Ruhrpolen (German: [ˈʁuːɐ̯ˌpoːlən], “Ruhr Poles”) is a German umbrella term for the Polish migrants and their descendants who lived in the Ruhr area in western Germany since the 19th century. The Poles (including Masurians,[1][2][3] Kashubians,[4] Silesians, and other groups) migrated to the rapidly industrializing region from Polish-speaking areas of the German Empire.