examinations in camps run by the EWZ. These examinations determined whether they were assigned to the newly annexed territories, where they were promised land and property, or whether they were relegated to the Altreich (‘the old Reich’, i.e. Germany within the borders of 1937). Being moved to the Altreich typically involved a loss of social standing, since the settlers were mostly used as a cheap labour force. In the Altreich they were also more likely to be drafted into the military. Those categorised as fremdvölkisch (alien) or rassisch unerwünscht (‘racially undesirable’) ran the risk of being returned to their places of origin or deported to the Generalgouvernement. Those with ostensibly hereditary diseases and the mentally ill or physically impaired could quickly find themselves caught up in erbgesundheitspolitische Maßnahmen, so-called ethno- eugenic measures ranging from hospitalisation to euthanasia. Finding a new home usually meant long periods of waiting in camps for the incoming population, with inadequate support from the Nazi authorities while familiar social bonds and ‘REGISTERED AND DIVIDED INTO CATEGORIES’ Alfons Adam Curator ‘LOSING CONTROL OF YOUR OWN LIFE’ Horst Köhler Former President of the Federal Republic of Germany. Köhler’s parents were from Bessarabia. ‘THREE ASPECTS OF RESETTLEMENT’ Isabel Heinemann Historian packaged the Heim ins Reich campaign as an era-defining operation and a logistical feat, although the process subjected resettlers to intolerable delays and hardships. After relocation most resettlers had to submit themselves to ‘racial’, medical and political SCAN ME IDENTITY CARD FOR GERMAN UMSIEDLER (RESETTLERS) Gura Humora/Gura Humorului (Romania), 1940 While in transit, resettlers carried an identity card with a personal number. Stefan Gabriel, who was issued this Kennkarte, numbered 346/445, was relocated from southern Bukovina to Upper Silesia. His card was stamped in the centre by the Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle and the Einwandererzentralstelle EWZ. We can also identify stamps certifying medical examinations, such as ‘Geröntgt’, meaning X-rayed.
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