nazi occupation

• what was Nazi rule like for western European countries?

  -Jews were persecuted

  -ordinary people were not exterminated unless tried to rebel

  -nazi's wanted western resources -> led to shortages for inhabitants

  -used as man-power for Germany (conditions were okay)
• what was Nazi occupation of eastern European countries like?

  -east was seen as 'Lebensraum' for the Aryan master race

  -countries were cleansed of all non-Aryans (Jews and Slavs targeted)

  targeted

  -Polish were wiped out

  -forced into labour like slaves for the Germans (terrible conditions)
• what was the 'final solution'?

  as polish jews were captured Nazi's originally had plan to set up Jewish reservation in Poland but instead thought of the 'final solution': kill them because there is not enough space for Europe's Jews in Poland
• what were conditions of the ghetto like?

  -although temporary measure before death camp, ghettos had terrible conditions. many died of disease or starvation, jews used for slave labour, faced death for any resistance.
• who were a key part of the 'final solution'?

  Groups of SS soldiers in killing squads - instructed to kill people who were seen as racially impure, enemies of Germany (political) or had physical/mental disabilities - buried in mass graves.

  Vans were converted into mobile gas chambers (did not work so death camps built) and locales helped identify victims.
• what were death camps used for?

  Nazi's built gas chambers to murder of all European jews - 11 million. They disguised the journey to camp as evacuation - Jews brought luggage and paid for train tickets to prevent mass panic.
• were all killed instantly?

  majority yes - gas chambers disguised as showers were their first stop at camp.

  some were forced into labour (heads shaved, stripped uniform, tattooed numbers).

  few survived more than a few months.
• what is an example of an act of collaboration with the nazi's?

  the French Vichy government voluntarily persecuted Jewish people deporting tens of thousands to death camps for the Nazi's.
• what is an example of an act of resistance to the nazis?

  people helped hide Jews e.g. Anne Frank and her family hid with aid of helpers - these people would have been punished greatly if found out.