20, Policies Towards the Jews, 1940-41 (S5) Flashcards
How many Jews did Nazi Germany ‘gain’ when they invaded the USSR in 1941?
3 million Jews
Name one new measure taken against Jews in the first years of war.
- Radio sets were confiscated from Jews.
- Jews were excluded from the wartime rationing allowances for clothing and shoes
- Police permits were required for Jews to travel.
What is a ghetto?
A controlled area of a town or city
Where was the first ghetto to be set up by the Nazis?
Lodz, the second biggest city in Poland in 1940
Name two aspects of life in the Ghettos.
Most Jews had to sell valuables to survive
6 people shared an average room
Few homes had running water
Lice infestations were common
Basic necessities such as food were scarce
Diseases spread quickly
Name two ways Jews might defy Nazi regulations in the Ghettos.
There was a black market for food smuggled in from the outside.
Jewish leaders organised prayers and religious festivals
They had illegal schools
They had illegal printing presses
How many Jews were concentrated in the massive Warsaw Ghetto?
400,000 Jews
Overall, how many Jews died from starvation and disease in the ghettos?
500,000
Who were the Einsatzgruppen (‘Special Groups’)?
Temporary units made up of police and regular troops, sent in to deal with Jews. E.g. move Jews into Ghettos.
When were the Einsatzgruppen used extensively?
In support of military operation in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and Russia in 1941.
What were the key responsibilities of the Einsatzgruppen?
The mass shooting of Jews and forcing Jews into ghettos in the cities.
How do the Einsatzgruppen show the Anti-Semitism of the time?
Local, eager volunteers were often recruited to assist them.
