mutation “Warschauer Zeitung” (“K/WZ”) played a significant role between 1939 and 1944 in portraying the Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District as interpreted through a specific framing process. The source defines Volksdeutsche, as per a 1939 German dictionary, as “those Germans abroad who are citizens of a foreign-national state”. Unlike Reichsdeutsche, Volksdeutsche were ethnic Germans living outside the borders of the Reich and not possessing German or Austrian citizenship.

The “Krakauer Zeitung” was established on November 9, 1939, as the political press organ of the General Government. Its purpose was to serve as a “bearer of the political will and cultural mission of the German nation in the East”. The newspaper's profile clearly targeted a German readership, including Reichsdeutsche, Volksdeutsche, German soldiers, and students. The “Warschauer Zeitung” was the mutation of this newspaper that appeared in the Lublin District.

The article analyzes the framing, or interpretive schemas, used by “K/WZ” concerning the Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District. Framing, rooted in cognitive psychology, involves highlighting selected aspects of reality and attributing significance to them to disseminate ideologies, ideas, and values. This process was a vital element in the media control over released content and aimed to reconstruct the image of the Volksdeutsche to present specific propaganda contents and a unified interpretation and assessment of reality. The analysis of the press materials aimed to understand the interpretive frames used, the image created, and the linguistic means employed.

The portrayal of Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District in “K/WZ” was primarily a crucial element of political discourse. This discourse was implemented using persuasive, informative, and expressive strategies. The study identifies three main thematic pillars or key categories that formed the context for information about ethnic Germans in the Lublin District. These were:

1. The history of German colonization in the Chełm, Lublin, and Zamość regions (including events like internment in Bereza Kartuska prison, the issuing of identification cards, and historical background of German settlement).
2. The role of the descendants of German colonists in shaping the “German East”.
3. The resettlement actions (“Heim ins Reich” / return to the Reich) involving descendants of German colonists from Chełm and Lublin regions, which took place from September 3 to November 19, 1940. Also, the “Fahndung nach deutschem Blut” (search for German blood / *Rückgewinnung* - regermanization) action concerning descendants of Josephine settlers in the Zamość region, which began in November 1940.

The main element unifying the narrative and building context was the Lublin district authorities' policy related to resettlement and settlement of Volksdeutsche. The political discourse regarding ethnic Germans incorporated historical facts to significantly influence the ideological space of the potential readers.

The construction of the image of Volksdeutsche and colonists from the Lublin district in “WZ” began with a report from December 1, 1939, by Hans Bruno Hirsche, titled “Chelms befreite Volksdeutsche dankten Dr. Frank”. This text, reporting on Hans Frank's trip, presented the Chełm Germans as model representatives of Germanness in the easternmost district of the General Government. They were described with value-laden expressions as brave men and women with severe faces who suffered under “Polish terror” due to their German identity.

The narrative frequently depicted the fate of Volksdeutsche in pre-war Poland using terms like “years of suffering,” “Polish arbitrary rule,” “terror,” and “torment,” and verbs like “to harass” or “to wear out”. Comparisons such as being treated “like a herd of cattle” or referring to the “notorious hell of Beresa Kartuska” were used for hyperbole. These linguistic devices aimed to frame the Chełm Germans as victims of radicalized Polish policy towards the German minority before the war and alleged persecutions in September 1939. The texts also emphasized the gratitude of Volksdeutsche to the Führer for restoring their rights.

The introduction of the brown identification card (*Kennkarte*) by Hans Frank's decree on January 26, 1940, legally positioned Volksdeutsche as members of the German nation and formed the basis for their identity identification. Articles reporting on the registration and issuing of these cards in the Lublin District used an informative strategy. Volksdeutsche covered by this action in Chełm and Lublin were often described in accordance with the requirements of the Nordic race – sturdy blondes with blue eyes. Emphasis was placed on German-sounding names and historical documents confirming their German origin. They were presented as “Heimgekehrte” (those who returned home) who “without hesitation followed the call of German blood at this difficult time,” returning to Adolf Hitler's Reich. The act of receiving cards was described with narrative persuasion, featuring National Socialist symbols like hands raised in the German salute and halls decorated with swastika flags.

A fundamental element creating context was the historical outline of German settlement in the area. The texts followed a scheme presenting current events related to the authorities' policy, a stereotypical image of the German colonist and colonies, National Socialist “Aufbauarbeit” (reconstruction work), and the implementation of the resettlement action. The existence of Lublin, Chełm, and Zamość Volksdeutsche was presented mainly from the perspective of the “Heim ins Reich” action. For colonists from Zamość, references to the “Rückgewinnungsaktion von Deutschstämmigen” predominated.

A creative strategy was used to position colonists as pioneers in acquiring arable land and as teachers bringing civilizational progress to the local population. This was supported by various metaphorical labels describing colonies and colonists, such as “lonely island”, “German blood”, “political warriors of the führer”, “culture pioneers”, “pioneers of the East”, “the bastion in the German East”, and “element of order”. The texts used historical components to provide evidence of alleged previous discrimination and persecution of ethnic Germans in September 1939.

A positive image of the colonist was constructed based on selected characteristics related to their existence, including: faith and German character, perseverance and meticulousness, and loyalty to German heritage. Their demeanor towards visiting authorities was described positively, with “open faces, relaxed gaze, characteristic strong handshake”. This ideologically and emotionally reinforced image of the colonist-hero was often contrasted with the anti-hero in the form of the Polish neighbor, portraying idyllic German farms in contrast to dilapidated Polish farms.

The main axis of the narrative regarding the Lublin, Chełm, and Zamość Volksdeutsche was current policy. The presentation of policy objectives and the course of both “Heim ins Reich” and “Rückgewinnung” required illustrating the scope, condition, and significance of German settlement using specific political discourse strategies. The framing of the Volksdeutsche from Lublin and Chełm was embedded in the description of the resettlement action, referred to officially as *Umsiedlung* or *Tauschsiedlung* and propagandistically with strong emotional charge as *Heimkehr*, *Rückführungsaktion*, *Rückwanderung*, and *Aufbruch in die Heimat der Väter*. According to Nazi propaganda rhetoric, the resettlement action in the Lublin District was presented as a euphemistic “moderne Völkerwanderung” (modern migration of peoples). Ethnic Germans involved were referred to as *deutsche Kolonisten, Volksdeutsche, Umsiedler, Rücksiedler*, or *Heimkehrer*. The group from Zamość was characterized from the perspective of the *Rückgewinnung* action using terms like *deutschstämmige Siedler, Deutschstämmige, deutsche Siedler, volksdeutsche Umsiedler, Kolonisten, Kulturpioniere*, and *Kolonisatoren*.

The most frequent interpretive term for Volksdeutsch in the texts about ethnic Germans from the Lublin District was the metaphorical label “deutsches Blut” (German blood) and adjectives like “sauber” (clean) and “fleißig” (diligent). Elements emphasized as unifying the community included hard work, tragic history, and resistance to Polonization processes. The areas between the Vistula and Bug rivers settled by German colonists were described according to Nazi rhetoric as inalienable German property, “unabdingbar deutsche Erde”. Propaganda techniques, such as highlighting positive traits using proverbs like “Where the wind blows sand into the Pole's eyes, the German still sows wheat,” were employed. Concepts like “Herkunftsbewusstsein” (consciousness of origin), “Volksgemeinschaft” (people's community), and “Gemeinschaftsbewusstsein und Gemeinschaftssinn” (community consciousness and spirit) were invoked to create an image of community.

German colonists and their descendants were consistently portrayed as grateful “beneficiaries” of the “Deutschtumsarbeit” (work for Germanness). Descriptions of actions included words of recognition and gratitude directed at organizations like Hitler-Jugend, Bund Deutscher Mädel, and Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt, as well as offices, SS and police units, and students involved in these activities. Presenting specific events as part of planned actions involving Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District fit into an articulative strategy promoting the adopted political solutions. A new interpretive plane was established by “K/WZ,” containing an ideological appeal for the “preservation of valuable German blood” that was threatened with “seeping into foreign soil,” referring to Volksdeutsche remaining in areas considered “primeval German Vistula river basin”. It also called for those returning via “Heim ins Reich” to dedicate themselves to new tasks “for the blessing of National Socialism”.

The inclusion of the complex fates of individual colonists, often named, introduced the individual hero with their history into the interpretive frame, reinforcing the key terms – Kolonist-Volksdeutsch-Umsiedler. The individual's perspective, memories, and reflections were integrated into the history and future of the entire community. The use of an expressive strategy, promoting details of political solutions for Volksdeutsche, closed the interpretive frame by showing the alleged positive results of both the *Rückgewinnung* and *Heim ins Reich* actions. This solidified a positive stereotype of the Volksdeutsche in linguistic form.

In summary, the press discourse of “K/WZ” concerning the Volksdeutsche from the Lublin District was hierarchical, linear, and coherent. The schematic, propagandistic portrayal was complemented by metaphors stimulating an emotional reception of content. Embedding the political discourse in a historical context aimed to present the Volksdeutsche as “pioneers of the German East,” which influenced the reader's ideological and emotional attitude. The positive framing of the Volksdeutsche's image propagandistically controlled the interpretation of events, directing the reception of facts towards the legitimation of the current policies of the Lublin district authorities towards the ethnic Germans residing there.

Drawing on the sources, the “Krakauer Zeitung” (“KZ”) and its mutation in the Lublin District, the “Warschauer Zeitung” (“WZ”), collectively referred to as “K/WZ”, played a significant role in employing a specific type of journalistic practice known as framing.

Framing, rooted in cognitive psychology, is defined as an interpretive scheme. It involves highlighting selected aspects of reality and attributing significance to them. This process is considered a vital element in media control over content, used for disseminating particular ideologies, ideas, and values. By focusing on certain attributes of informational material, framing can influence how the audience perceives and interprets specific phenomena. The analysis of press materials from “K/WZ” aimed to understand these interpretive frames, the resulting image created, and the linguistic means employed.

Established on November 9, 1939, the “Krakauer Zeitung” served as the political press organ of the General Government. Its stated purpose was to be a “bearer of the political will and cultural mission of the German nation in the East”. The newspaper's target readership included Reichsdeutsche, Volksdeutsche, German soldiers, and students. The “Warschauer Zeitung” was the specific edition that appeared in the Lublin District.

The sources analyze how “K/WZ” used framing to portray the Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District between 1939 and 1944. Volksdeutsche were defined as Germans living abroad who were citizens of a foreign-national state. Unlike Reichsdeutsche, they were ethnic Germans residing outside the Reich's borders without German or Austrian citizenship. On January 26, 1940, they were legally identified within the General Government using a brown identification card, the *Kennkarte*. The framing process used by “K/WZ” sought to reconstruct the image of this group to present specific propaganda content and a unified interpretation of reality.

The portrayal of Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District within “K/WZ” was primarily implemented as a crucial element of political discourse, utilizing persuasive, informative, and expressive strategies. The analysis identified three main thematic pillars that formed the context for information about ethnic Germans in this district:

1. The history of German colonization in the Chełm, Lublin, and Zamość regions, including events like internment in Bereza Kartuska prison, the issuing of identification cards, and the historical background of German settlement.
2. The role of the descendants of German colonists in shaping the “German East”.
3. The resettlement actions involving descendants of German colonists: the “Heim ins Reich” (return to the Reich) action from Chełm and Lublin regions (September 3 to November 19, 1940) and the “Fahndung nach deutschem Blut” (search for German blood) or *Rückgewinnung* (regermanization) action concerning descendants of Josephine settlers in the Zamość region (beginning November 1940).

The dominant element unifying the narrative and building context was the Lublin district authorities' policy regarding the resettlement and settlement of Volksdeutsche. Historical facts were integrated into the political discourse to significantly influence the ideological space of the potential readers.

The construction of the Volksdeutsche image began early, with a report from December 1, 1939, portraying the Chełm Germans as “model representatives of Germanness”. They were described positively with value-laden expressions as “brave men and women with severe faces” who allegedly suffered under “Polish terror” due to their German identity. The narrative frequently framed the pre-war fate of Volksdeutsche using terms like “years of suffering,” “Polish arbitrary rule,” “terror,” and “torment,” employing hyperbolic comparisons like being treated “like a herd of cattle” or referring to the “notorious hell of Beresa Kartuska” to depict them as victims of Polish policy and alleged persecutions. A key theme was the gratitude of Volksdeutsche to the Führer for restoring their rights.

The process of issuing *Kennkarten* was reported using an informative strategy, presenting Volksdeutsche in Chełm and Lublin often according to the requirements of the Nordic race: “sturdy blondes with blue eyes”. Emphasis was placed on German-sounding names and historical documents proving their origin. They were presented as “Heimgekehrte” (“those who returned home”) who followed the “call of German blood” to return to the Reich. National Socialist symbols, such as German salutes and swastika flags, were used to enhance the narrative persuasion around receiving the cards.

Historical outlines of German settlement were a fundamental element, positioning colonists as “pioneers” who brought civilizational progress. They were described using various metaphorical labels such as “lonely island,” “German blood,” “political warriors of the führer,” “culture pioneers,” “pioneers of the East,” “the bastion in the German East,” and “element of order”. The texts used historical components to allege past discrimination and persecution.

A positive image of the colonist was constructed based on traits like “faith and German character,” “perseverance and meticulousness,” and “loyalty to German heritage”. Their demeanor was described positively, often contrasted with a negative portrayal of their Polish neighbors.

The main axis of the narrative was current policy, specifically the “Heim ins Reich” and “Rückgewinnung” actions. The resettlement was euphemistically called a “moderne Völkerwanderung” (“modern migration of peoples”) in Nazi propaganda. Volksdeutsche involved were referred to with terms like *deutsche Kolonisten, Volksdeutsche, Umsiedler, Rücksiedler, Heimkehrer*, while those in the *Rückgewinnung* action were called *deutschstämmige Siedler, Deutschstämmige, deutsche Siedler, volksdeutsche Umsiedler, Kolonisten, Kulturpioniere, Kolonisatoren*.

The most frequent interpretive terms for Volksdeutsch were the metaphorical label “deutsches Blut” (“German blood”) and adjectives like “sauber” (“clean”) and “fleißig” (“diligent”). Elements emphasized as unifying the community included hard work, tragic history, and resistance to Polonization. The settled areas were portrayed as inalienable German property, “unabdingbar deutsche Erde”. Propaganda techniques, including proverbs, were used to highlight positive traits. Concepts like “Herkunftsbewusstsein” (consciousness of origin), “Volksgemeinschaft” (people's community), and “Gemeinschaftsbewusstsein und Gemeinschaftssinn” (community consciousness and spirit) were invoked to create a sense of community.

Volksdeutsche were consistently framed as grateful “beneficiaries” of the “Deutschtumsarbeit” (work for Germanness) and directed gratitude towards various Nazi organizations and individuals involved in the actions. This fit into an articulative strategy promoting the adopted political solutions. “K/WZ” also established a new interpretive plane with an ideological appeal for the “preservation of valuable German blood” that was allegedly threatened.

Including individual colonists' stories introduced an individual hero into the frame, reinforcing the key terms: Kolonist-Volksdeutsch-Umsiedler. The individual perspective was integrated into the history and future of the entire community. The expressive strategy, detailing political solutions, closed the interpretive frame by showing alleged positive results of both actions, solidifying a positive stereotype of the Volksdeutsche.

In conclusion, the press discourse of “K/WZ” concerning the Volksdeutsche from the Lublin District was hierarchical, linear, and coherent. The schematic, propagandistic portrayal was enhanced by metaphors intended to stimulate emotional reception. By embedding the political discourse in a historical context, the aim was to present the Volksdeutsche as “pioneers of the German East,” influencing the reader's ideological and emotional attitude. This positive framing of the Volksdeutsche's image propagandistically controlled the interpretation of events, directing the reception of facts towards legitimizing the authorities' policies towards ethnic Germans in the district.

Based on the sources, the “Krakauer Zeitung” (“KZ”) and its Lublin District variant, the “Warschauer Zeitung” (“WZ”) - collectively referred to as “K/WZ” - extensively used the history of German settlement as a key interpretive frame when discussing the Volksdeutsche. This historical context was presented as one of the three main thematic pillars providing background information about ethnic Germans in the Lublin District.

Embedding facts from the past into the political discourse about Volksdeutsche and German colonists was intended to significantly influence the ideological space of potential readers.

The historical outline of German settlement in the Chełm, Lublin, and Zamość regions served as a basic element creating context in the texts about Volksdeutsche and German colonists from the Lublin District. Within this historical framing, texts typically included information related to: The current policy of the authorities towards the colonists.
A stereotypical image of the German colonist and the villages they founded.
National Socialist “Aufbauarbeit” (reconstruction/building work) carried out among the colonists.
The implementation and execution of resettlement actions.

A creative strategy was employed in presenting the history and present of German colonies, aiming to position colonists as “pioneers”. They were portrayed as bringing civilizational progress and teaching the local population, particularly in acquiring arable land. This framing utilized various metaphorical labels to describe the colonies and colonists, including:
“lonely island”
“German blood”
“political warriors of the führer”
“culture pioneers”
“pioneers of the East”
“the bastion in the German East”
“element of order”

From 1940 to 1944, “K/WZ” incorporated the historical component to present alleged evidence of earlier discrimination against ethnic Germans. This included claims of persecution in September 1939.

A positive image of the colonist was constructed, emphasizing traits seen as fundamental to their existence and German character, such as “faith and German character,” “perseverance and meticulousness,” and “loyalty to German heritage”. Their demeanor was described positively, often contrasted with a negative portrayal of their Polish neighbors. Examples include descriptions of colonists with “open faces,” “free gaze,” and a “characteristic strong handshake”, contrasted with idyllic images of German homesteads compared to the dilapidated farms of Poles.

Furthermore, the areas settled by German colonists between the Vistula and Bug rivers were presented as inalienable German property, “unabdingbar deutsche Erde”, according to Nazi rhetoric in “K/WZ”. Propaganda techniques, including proverbs, were used to highlight the positive traits of colonists, often comparing their diligence favorably to Poles.

The individual stories of colonists were often woven into the narrative to introduce an individual hero, reinforcing the key terms: Kolonist-Volksdeutsch-Umsiedler. The perspective of the individual colonist, their memories, and reflections were integrated into the history and future of the entire community.

Ultimately, embedding the political discourse within this historical context aimed to frame the Volksdeutsche as “pioniers of the German East,” thereby influencing the reader's ideological and emotional stance and propagandistically controlling the interpretation of events to legitimize the authorities' policies towards ethnic Germans in the district.

Based on the sources and our conversation, the “Krakauer Zeitung” (“K/WZ”) heavily covered and framed specific actions related to the relocation and regermanization of Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District, which can be understood as forms of “repatriation” in the Nazi context. These actions were presented as a crucial element of the Lublin district authorities' policy and a main thematic pillar in the newspaper's discourse concerning Volksdeutsche.

Two primary actions are discussed in the sources:

1. The “Heim ins Reich” (return to the Reich) action:
   This action involved the resettlement of descendants of German colonists from the Chełm and Lublin regions.
   It took place between September 3, 1940, and November 19, 1940.
   Participants in this action were referred to using terms such as *deutsche Kolonisten*, *Volksdeutsche*, *Umsiedler*, *Rücksiedler*, and *Heimkehrer* (those who returned home).
   The “K/WZ” reported on the registration and issuance of *Kennkarten* (identification cards) to Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District, including those from Chełm and Lublin, often describing them according to Nordic racial ideals (e.g., “sturdy blondes with blue eyes”) and emphasizing their German-sounding names and historical documents. They were portrayed as having “followed the call of German blood” back to the Reich of Adolf Hitler.
   The newspaper accounts of issuing Kennkarten utilized persuasive narrative to heighten the pathos and significance of the act for the Volksdeutsche, incorporating National Socialist symbolism like German salutes and swastika flags.
   Stories in “WZ” extensively presented the existence of Lublin and Chełm Volksdeutsche, particularly from the perspective of the “Heim ins Reich” action.
   Nazi propaganda, as reflected in “K/WZ,” euphemistically termed this resettlement action a “moderne Völkerwanderung” (modern migration of peoples).
2. The “Fahndung nach deutschem Blut” (search for German blood) or “Rückgewinnung” (regermanization) action:
   This action concerned the descendants of Josephine settlers in the Zamość region.
   It began in November 1940.
   Individuals involved in this action were described using terms like *deutschstämmige Siedler*, *Deutschstämmige*, *deutsche Siedler*, *volksdeutsche Umsiedler*, *Kolonisten*, *Kulturpioniere*, and *Kolonisatoren*.
   Reports on colonists from the Zamość region in “K/WZ” predominantly referenced the “Rückgewinnungaktion von Deutschstämmigen”.

The newspaper framing of these actions was a core part of the political discourse about Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District. They aimed to portray the Volksdeutsche as grateful “beneficiaries” of the “Deutschtumsarbeit” (work for Germanness) carried out by various Nazi organizations and individuals. “K/WZ” introduced an ideological appeal for the “preservation of valuable German blood,” suggesting it was threatened with being lost in “foreign national soil”. The complicated fates of individual colonists were woven into the narratives, reinforcing key terms like *Kolonist*, *Volksdeutsch*, and *Umsiedler* and integrating the individual's perspective into the history and future of the entire community. The presentation of these actions concluded the interpretive frame by showing their alleged positive results, solidifying a positive stereotype of the Volksdeutsche in linguistic form.

By embedding political discourse within a historical context, “K/WZ” aimed to legitimize the authorities' policies towards ethnic Germans, including these resettlement and regermanization efforts, by framing the Volksdeutsche as “pioneers of the German East”.

Based on the sources, the “Krakauer Zeitung” (“K/WZ”), functioning as the political press organ of the General Government, actively employed various propaganda strategies to construct and disseminate a specific image of the Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District between 1939 and 1944. The overarching goal was to present “specified propaganda contents, and a unified interpretation and assessment of reality”, ultimately controlling the interpretation of events to legitimize the authorities' policies towards this group.

The discourse about Volksdeutsche in “K/WZ” was a vital element of media control over released content and was presented as an important part of political discourse. This discourse, conducted by symbolic elites, aimed to influence the mass audience. The effectiveness of this political text was directly linked to the propaganda strategies used. The sources specifically identify three main strategies employed: persuasive, informational, and expressive.

1. Framing and Interpretive Schemes: Framing, rooted in cognitive psychology, involves highlighting selected aspects of reality and assigning significance to them for the dissemination of ideologies and values. “K/WZ” used interpretive frames to construct the image of the Volksdeutsche. The history of German settlement served as a “basic element creating context”, embedding past facts into the political discourse to significantly influence the potential readers' ideological space. The resettlement and regermanization actions were also presented as crucial interpretive frames. This framing influenced the shaping and consolidation of interpretations of certain phenomena for the audience.
2. Construction of a Positive Image/Stereotype: A conscious effort was made to build a positive image of the German colonist. This involved selecting and emphasizing certain traits considered fundamental to their existence and German character, such as “faith and German character,” “perseverance and meticulousness,” and “loyalty to German heritage”. Their physical appearance and demeanor were described positively (e.g., “open faces,” “free gaze,” “characteristic strong handshake”).
3. Linguistic and Rhetorical Techniques:
   1. Evaluative Language: Descriptions of Volksdeutsche used evaluative expressions to assign positive value.
   2. Negative Conceptualization of the Past: Terms were used to portray the pre-war experiences of Volksdeutsche in Poland negatively, suggesting “years of suffering,” “Polish arbitrary rule,” “terror,” and “torment”.
   3. Hyperbolization: Hyperbolization was employed through comparisons like “like a herd of cattle” or the metaphorical label “notorious hell of Bereza Kartuska” to exaggerate the suffering of Volksdeutsche.
   4. Metaphorical Labels: Various metaphorical labels were used to describe German colonies and colonists, positioning them as active agents and carriers of Germanness, such as “lonely island,” “German blood,” “political warriors of the führer,” “culture pioneers,” “pioneers of the East,” “the bastion in the German East,” and “element of order”.
   5. Positive Epithets: Volksdeutsche were frequently described using positive epithets like “clean” (sauber) and “diligent” (fleißig).
   6. Contrast (Positive German vs. Negative Polish): The positive image of the colonist was often reinforced by contrasting idyllic descriptions of German homesteads and the diligence of Germans with negative portrayals of Polish neighbors and their dilapidated farms.
   7. Euphemisms: Resettlement actions like Heim ins Reich were euphemistically termed a “modern migration of peoples” (moderne Völkerwanderung).
   8. Propaganda of Ingratiation: Proverbial sayings were used to emphasize the positive traits of colonists, particularly their diligence, often comparing them favorably to Poles. This was a technique of “ingratiation”.
   9. Claiming Territory: Areas settled by German colonists were rhetorically presented as “inalienable German property,” “unabdingbar deutsche Erde”.
   10. Ideological Appeals: The propaganda contained explicit ideological appeals, such as the call for the “preservation of valuable German blood,” which was allegedly threatened with being lost in “foreign national soil”.
4. Narrative Strategies:
   1. Highlighting Gratitude: Volksdeutsche were consistently presented as grateful “beneficiaries” of the “Deutschtumsarbeit” (work for Germanness) carried out by Nazi organizations and officials. Recognition and gratitude towards specific Nazi groups involved in these actions were highlighted.
   2. Heightening Pathos: The significance of events, such as the issuing of *Kennkarten*, was heightened using persuasive narrative techniques and incorporating National Socialist symbolism like German salutes and swastika flags.
   3. Individual Hero Narratives: Individual stories of colonists were often woven into the broader narrative, introducing an individual hero whose perspective, memories, and reflections were integrated into the history and future of the entire community. This helped to reinforce key terms like *Kolonist*, *Volksdeutsch*, and *Umsiedler*.
5. Historical Justification and Legitimation:
   Historical accounts of German settlement were used to provide alleged evidence of earlier discrimination against ethnic Germans and persecution in September 1939. This historical context, combined with the presentation of current policies and actions (like *Heim ins Reich* and *Rückgewinnung*), served to legitimize the authorities' policies. Framing Volksdeutsche as “pioneers of the German East” was a key element of this legitimation strategy.

In summary, the Nazi propaganda in “K/WZ” concerning Volksdeutsche in the Lublin District was systematic, employing framing, linguistic techniques, narrative strategies, and historical context to create a positive, heroic image of the Volksdeutsche, negatively contrast them with Poles, justify their resettlement and regermanization, and garner ideological and emotional support for the Nazi regime's policies.