Figure 1.--The SS reduced food rations in the Ghettoes to starvation levels. 0.4-0.5 million Jews in the NAZI ghettoes died, either from starvation or starvtion-related diseases. But the SS was surprised as just how difficult it proved to starve people. And the ghettoized Jews proved remarkably inventive in their efforts to survive. The Jews did not die fast enough for Hitler. This unidentified emaciated ghetto boy clearly shows the signs of malnutrition, but is struggling to survive. An Isreali reader tells us that the Hebrew words are "... a prayer for the Torah under the wrapping. I do not know exactly what words mean, other than something of Jerusalem." A Canadian reader tells us, "Probably a common Zionist expression about until they meet in Jerusalem or until they get to Jerusalem." Note the two boys in the photograph. The boy chanting is clearly a religious Jew. The boy to the right looks to be from a more secular family.

NAZI authorities were never able to fully implement the various elements of the Hunger Plan, although it was more fully implemented than Generalplan Ost. Both the Hunger Plan and Generaplan Ost as they were conceived were premised on the Hitler's planned destruction of the Soviet Red Army in one massive summer campaign. The failure to destroy the Red army limited the implementation of the Hunger Plan. Even so millions of Eastern Europeans perished. The NAZIs had to adjust or postpone the efforts to implement the various elements. One Wehrmacht staff officer put his finger on the inherent contradiction of the Hunger Plan in starkly brutal words, "When we shoot the Jews to death, allow the POWs to die, expose considerble portion of the urban popultion to starvation and in the upcoming year also lose a part of the urban population, the question remins to be answered, who is actually supposed to produce economic values?" And indeed severe labor shortages soon plagued the German war economy. The implementation of the major elments of the Hunger Plan varied. 1) The Polish element could not be implemented because it was disrupting preparations for Barbarossa and subsequently war production. 2) The ghetto element was implemented and 0.4-0.5 million Jews in the NAZI ghettoes died, either from starvation or starvtion-related diseases. But the SS was surprised as just how difficult it proved to starve people. And the ghettoized Jews proved remarkably inventive in their efforts to survive. The Jews did not die nearly fast enough for Hitler. He orderd Himmmler to spead up the process. Himmler and Heydrich launched the even more radical option of immedite anialation through shooting and gassing in specially designed death camps. 3) The mistreatment of POWs (starvation and exposure) was pursued for more than a year until the war went against the Germans and severe labor shortages developed. Military reverses meant that workers needed to be conscripted for both the Wehrmacht and the War economy. Thus the POWs were needed for the work force. 4) The starvation of Soviet citizens was pursued, ultimately resullting in about 4-5 million deaths. Many large Soviet cities were depopulated. It ultimately failed because the Wehrmacht was unable to destroy the Red Army and occupy the Russian heartland of the Soviet Union.

Created: 5:23 AM 7/30/2013
Last updated: 5:06 PM 8/4/2013