Summary
World War II transformed Nazi persecution of Jews into systematic genocide, driven by territorial expansion and radicalisation of racial policies.
- Nazi Racial Policy before 1939 — Legal persecution and social exclusion without mass murder policy Example: Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of citizenship.
- Einsatzgruppen — Mobile killing units conducting mass shootings in occupied territories Example: Einsatzgruppen murdered hundreds of thousands in Eastern Europe.
- Ghettoisation — Forced relocation of Jews into overcrowded, isolated districts Example: Ghettos established in Warsaw and Łódź.
- Radicalisation — Gradual shift from persecution to extermination during the war Example: Escalation to genocide with planning for death camps.
- Slave Labour — Exploitation of Jews and others for the German war economy Example: Prisoners worked in armaments factories under brutal conditions.
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Nazi Racial Policy before 1939
- Einsatzgruppen
- Ghettoisation
- Radicalisation
- Slave Labour
Common Confusions
- Believing mass murder was a policy before the war
- Confusing forced emigration with systematic extermination
Typical Exam Questions
- How did World War II change Nazi policy towards Jews? The war enabled radicalisation and systematic genocide.
- What role did the Einsatzgruppen play in the Holocaust? They conducted mass shootings in occupied territories.
- Why did Nazi policy radicalise during the war? War conditions removed restraints and normalised violence.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding the shift from persecution to genocide
- The impact of territorial expansion on Nazi policies
- The role of war in facilitating radicalisation