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 History and Facts of the Einsatzgruppen or Nazi Death Squads
Holocaust by bullets

Einsatzgruppen in WW2

The atrocities commited by the Nazi Death Squads

Einsatzgruppen

Einsatzgruppen: the history and facts

Before the infamous extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sobibor were established, Nazi Germany had already begun its systematic genocide of approximately six million Jews. The mass killings commenced during the German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) in June 1941. Accompanying the Wehrmacht troops were the notorious Einsatzgruppen, four mobile SS death squads tasked with policing and security in occupied territories. These units were instrumental in carrying out the initial phase of the Holocaust, perpetrating mass shootings, pogroms, and other atrocities against Jewish communities across Eastern Europe.

Formation under the shadow of annexations

The Einsatzgruppen, notorious Nazi death squads, emerged from the tumultuous years of 1938 and 1939, during a period of rapid Nazi expansion and annexation. Their formation was spearheaded by Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, a central figure in the Nazi regime and the SS organization. Driven by his fanatical adherence to Nazi ideology and racial purity, Himmler oversaw the creation and deployment of these lethal units.

Another key figure in the establishment of the Einsatzgruppen was SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich. As head of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Main Security Office), 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 the Einsatzgruppen.



Anschluss of Austria

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.

Czech Annexation

The annexation of the Czech Republic in 1939 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.

From Occupation to Annihilation

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 SS formed the Einsaztgruppen in the Soviet Union
The Einsatzgruppen were special paramilitary units established by the SS (Schutzstaffel) to carry out mass killings and other acts of violence against perceived enemies of Nazi Germany.

Orders given to the Einsatzgruppen

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.

Interview with Frima
Copyright US Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection.

Frima and her family were confined to a ghetto by the Nazis. Her father was forced to work as an interpreter, and he later died. Frima, her mother, and sister escaped a German mobile killing unit massacre by pretending not to be Jews. However, they were later discovered and jailed. Frima's mother devised another escape plan.

She had Frima's sister smuggled to Romania, while Frima wandered in search of safekeeping. Eventually, Frima's mother was able to arrange for her to be smuggled to Romania as well. The family was reunited in Romania, where they were liberated.

Recruiting the men for the Einsatzgruppen

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.

Who were the men of the Einsatzgruppen?

The Einsatzgruppen, totaling around 3.000 personnel, were comprised mainly of young members from the Sicherheitspolizei (Sipo), Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Ordnungspolizei (Orpo), primarily drawn from working-class backgrounds. Additionally, selected members of the Waffen SS were also involved in these units. In a letter dated July 2, 1941, addressed to the Higher SS and Police Leaders (HSSPFs) in the Eastern occupied territories, Reinhard Heydrich clarified the categories of individuals earmarked for execution by the Einsatzgruppen. The targets included:
  • All officials associated with the Comintern and professional communist politicians.
  • Communist Party officials at both national and local levels, spanning senior, mid-level, and radical members.
  • People's Commissars.
  • Individuals of Jewish descent within the Communist Party, civil service, and other radical factions like saboteurs, propagandists, snipers, murderers, and provocateurs.
The directive stipulated immediate execution without trial. Heydrich further instructed the Einsatzgruppen leaders to discreetly encourage the local population of the Soviet Union to instigate pogroms against the Jewish community. Additionally, the HSSPFs were directed to extend necessary assistance to the local population in facilitating these pogroms.

Pogroms against the Jewish population

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.

Who were the leaders of the Einsatzgruppen?

The Einsatzgruppen and Einsatzkommandos were led by meticulously selected, highly educated officers from the inner circle of Reinhard Heydrich. Chosen not only for their leadership skills but also for their deep indoctrination into Nazi racial ideology, many of these individuals held advanced academic degrees, including doctorates, and possessed extensive expertise in areas such as race theory and criminal law.

These leaders played a sinister dual role, not only orchestrating the logistical aspects of mass killings but also serving as conduits for propagating the extremist beliefs of the Nazi regime. Their strategic manipulation aimed to instill a chilling commitment to the brutal objectives of the Einsatzgruppen among their personnel, even those who might not have been inherently predisposed to such heinous acts.

To carry out their reprehensible operations, the Einsatzgruppen collaborated closely with uniformed volunteers sourced from local police forces in the Baltic states. This collaboration underscored the calculated coordination between ideological masterminds and willing local participants, culminating in the efficient and horrifying execution of their sinister agenda.

The Einsatzgruppen reports
Click on picture for enlargement
The "Jäger report" by the SS Standartenführer Karl Jäger, commander of the Einsatzkommando 3. He stated that the areas were "Judenfrei". The report kept an almost daily running total of the liquidations of 137.346 people in the Baltic states.

Commanding officers of the Einsatzgruppen

Commanding officers of the Einsatzgruppen until 1941
SS-Brigadeführer Dr. Franz W. Stahlecker
SS-Brigadeführer Dr. Franz W. Stahlecker
Einsatzgruppe A consisted of an estimated 1.000 men

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.

SS-Brigadeführer Arthur Nebe
SS-Brigadeführer Arthur Nebe
Einsatzgruppe B consisted of an estimated 650 men

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.

SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Dr. Otto Rasch
SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Dr. Otto Rasch
Einsatzgruppe C consisted of an estimated 700 men

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.

SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Otto Ohlendorf
SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Otto Ohlendorf
Einsatzgruppe D consisted of an estimated 650 men

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

Commanding officers of the Einsatzgruppen after 1941
SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Jost
SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Jost
Einsatzgruppe A consisted of an estimated 1.000 men

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.

SS-Brigadeführer Erich Naumann
SS-Brigadeführer Erich Naumann
Einsatzgruppe B consisted of an estimated 650 men

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.

SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Max Thomas
SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Max Thomas
Einsatzgruppe C consisted of an estimated 700 men

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.

SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Otto Ohlendorf
SS-Gruppenführer Dr. Otto Ohlendorf
Einsatzgruppe D consisted of an estimated 650 men

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

Was the manpower of the Einsatzgruppen sufficient?

No, even with an auxiliary force of 10.000 police officers and 33.000 locals, the Einsatzgruppen still didn't have enough man power to wipe out all the Jews in Eastern Europe. Other SS units received orders to participate in this task. Such as the Tilsit Commando (that operated in Poland), many frontline SS Brigades, the Fegelein Cavalry Division in the marshes of Polesia, the Wiking division in the Ukraine and the Reserve Police Battalion 101.

And also the infamous SS 'Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger' which was made up of convicted criminals and led by Oskar Dirlewanger, a well known psychopath and convicted child molester. The Werhmacht (the regular German army) also lend a hand in the extermination aktions.

Psychological impact of executing innocent people

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.

Movement of the Einsatzgruppen (1941-1942)

Click on the map to enlarge

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.

Facts about Operation Reinhard

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.

Murder by gassing in the Soviet Union

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.

Murder in gassing vans
Gassing vans used by the Nazi during Operation Barbarossa

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 Holocaust was the darkest page from our history. That is one of the reasons for my website. This should never happen again.


The Einsatzgruppen facilitated the 'Holocaust by Bullets' in Eastern Europe during Operation Barbarossa.
The einsatzgruppen in numbers
3000
was the number of personel of the Einsatzgruppen

Added with ± 43.000 auxiliary forces (mostly police) and locals

2000000
were mudered by the Einsatzgruppen

Around 1.5 million and possibly over 2 million people died due to mass shootings or in gas vans

700000
by asphyxiation with carbon monoxide in gassing vans

Gassing was considered and proved to be more economical and less aggravating for the SS.

600
in Eastern Europe were completely annihilated

These villages were wiped off the map by the Einsatzgruppen.

Mass shootings of innocent people in massacres

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'.


Unveiling the Horror: Images showing crimes of the Einsatzgruppen

Caution: Parental guidance is advised if your under age of 18!

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. 

Einsatzgruppen atrocities
Innocent people are being murdered by members of an Einsatzgruppe near Ivangorod in Ukraine.
Einsatzgruppen atrocities
Countless people were murdered by members of an Einsatzgruppe.
Einsatzgruppen atrocities
Jewish women forced to undress before being executed by the Einsatzgruppen
Einsatzgruppen atrocities
Mass execution of Soviet civilians, 1941
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