‘With a spirited East Prussian Thirst for Action’: Constructs of an East Prussian Identity and Narratives of Forced Migrants’ Everyday Lives in Expellee Heimat Periodicals

This article studies portrayals of East Prussian identity in Heimat periodicals produced by expellee organisations in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1955. By examining memories of everyday life before their expulsion from the former German territory of East Prussia, this article demonstrates that values such as duty, order and service are central to East Prussian self-portrayals. It also provides a more nuanced understanding of expellees, by highlighting differences between their regional memory cultures. By emphasising the significance of memories of everyday life this article contributes to a wider field of study concerning forced migration.