Volksdeutsche – Polish citizens who during the German occupation admitted or were forced to admit to have German nationality by signing up the, so-called, German National List (Deutsche Volkslite). There were four categories of Volksdetche. Group I and II were those who before the war worked for the advantage of Germany or declared themselves to be Germans. They gained the citizenship of the Third Reich and plenty of privileges.

Group III and IV were those classified by the authorities as polonized Germans. Among those who were forcibly given the Volksdeutche status were Silesians, Kashubians, the Polish who had German ancestors – one million nine hundred thousand inhabitants of lands incorporated into the Reich. Members of III and IV group were not given the German citizenship but they were obliged to military service and were conscripted to Wehrmacht. In the General Government the pressure to sign up the Volksliste was weaker. One hundred thirteen thousand of people accepted it. The Volksdeutche status guaranteed plenty of privileges concerning compulsory work, taking over possessions and food rations. Accepting the list voluntarily was treated by the Polish as high treason.