European countries occupied by the military forces of Nazi Germany
German-occupied Europe (or Nazi-occupied Europe ) refers to the sovereign countries of
Europe which were wholly or partly
militarily occupied and civil-occupied, including
puppet governments , by the
military forces and the
government of
Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 and 1945, during
World War II , administered by the
Nazi regime under the
dictatorship of
Adolf Hitler .
[1]
The German
Wehrmacht occupied European territory:
In 1941, around 280 million people in Europe, more than half the population, were governed by Germany or their
allies and puppet states .
[2]
Outside of Europe,
German forces controlled areas of
North Africa , including
Egypt ,
Libya , and
Tunisia between 1940 and 1945. German military scientists established the
Schatzgraber Weather Station as far north as
Alexandra Land in
Francis Joseph Land . Manned German weather stations also operated in
North America included three in
Greenland ,
Holzauge ,
Bassgeiger , and
Edelweiss . German
Kriegsmarine ships also operated in all oceans of the world throughout World War II.
History
Several German-occupied countries initially entered
World War II as
Allies of the
United Kingdom
[3] or the
Soviet Union .
[4] Some were forced to surrender before the outbreak of the war such as Czechoslovakia;
[5] others like Poland (invaded on 1 September 1939)
[1] were
conquered in battle and then
occupied . In some cases, the legitimate
governments went into exile , in other cases the
governments-in-exile were formed by their citizens in other
Allied countries .
[6] Some countries occupied by
Nazi Germany were officially neutral. Others were former members of the
Axis powers that were subsequently occupied by German forces, such as Finland and Hungary.
[7]
[8]
Concentration camps
Germany operated thousands of concentration camps in German-occupied Europe. The first camps were established in March 1933 immediately after Adolf Hitler became
Chancellor of Germany . Following the 1934 purge of the SA, the concentration camps were run exclusively by the
SS via the Concentration Camps Inspectorate and later the SS Main Economic and Administrative Office. Initially, most prisoners were members of the Communist Party of Germany, but as time went on different groups were arrested, including "habitual criminals", "
asocials ", and Jews.
After the beginning of
World War II , people from German-occupied Europe were imprisoned in the concentration camps.
About 1.65 million people were registered prisoners in the camps, of whom about a million died during their imprisonment. Most of the fatalities occurred during the second half of World War II, including at least 4.7 million Soviet prisoners who were registered as of January 1945.
Following Allied military victories, the camps were gradually liberated in 1944 and 1945, although hundreds of thousands of prisoners died in the death marches.
After the expansion of Nazi Germany, people from countries occupied by the Wehrmacht were targeted and detained in concentration camps. In Western Europe, arrests focused on resistance fighters and saboteurs, but in
Eastern Europe arrests included mass roundups aimed at the implementation of Nazi population policy and the forced recruitment of workers. This led to a predominance of Eastern Europeans, especially Poles, who made up the majority of the population of some camps. The ethnicities of captured people were various other groups from other different nationalities were transferred to
Auschwitz or sent to local concentration camps.
Occupied countries
The countries occupied included all, or most, of the following nations or territories:
Country or territory of occupation
Puppet state(s) or military administration(s)
Timeline of occupation(s)
German annexed or occupied territory
Resistance movement(s)
Albanian Kingdom
Albanian Kingdom
8 September 1943 – 29 November 1944
None
Albanian resistance
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Bailiwick of Jersey
German Occupied Channel Islands (Part of the
Military Administration in France )
30 June 1940 – 9 May 1945 (Bailiwick of Guernsey)
1 July 1940 – 9 May 1945 (Bailiwick of Jersey)
None
Channel Islands resistance
First Czechoslovak Republic
Second Czechoslovak Republic
Third Czechoslovak Republic
Slovak Republic
German Zone of Protection in Slovakia
1 October 1938 – 11 May 1945
Gau Bayreuth
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Reichsgau Niederdonau
Reichsgau Oberdonau
Reichsgau Sudetenland
Czechoslovakian resistance
Federal State of Austria
None. Although there was substantial popular support in Austria for some type of (re)unification with Germany, Chancellors
Engelbert Dollfuss and his successor
Kurt Schuschnigg wanted to maintain at least some type of independence. Dollfuss had implemented an authoritarian regime now termed
Austrofascism , continued by Schussnigg, which imprisoned many members of the
Austrian Nazi Party and the
Social Democratic Party which both favored unification. Violence by Austrian Nazi Party members including the assassination of Dollfuss, along with German propaganda and ultimately threats of invasion by Adolf Hitler, eventually led Schuschnigg to capitulate and resign. Hitler, however, did not wait for his hand-picked successor, Austrian Nazi
Arthur Seyss-Inquart , to be sworn in and ordered German troops to invade Austria at dawn on 12 March 1938, where they were met with cheering crowds and an Austrian army previously ordered not to resist.
12 March 1938 – 9 May 1945
Reichsgau
Kärnten
Reichsgau Niederdonau
Reichsgau Oberdonau
Reichsgau Salzburg
Reichsgau Steiermark
Reichsgau Tirol-Vorarlberg
Reichsgau Wien
Austrian resistance
Free City of Danzig
None. Upon request of its
Nazi-dominated senate , the city was directly annexed to Germany along with the surrounding Polish
Pomeranian Voivodeship .
1 September 1939 – 9 May 1945
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
Danzigian resistance
French Republic
Free France
Provisional Government of the French Republic
French Tunisia
Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France
Military Administration in France
Realm Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France
10 May 1940 – 9 May 1945
Gau Baden
Gau Westmark
Reichsgau Wallonien
French resistance
Luxembourg
Military Administration of Luxembourg
Civil Administration Area of Luxembourg
10 May 1940 – February 1945
Gau Moselland
Luxembourg resistance
Italian Islands of the Aegean
Italian Islands of the Aegean
8 September 1943 – 8 May 1945
None
Belgium
Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France
Realm Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France
10 May 1940 – 4 February 1945
Gau Cologne-Aachen
Reichsgau Wallonien
Belgian resistance
Denmark
protectorate state
9 April 1940 – 5 May 1945
None
Danish resistance
Kingdom of Greece
Military Administration in Greece
6 April 1941 – 8 May 1945
None
Greek resistance
Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
19 March 1944 – May 1945
None
Hungarian resistance
Kingdom of Italy
Italian Social Republic
8 September 1943 – 2 May 1945
None
Italian resistance
Norway
Realm Commissariat for the Occupied Norwegian Territories
9 April 1940 – 8 May 1945
None
Norwegian resistance
Netherlands
Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories
10 May 1940 – 20 May 1945
None
Dutch resistance
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Albanian Kingdom
German occupied territory of Montenegro
Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Macedonia
Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
6 April 1941 – 15 May 1945
Reichsgau Kärnten
Reichsgau Steiermark
Yugoslav resistance
Monaco
None
8 September 1943 – 3 September 1944
None
Finland
None
September 15, 1944 – April 25, 1945
None
Finnish resistance
Republic of Lithuania
Provisional Government of Lithuania
Reich Commissariat East
22 March 1939 – 21 July 1940
23 June 1941 – 5 August 1941
Gau East Prussia
Lithuanian resistance
Republic of Poland
Military Administration in Poland
General Government administration
Reich Commissariat East
Reich Commissariat Ukraine
1 September 1939 – 9 May 1945
Bezirk Bialystok
Gau East Prussia
Gau Schlesien
Gau Oberschlesien
General Government
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
Reichsgau Wartheland
Polish resistance
San Marino
None (military trespassing)
17 – 20 September 1944
None
Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
Commissioner Government
Government of National Salvation
April 30, 1941 – January 1945
None
Serbian resistance
Slovak Republic
German Zone of Protection in Slovakia
23 March 1939 – May 1945
None
Slovakian resistance
Territory of the Saar Basin
None. In a
referendum in 1935 , over 90% of residents supported reunification with Germany over remaining a League of Nations protectorate of France and the United Kingdom or joining France.
1 March 1935 – April 1945
Gau Palatinate-Saar
Gau Saar-Palatinate
Gau Westmark
Saar Basinian resistance
Ukrainian National Government
Reich Commissariat Ukraine
30 June 1941 – September 1941
General Government
Ukrainian resistance
Parts of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Lepel Republic
Military Administration in the Soviet Union
Reich Commissariat East
Reich Commissariat Ukraine
22 June 1941 – 10 May 1945
Bezirk
Bialystok
General Government
Soviet resistance
Governments in exile
Allied governments in exile
Government in exile
Capital in exile
Timeline of exile
Occupier(s)
Austrian Democratic Union
London
1941–1945
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Free France
London (1940–1941)
Algiers ,
French Algeria (1942 – August 31, 1944)
1940 – August 31, 1944
French State
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France
Reich Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France
Government of the Republic of Poland in exile
Paris (September 29/30, 1939 – 1940)
Angers ,
French Republic (1940 – June 12, 1940)
London (June 12, 1940 – 1990)
September 29/30, 1939 – December 22, 1990
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Reich Commissariat East
Reich Commissariat Ukraine
Slovak Republic
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
People's Republic of Poland
Belgium
London (October 22, 1940 – September 8, 1944)
October 22, 1940 – September 8, 1944
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France
Reich Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France
Denmark
None
1943–1945
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Luxembourg
London
1940–1944
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Kingdom of Greece
Cairo, Egypt
April 29, 1941 – October 12, 1944
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Bulgaria
Norway
London
June 7, 1940 – May 31, 1945
Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Norwegian Territories
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
London
June 7, 1941 – March 7, 1945
Albanian Kingdom
Commissioner Government
German occupied territory of Montenegro
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Government of National Salvation
Independent State of Croatia
Independent Macedonia
Kingdom of Bulgaria
Kingdom of Hungary
Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
Netherlands
London
1940–1945
Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories
Provisional Government of Czechoslovakia
Paris (October 2, 1939 – 1940)
London (1940–1941)
Aston Abbotts ,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1941–1945)
October 2, 1939 – April 2, 1945
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Kingdom of Hungary
Slovak Republic
Axis governments in exile
Government in exile
Capital in exile
Timeline of exile
Occupier(s)
Kingdom of Bulgaria
Vienna ,
Greater German Reich
September 16, 1944 – May 10, 1945
Kingdom of Bulgaria
Kingdom of Greece
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
French State
Sigmaringen ,
Greater German Reich
1944 – April 22, 1945
Provisional Government of the French Republic
Kingdom of Hungary
Vienna ,
Greater German Reich
Munich ,
Greater German Reich
March 28/29, 1945 – May 7, 1945
Czechoslovak Republic
Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Romania
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Romania
Vienna ,
Greater German Reich
1944–1945
Kingdom of Romania
Montenegrin State Council
Zagreb ,
Independent State of Croatia
Summer of 1944 – May 8, 1945
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Slovak Republic
Kremsmünster ,
Great-German Reich
April 4, 1945 – 8 May 1945
Czechoslovak Republic
Government of National Salvation
Kitzbühel ,
Great-German Reich
October 7, 1944 - 8 May 1945
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Neutral governments in exile
Government in exile
Capital in exile
Timeline of exile
Occupier(s)
Belarusian Democratic Republic
Prague ,
Czechoslovak Republic (1923–1938)
Prague ,
Czecho-Slovak Republic (1938–1939)
Prague ,
German Reich/Greater German Reich (1939–1945)
1919 – present
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Realm Commissariat East
Realm Commissariat Ukraine
Republic of Poland
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Republic of Estonia
Stockholm ,
Kingdom of Sweden (1944 – August 20, 1991)
New York City ,
United States of America
June 17, 1940 – August 20, 1991
Realm Commissariat East
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Ukrainian People's Republic
Warsaw ,
Republic of Poland (1920–1939)
Prague ,
German Reich/Greater German Reich (1939–1944)
1920 – August 22, 1992
German Reich/Greater German Reich
Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Romania
Realm Commissariat Ukraine
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
See also
Notes
References
^
a
b Encyclopædia Britannica,
German occupied Europe. World War II. Retrieved 1 September 2015 from the
Internet Archive .
^
"WWII: population of Germany and occupied areas 1941" . Statista .
Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023 .
^ Prazmowska, Anita (1995-03-23).
Britain and Poland 1939–1943: The Betrayed Ally . Cambridge University Press.
ISBN
9780521483858 .
^ Moorhouse, Roger (2014-10-14).
The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939–1941 . Basic Books.
ISBN
9780465054923 .
^ Goldstein, Erik; Lukes, Igor (2012-10-12).
The Munich Crisis, 1938: Prelude to World War II . Routledge.
ISBN
9781136328329 .
^ Conway, Martin; Gotovitch, José (2001-08-30).
Europe in Exile: European Exile Communities in Britain 1940–45 . Berghahn Books.
ISBN
9781782389910 .
^ Hanson, Victor Davis (2017-10-17).
The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won . Basic Books.
ISBN
9780465093199 .
^ Cornelius, Deborah S. (2011).
Hungary in World War II: Caught in the Cauldron . Fordham Univ Press.
ISBN
9780823233434 .
Bibliography
Bank, Jan. Churches and Religion in the Second World War (Occupation in Europe) (2016).
Gildea, Robert and Olivier Wieviorka. Surviving Hitler and Mussolini: Daily Life in Occupied Europe (2007).
Klemann, Hein A.M. and Sergei Kudryashov, eds. Occupied Economies: An Economic History of Nazi-Occupied Europe, 1939–1945 (2011).
Lagrou, Pieter. The Legacy of Nazi Occupation: Patriotic Memory and National Recovery in Western Europe, 1945–1965 (1999).
Mazower, Mark (2008). Hitler's Empire: Nazi Rule in Occupied Europe . London: Allen Lane.
ISBN
9780713996814 .
Scheck, Raffael; Fabien Théofilakis; and Julia S. Torrie, eds. German-occupied Europe in the Second World War (Routledge, 2019), 276 pp.
online review .
Snyder, Timothy. Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin (2010), on Eastern Europe.
Toynbee, Arnold, ed. Survey of International Affairs, 1939–1946: Hitler's Europe (Oxford University Press, 1954), 730 pp.
online review ;
full text online free .
Primary sources
Carlyle Margaret, ed. Documents on International Affairs, 1939–1946. Volume II, Hitler's Europe (Oxford University Press, 1954), 362 pp.
External links
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