German census of 1895
Encyclopedia
The German census of 1895 was one of the first full-scale German censuses
, organized on all territories of the German Empire
.
Prior to 1871 many German counties organized various local census records, however most of the results did not survive World War II
. The 1895 census is the first Volkszählung (German
People count) to be published in the "Statistik des Deutschen Reiches" yearly, with copies surviving. It gives detailed info on population, property, religion and nationality in all German territories.
However, the record was organized at the peak of the Kulturkampf
campaign and it is openly criticized for lowering the number of Catholics
in most of the areas. Also, the accuracy of the population figures published from the 1895 German census for the Polish territories was "adjusted" to show that the ratio of ethnic Germans to ethnic Poles
was much higher than it actually was. This is attributed to the official push to Germanize the areas and to legitimize the century of occupation. Also, the Polish language
was banned from usage in administration and education and the data for numbers of Polish speakers is also lowered.
Census in Germany
A census in Germany was held every five years from 1875 to 1910. After the World Wars, only few full population censuses were held, the last in 1987. Germany, which since has relied on population samples, will participate in the EU-wide census in 2011....
, organized on all territories of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
.
Prior to 1871 many German counties organized various local census records, however most of the results did not survive World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The 1895 census is the first Volkszählung (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
People count) to be published in the "Statistik des Deutschen Reiches" yearly, with copies surviving. It gives detailed info on population, property, religion and nationality in all German territories.
However, the record was organized at the peak of the Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
campaign and it is openly criticized for lowering the number of Catholics
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in most of the areas. Also, the accuracy of the population figures published from the 1895 German census for the Polish territories was "adjusted" to show that the ratio of ethnic Germans to ethnic Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
was much higher than it actually was. This is attributed to the official push to Germanize the areas and to legitimize the century of occupation. Also, the Polish language
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
was banned from usage in administration and education and the data for numbers of Polish speakers is also lowered.
See also
- KulturkampfKulturkampfThe German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
- Germanization
- Grand Duchy of PoznańGrand Duchy of PoznanThe Grand Duchy of Posen, or the Grand Duchy of Poznań was part of the Kingdom of Prussia, created from territories annexed by Prussia after the Partitions of Poland, and formally established following the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. Per agreements derived at the Congress of Vienna it was to have...
- Chelmno Land
- Data is used in tables in Prussian province articles (see table below), and their descendant articles (Admin. district, Kreis, Standesamt)