Figure 1.--Here peasant boys are playing violins for German soldiers. I'm not sure where the photograph was taken, perhaps in Romania during 1941 or 42. The boys are probably earning a few coins. They look to be in a railway freight ar

The Wehrmacht over the course of the War saw itself involved in the occupation of most of Western Europe. In many cases, military rule involved a relstively short period during the German invasion. It was quickly replced by civilian authorities. Security services then played key roles in the occupation. In a few ares, the Wehrmacht remained the principal occupation authority. It ws the Whgrmacht, however, with its large, heavily armed force that was the primary group underwriting the occupation throughout German controlled Europe. It was the Wehrmact that manned control points and could muster the force needed to deal with any substantial show of resistance. The primary purpose of the occupation was to extract resources from the occupied countries to support the German war effort. The second important goal of the occupation was to persue NAZI racist policies against the Jews, Slavs and other peoples. The policies supported by the Wehrmacht differed significantly in the East and West. Except for the Holocaust, the Wehrmcht was generally expected to behave correctly toward civilians in the West. The standards were very different in the East. This varied from country to country. The NAZIs had allies in the East (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia). Finland was a cobeligerant, but the Wehrmacht was not heavily committed there, althogh the Whrmacht would have to invade Hungary late in the War. Other countries in the East and Balkans were occupied by conquest (Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, areas of the the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia). The people in some of these countries were favorably disposed toward the Germans, especially the Baltics and western Ukraine. Even with the Axis allies, the NAZI occupation policies extracted resources with little or no payment to the host country. In addition to formal occupation policies there were also numerous interactions between the soldiers and the people in the occupied countries. Most were fleeting. Others such as liasons between the soldiers and local women could be more involved. Again there were differences between East and West.

Occupation Roles

The Wehrmacht over the course of the War saw itself involved in the occupation of most of Western, Central, and much of Eastern Europe. The Wehrmacht not only conducted the military operations invading the various countries, but also played a role in the resulting occupation. The role varied from country to country. In many acases, military rule involved a relstively short period during the German invasion. It was quickly replced by civilian authorities. Security services then played key roles in the occupation. In a few ares, the Wehrmacht remained the principal occupation authority. And in some areas, North Africa and the Soviet Union, the area was in a constant state of flux because of the swing back and forth of military fortunes. It was the Whermacht in all areas, however, with its large, heavily armed force that was the primary group underwriting the occupation throughout German controlled Europe. It was the Wehrmacht that manned control points and could muster the force needed to deal with any substantial show of resistance. The Wehrmacht also had an anti-partisan role, primarily in the Soviet Union, Poland, and the Balkans. Here massive attricities wee committed against civilians. And into the final 2 years of the War, as the Red Army pressed forward, the Wehrmacht retreated West and followed orders to ruthless pursue a scorched earth policy. This meant that the people oin the liberated areas would suffer for many years after the War from hardship and economic disruption.

Occupation Goals

The primary purpose of the occupation was to extract resources from the occupied countries to support the German war effort. Even with the Axis allies, the NAZI occupation policies extracted resources with little or no payment to the host country. The second important goal of the occupation was to persue NAZI racist policies against the Jews, Slavs and other peoples. While the SS played the central role in the Holocaust, the Wehrmacht played a very important supporting role. The Wehrmacht became the usully willing and efficient instruments of the NAZI Holocaust. A third goal was to recruit forces to build military units. Here the Wehrmcht was most successful in the East where despite its brutality, the hated of the Soviets created millions of potential allies. Soviet POWs were also a potential pool of recruits.

Variation

The policies supported by the Wehrmacht differed significantly in the East and West. Except for the Holocaust, the Wehrmcht was generally expected to behave correctly toward civilians in the West. The standards were very different in the East. This varied from country to country. The NAZIs had allies in the East (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia). Finland was a cobeligerant, but the Wehrmacht was not heavily committed there, althogh the Whermacht would have to invade Hungry late in the War. Other countries in the East and Balkans were occupied by conquest (Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, areas of the the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia). The Wehrmach's conduct in the East was the result of its willingness to comply with Hitler's concept of the war in the East. It was not to be fought fought following the traditional rules of warfare. Rather it was to be a Weltanschauungs and Vernichtungskrieg, an ideologically inspired war of total destruction. There would be no 'comrades in arms'. Captured enemy soldiers were not to be allowed to survive. As a result, Polish and Soviet POWs perished in apauling numbers. Some were short or gssed. Many more were allowed to starve or sucumb to the winter wearg=her when they were not provided shelter. Few Polish POWs taken in 1939 survived the war. More than half thge 5.7 million Soviet POWS perished, mot during the first year of captivity. The death rate declined only in 942 when the Germns realized that they were no going to win a quick victory and labor shortages appeared as Germany began to gird for a protracted war. The people in some of these countries were favorably disposed toward the Germans, especially the Baltics and western Ukraine, at least initially.

Interactions

In addition to formal occupation policies there were also numerous interactions between the soldiers and the people in the occupied countries. Most were fleeting. Others such as liasons between the soldiers and local women could be more involved. Again there were differences between East and West. Here racial differences played a role in the degree of interaction between Wehrmacht personnel and the the civilian population.

Created: 4:53 AM 4/1/2007
Last updated: 11:37 PM 4/4/2012