Even before the construction of infamous extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sobibor, Nazi Germany had already initiated the systematic genocide of the 'enemies' of the Reich targetting mostly Jews and Roma and Sinti. The mass murder campaign began in tandem with the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) in June 1941. Following closely behind the Wehrmacht troops were the notorious Einsatzgruppen, four mobile SS death squads tasked with policing and security in occupied territories. These units played a crucial role in the early phase of the Holocaust (also called 'Holocaust by bullets'), carrying out mass shootings, pogroms, and other heinous atrocities against Jewish communities across Eastern Europe.
The Einsatzgruppen, notorious Nazi paramilitary death squads, were formed during the tumultuous period of Nazi expansion and annexation between 1938 and 1939. Spearheaded by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, a key figure in the Nazi regime and the SS organization, these units were driven by a fanatical adherence to Nazi ideology and racial purity.
A crucial figure in the establishment of the Einsatzgruppen was SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich. As head of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA), Heydrich was responsible for coordinating the Nazi security apparatus. Known for his ruthlessness and efficiency, Heydrich played a pivotal role in organizing and directing the operations of these deadly squads.
The Anschluss of Austria in March 1938 marked a significant milestone, serving as a prelude to the subsequent formation of the Einsatzgruppen. This move allowed the Nazis to solidify their control and influence, laying the groundwork for the dark operations to come.
Despite Hitler's assurances at Munich, in March 1939, Germany violated the agreement and occupied Czechoslovakia. That became the catalyst for the full mobilization of the Einsatzgruppen. With the directive of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, chief of the Reichs Sicherheits Haupt Amt (RSHA), the first Einsatzgruppen were established. Operating under the administration of the SS (Schutzstaffel), their initial purpose was multifaceted: to occupy newly acquired territories, gather crucial intelligence, and eliminate perceived threats to the Nazi regime.
As the dark clouds of World War II gathered, the objectives of the Einsatzgruppen underwent a chilling transformation. With the invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939, their orders shifted from occupation and intelligence to the gruesome task of mass execution. Polish leaders, scholars, clergy, educators, and nobility found themselves targeted for ruthless elimination.
However, it was during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, that the Einsatzgruppen reached a sinister pinnacle. Sent to Russia, they unleashed a reign of terror on "undesirables," including Jews, Roma (Eastern European Gypsies), communist leaders, and Russian officers. The scope of their operations escalated dramatically, leaving an indelible mark of horror on history.
The orders provided to the Einsatzgruppen were deliberately vague, allowing them considerable discretion to interpret and eliminate the "Enemies of the Reich" in whatever manner they saw fit. This flexibility gave them the freedom to employ ruthless tactics and instill fear to accomplish their dark objectives.
SS-Brigadeführer Bruno Streckenbach (February 7, 1902 - October 28, 1977) was responsible for recruiting and training the Einsatzgruppen members. These units were readied for deployment on the Eastern Front, undergoing preparation at the Border Police School in Pretzsch on the Elbe, situated approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Berlin in Germany.
Given the limited capacity of the training camp, some personnel were accommodated in nearby towns. Beyond conventional military instruction, the men received comprehensive lectures covering diverse subjects. These ranged from understanding the "Russian mentality" to insights into partisan warfare, and precautions against prevailing diseases in the region.
In June, the leaders of the Einsatzgruppen received personal guidance from Reinhard Heydrich regarding their forthcoming responsibilities on the Eastern Front. However, the precise details of these instructions remain undisclosed.
Despite commanding an auxiliary force of 10.000 police officers and 33.000 local collaborators, the Einsatzgruppen still lacked the manpower to carry out the complete extermination of Jews across Eastern Europe. As a result, other SS units and branches of the German military were mobilized to assist in the genocide. Key participants included:
Various SS Brigades, operating behind the frontlines to support mass executions.
The Fegelein Cavalry Division, led by Hermann Fegelein, was active in clearing operations in the marshes of Polesia.
The Arājs Kommando, a notorious death squad led by Latvian Nazi collaborator Viktors Arājs and made up of ethnic Latvian volunteers.
The Wiking Division, which carried out massacres across Ukraine.
Reserve Police Battalions, which played a central role in roundups and shootings of Jews.
The SS Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger, a unit comprised of convicted criminals, notorious for its extreme cruelty and led by Oskar Dirlewanger a known psychopath and child molester.
Even the Wehrmacht (German army) and the Kriegsmarine (Navy) participated in the extermination operations, providing support or engaging directly in killing actions.
Click on the map to enlarge
Einsatzgruppe A was assigned to Army Group Nord from Von Leeb, operated in the Baltic states up to Leningrad. It was divided into Sonderkommandos 1a and 1b, after which Sonderkommando 1b was divided into Einsatzkommandos 2 and 3.
Death
Franz. W. Stahlecker was killed on 22 March 1942 in a battle with Soviet partisans near Krasnogvardeysk, Soviet Union.
Einsatzgruppe B was assigned to Von Bock's Army Group Mitte, had its headquarters in Smolensk and operated in Belarus, from Belarus to Moscow. It was divided into the Sonderkommandos 7a and 7b, and the Einsatzkommandos 8 and 9, and a special group of Sonderkommando 7c, which could advance to Moscow when in German hands.
Death
Around mid October 1941 Nebe returns to Berlin to take up his work for the RSHA. He is later arrested and hanged for plotting against Hitler.
Einsatzgruppe C was assigned to Gerd von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Süd. It had its headquarters in Kiev and operated in the northern and central part of Ukraine. It was divided into Sonderkommandos 4a and 4b and the Einsatzkommandos 5 and 6.
Death
Rasch was indicted at the Einsatzgruppen trial at the end of September 1947 but discontinued on 5 February 1948 because he had Parkinson's disease. He died later that year on 1 November in Wehrstedt, Lower Saxony.
Einsatzgruppe D was assigned to the 11th Army, had its headquarters in Sevastopol (Simferopol) and operated in Moldavia, southern Ukraine (Bessarabia), the Crimea and (if it came to that) the Caucasus. It was divided into Sonderkommandos 10a and 10b and the Einsatzkommandos 11a, 11b and 12.
Death
Ohlendorf was convicted of crimes against humanity and spent three years in detention before being hanged at the Landsberg Prison in Bavaria on 7 June 1951
Einsatzgruppe A was assigned to Army Group Nord from Von Leeb, operated in the Baltic states up to Leningrad. It was divided into Sonderkommandos 1a and 1b, after which Sonderkommando 1b was divided into Einsatzkommandos 2 and 3.
Death
In 1951, Jost was released from Landsberg Prison. He then worked in Düsseldorf as a real estate agent. He died in 1964 at Bensheim.
Einsatzgruppe B was assigned to Von Bock's Army Group Mitte, had its headquarters in Smolensk and operated in Belarus, from Belarus to Moscow. It was divided into the Sonderkommandos 7a and 7b, and the Einsatzkommandos 8 and 9, and a special group of Sonderkommando 7c, which could advance to Moscow when in German hands.
Death
Found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity and belonging to illegal organizations, namely the SS and the SD. Naumann was sentenced to death and hanged shortly after midnight on 7 June 1951.
Einsatzgruppe C was assigned to Gerd von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Süd. It had its headquarters in Kiev and operated in the northern and central part of Ukraine. It was divided into Sonderkommandos 4a and 4b and the Einsatzkommandos 5 and 6.
Death
After the war on December 6, 1945, he attempted suicide and died from the attempt in the Luitpold Hospital in Würzburg.
Einsatzgruppe D was assigned to the 11th Army, had its headquarters in Sevastopol (Simferopol) and operated in Moldavia, southern Ukraine (Bessarabia), the Crimea and (if it came to that) the Caucasus. It was divided into Sonderkommandos 10a and 10b and the Einsatzkommandos 11a, 11b and 12.
Death
Ohlendorf was convicted of crimes against humanity and spent three years in detention before being hanged at the Landsberg Prison in Bavaria on 7 June 1951
Reinhard Heydrich's instructions were successful. In the first few weeks of Operation Barbarossa, there were over 40 pogroms in which thousands of Jews were murdered. These pogroms helped to create a climate of fear and terror among the Jewish population, making it easier for the Einsatzgruppen to carry out their mass killings.
Surprisingly, members of the Einsatzgruppen experienced battle fatigue, mental anguish and severe alcoholism due to the mass shootings of innocent men, women and children. In 1941, during a trip to Russia, SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler discovered this psychological toll and tasked Arthur Nebe of Einsatzgruppe B to find less stressful methods of killing.
A plan was formed to develop more efficient and emotionally detached ways of mass killing. On October 13th, 1941, Heinrich Himmler instructed SS and Police Leader Odilo Globočnik in Lublin to initiate the construction of the first extermination camp at Bełżec in occupied Poland.
The map above illustrates the movement of the Einsatzgruppen A, B, C, and D from June 1941 to November 1942. These mobile units tracked alongside the advancing German Wehrmacht into the Soviet Union under Operation Barbarossa.
In a distressing series of events, pogroms (violent riots aimed at exterminating or forcing out specific ethnic or religious communities, notably Jews) and mass shootings, often referred to as the Holocaust by bullets, led to the merciless slaughter of tens of thousands of Jews and individuals opposed to the Reich. These horrifying acts transpired across Eastern Europe, where victims were denied any semblance of a fair trial or formal charges.
The Nazis carried out a dark plan codenamed 'Aktion Reinhard,' constructing extermination camps like Bełżec, Treblinka, and Sobibor in occupied Poland.
This initiative, closely linked to the Final Solution, aimed to methodically wipe out entire groups of people.'Aktion Reinhard' orchestrated the creation of these death camps to efficiently annihilate countless lives. Upon arrival, victims were swiftly executed, and the camps were later dismantled to erase evidence of the horrors. The SS even planted trees on the former camp sites in an attempt to hide their actions.
While the origin of the name 'Aktion Reinhard' is debated, it's often connected to Reinhard Heydrich, a key figure in the Final Solution discussed during the Wannsee Conference in January 1942. Ongoing discussions delve into this historical phase, but 'Aktion Reinhard' came to an end in November 1943, leaving a stark reminder of humanity's capacity for cruelty throughout history.
The harrowing legacy of gassing vans, responsible for the deaths of approximately 700.000 individuals, primarily Jews, Roma (Eastern European Gypsies), perceived enemies of the Reich and those with mental illnesses, unveils a chilling aspect of history.
Remarkably, the notion of the 'gas van' was not a creation of the Nazi regime. Its origin traces back to the Soviet Union in 1936. The architect behind this method was Isay Berg, a prominent figure within the NKVD, later known as the KGB, in Moscow.
These vans, ingeniously designed to be hermetically sealed, utilized engine exhaust redirected into an enclosed compartment, resulting in the suffocation of groups of prisoners. Shockingly, this macabre innovation was adopted by the Nazis as a means of mass extermination. The chilling exchange of sinister ideas between oppressive regimes serves as a somber reminder of humanity's darkest inclinations. This article sheds light on this distressing history, underscoring the disturbing evolution of a tragic method across two ruthless regimes.
The Holocaust was the darkest page from our history. That is one of the reasons for my website. This should never happen again.
Similar vans such as this one, were provided to the Einsatzgruppen. They were used to gas hundreds of thousands of people with Carbon monoxide, produced from the van's exhaust pipe. This invisible gas, the result of incomplete combustion of fuel, is very toxic to humans.
The Einsatzgruppen and their auxilliaries and collaborators perpetrated war crimes with mass shootings of Jews in the occupied territories in Eastern Europe. Around 2 million Jews were murdered in these mass shooting massacres also known as "Holocaust by Bullets'.
Haunting images depict the grim reality of the crimes committed by the Einsatzgruppen, mobile killing squads formed by Nazi Germany during World War II. In this images, uniformed members of the Einsatzgruppen are shown carrying out mass executions of innocent civilians, including men, women and children.
