WWII Nazi Occupation, Jewish Persecution, and Einsatzgruppen Operations

What year did Germany invade Denmark?

1940

Which countries were defeated by Germany in May 1940?

Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg

What was established in London after the defeat of Norway?

Government in Exile

What was the SS Civil Authority's role in the Netherlands in May 1940?

To enforce Nazi policies and control the population.

What was created in 1941 that affected the Jewish population?

Census and Judenrat.

What happened to Jewish men in 1941?

They were arrested and deported to Mauthausen and Buchenwald.

What significant event occurred on February 25, 1941?

A strike took place.

What intensified in February/March 1941 regarding the Jewish population?

Oversight and segregation.

How many Jews were sent to forced labor camps in the Netherlands?

15,000 Jews.

What was the fate of foreign/stateless Jews in the Netherlands?

They were deported to Westerbork and Vught.

What was the situation in occupied France after May 1940?

France was divided into occupied and unoccupied zones.

Who led the unoccupied zone of France?

Philippe Petain.

What was the General Commissariat for Jewish Affairs established in March 1941?

A body to oversee the treatment of Jews in unoccupied France.

What was the purpose of Operation Barbarossa?

To invade Russia for racial and resource objectives.

What was the General Plan East (GPO)?

A plan for the extermination of Slavs, Eastern European Jews, and Roma-Sinti.

What were Einsatzgruppen?

Mobile killing units tasked with eliminating Jews.

What was the purpose of the actions taken by Einsatzgruppen?

To make areas Judenrein (free of Jews).

What did the Einsatzgruppen do to Jewish communities?

Gathered Jews, separated them, and often murdered them.

What did Kretschmer write home about his experiences?

Initially shocked but stated that one gets used to it.

What justification did Kretschmer use for his actions?

He rationalized his behavior by claiming self-restraint and peer pressure.

What did Trapp tell his men about their upcoming action?

He mentioned the bombs falling on women and children and offered them the option to opt out.

What was the outcome for many Jewish men during the Einsatzgruppen actions?

They were often forced to dig graves or were murdered.

What was the relationship between the invasion of Russia and the Final Solution?

The invasion facilitated mass killings and was part of the broader extermination plan.

What did the Nazis see as a relationship between Judaism and Bolshevism?

They viewed it as a justification for their racial objectives.

What was the racial objective of the war according to the Nazis?

Lebensraum (living space) for the Aryan race.

What was the significance of the Molotov-Ribbentrop accord?

It was a temporary agreement before the invasion of Russia.

What was the role of local populations in Nazi ideology during the Einsatzgruppen operations?

They helped identify Jews and participated in killings.

What did the Einsatzgruppen provide to persuade individuals to participate in killings?

Alcohol.

What was a consequence of providing alcohol to those involved in the killings?

Increased sloppiness and more bullets used.

What was the public knowledge regarding the murders carried out by the Einsatzgruppen by July 1941?

There were publications discussing the murders in Germany, Poland, and the US.

What did the NY Times report in the fall of 1941?

Many Jews being murdered, though without details.

How many people were murdered by the Einsatzgruppen over a short period?

Over a million.

What did the Nazi administration recognize about the limitations of Einsatzgruppen operations?

Many locations were unsuitable for this form of murder due to staffing issues.

What significant event was scheduled for January 1942 regarding the final solution?

The Wannsee Conference.

Why was the Wannsee Conference postponed?

Due to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entering the war.

What was the purpose of the Wannsee Conference?

To coordinate the final solution.

Did the final solution begin immediately in January 1942?

No, it did not begin in January.

What was the relationship between the Einsatzgruppen and the death camps?

As Einsatzgruppen operations declined, death camps increased.

What was a method used by the Einsatzgruppen to involve local populations in killings?

Using local POWs and young individuals.

What was the effect of peer pressure on individuals involved in the killings?

Many felt a sense of responsibility and were influenced by their peers.

What was the impact of the Einsatzgruppen's operations on local populations?

They were often coerced into participating in the killings.

What was the general perception of the murders in the US during the time of the Einsatzgruppen's actions?

There were references to the murders in Yiddish newspapers.

What did the Einsatzgruppen's operations reveal about Nazi efficiency in murder?

They were extremely effective but faced limitations.

What was a key factor in the effectiveness of the Einsatzgruppen's operations?

The use of local populations and resources.

What did the Nazi leadership realize about the psychological state of those involved in the killings?

They could be persuaded to kill if intoxicated.

What were the consequences of the Einsatzgruppen's 'sloppy work'?

It led to public awareness and reports of the murders.

What was a significant change in Nazi strategy by 1943?

A shift from Einsatzgruppen to death camps.

What decision was revised in 1942 regarding the Einsatzgruppen?

The decision from summer 1941 was revised, indicating a need for re-thinking the Einsatzgruppen.

Who was put in charge of deportation in 1942?

Eichmann was put in charge of deportation.

What was Theresienstadt?

A model camp in Czechoslovakia that looked different from other camps.

What was the status of the policy regarding mischlinge?

There was no clear policy about mischlinge; decisions were not made about their fate.

What was the purpose of the early camp system from 1933-1934?

To imprison political figures, exemplified by Dachau.

What happened during the formation and coordination phase of camps from 1934-1937?

Dozens of new camps were built across Germany, some connected to factories.

What was significant about Sachsenhausen?

It was a very large camp built outside of Berlin in 1936.

What was Mauthausen?

A camp built in Austria in 1938.

What was Westerbork?

A refugee camp for Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany built in 1939.

What characterized the expansion phase of camps from 1939-1941?

Nazis relied on existing camps as they moved into other countries.

What was Auschwitz used for between 1942-1944?

Extermination and forced labor for armament production.

What percentage of prisoners were involved in the war economy during 1942-1944?

Two-thirds of prisoners were involved in the war economy.

What was the pattern of deportations from 1938-1941?

Forced movement of Jews, Roma, and POWs from one location to another.

When did deportations to death camps begin in Poland?

Late 1941.

What factors influenced the 'success' of deportations?

Local population, topography, and timing.

What was the purpose of concentration camps?

To instill terror.

What were some early German camps created between 1933-1944?

Dachau, Ravensbrück, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen.

What characterized the labor camps established in the late 1930s?

They were owned and operated by the SS or private industries.

What was the condition of deportation for all camps?

They were integrated into a deportation map and relied on rail transport.

What determined whether a prisoner would live upon arrival at a camp?

Nazi determination.

How were prisoners identified in the camps?

By numbers.

What was the role of Kapos in the camps?

They acted as prisoner supervisors.

What was the significance of Josef Mengele in the camps?

He was involved in medical research on prisoners.

What was the general narrative of the war's end?

Invasion of Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, Soviet occupation of Warsaw, and Hitler's suicide.

What were some immediate aftermath effects of the war?

Cities and infrastructure destroyed, lack of food, and difficulty in locating people.

What challenges were faced during liberation?

Slow liberation, illness, lack of communication, and a refugee problem.