Changes to Nazi policies because of war

What were the main reasons for establishing Jewish ghettos in 1940?

To segregate Jewish populations, restrict movement, exploit forced labour and manage deportation difficulties following the conquest of Poland.

When was the Łódź Ghetto established, and what was its population?

Established 8 February 1940; sealed 30 April 1940. Approximately 160,000 Jewish people were initially confined there.

When was the Warsaw Ghetto established, and how many people did it contain?

Established October 1940 and sealed November 1940. Around 400,000 initially, rising to approximately 450,000 or more.

What were conditions like inside the Warsaw Ghetto?

Severe overcrowding, disease and malnutrition. Lesson slides report 9.2 people per room and approximately 300 calories daily.

What restrictions were introduced against Jews in 1939–1940?

November 1939: radio purchases banned; December: chocolate purchases banned. In 1940, clothing and footwear allowances were restricted.

What further restrictions were imposed on Jewish people in 1940–1941?

July 1940: restricted shopping hours, 4–5 pm in Berlin. In 1941, police permits were required for travel.

When was the yellow Star of David made compulsory in Germany?

September 1941. Compulsory identification increased segregation and facilitated Nazi persecution.

What was Operation Barbarossa and when did it begin?

Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, intended to defeat communism and gain Lebensraum in Eastern Europe.

How did Operation Barbarossa affect Jewish populations?

More than 3 million Soviet Jews came under German rule according to the lesson handout, greatly expanding the scale of persecution.

What were the Einsatzgruppen and who directed them?

Four main mobile SS and security police killing units operating behind German forces in the USSR, overseen by Reinhard Heydrich.

Why was Operation Barbarossa a turning point in Nazi racial policy?

Nazi ideology linked Jews falsely with Bolshevism; the invasion accelerated the shift from segregation and deportation to mass killing.

How do intentionalists and functionalists explain Nazi policy in 1939–1941?

Internationalist emphasise Hitler's long-standing racial ideology; functionalists emphasise wartime conquest, deportation difficulties and evolving methods.