The question of why a higher percentage of Jews perished in some regions like Croatia, Poland, and the Soviet Union during the Holocaust compared to countries like Nazi Germany and Austria has sparked extensive debate among historians and scholars. This article explores the multifaceted factors that contributed to these differing outcomes, focusing particularly on the role of Nazi occupations and local anti-Semitic attitudes.

Introduction

The political and economic agreements between Germany and the USSR, established in 1919, were integral to the complex web of relations between nations during the interwar period. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, signed in 1939, formalized these agreements and laid the groundwork for the eventual invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. These international frameworks played a significant role in the subsequent Nazi operations and policies.

The Role of Nazi Occupations

The primary focus on the Holocaust must be the actions of the Nazi regime and their collaborators. The SS (Schutzstaffel) was central in organizing and implementing the extermination policies, which were consistent across various regions. The idea that local populations were generally more anti-Semitic than the Nazis is a misconception. The atrocities committed during the Holocaust were primarily driven by the SS, even in countries not under direct Nazi governance.

Poland, for example, was under full Nazi occupation throughout World War II. This strategic location served as the main staging ground for the "Final Solution," the systematic extermination of European Jews. It is no surprise that the Jewish population in Poland was decimated. In the western areas of the Soviet Union, which were also heavily Jewish-populated, these regions witnessed the earliest and most severe Nazi invasions. The Nazis prioritized the extermination of Jews, ensuring that these areas experienced some of the most brutal and systematic killings.

Jewish Populations and Survival Rates

The argument that regions with higher Jewish mortality rates were because of local anti-Semitism or greater population density is flawed. Firstly, the survival rates in East Prussia, where there were no significant local anti-Semitic movements, still showed high mortality rates among Jewish populations. This highlights that the primary factor in survival rates was not local attitudes but the actions of the Nazi regime.

The survival rates in countries like Nazi Germany and Austria are misleading when compared to the percentages in regions like Poland or the Soviet Union. In Nazi Germany, about 500,000 Jews were present before 1933, and these individuals were either emigrated, deported, or murdered. By 1945, the term "jew-free" began to gain traction in Nazi discourse, indicating the extent of the extermination campaigns. The overall survival rate among German Jews was significantly lower than often portrayed.

The Case of Croatia

Croatia, under a fascist puppet government collaborating closely with the Nazi regime, presents a more complex scenario. The Croatian Usta?e regime, with its own brand of racial and ideological extremism, targeted the small but easily identifiable Jewish population in their territory. However, the core actions of targeting and murdering Jews were always carried out by the SS and their collaborators.

It is crucial to differentiate between the complicity of local governments and the direct actions of the Nazi regime. Local fascist regimes, like the Usta?e in Croatia, were often used by the Nazis to facilitate their extermination goals. This collaboration does not equate to the level of anti-Semitism inherently present in the Nazi regime itself.

Conclusion

The Holocaust was a meticulously planned and carried out campaign by the Nazi regime. The complexity of survival rates among different Jewish populations can be attributed to a combination of factors including geographic location, local governance, and the Nazi presence. It is important to recognize that the implementation of genocidal policies was primarily the responsibility of the SS, and not local anti-Semitic populations. Comparing regional survival rates without considering the overarching Nazi policies risks oversimplifying a situation that was both deeply complex and profoundly tragic.

Key Points:

Nazi Occupations: The actions of the Nazi regime, particularly the SS, were the primary driving force behind the Holocaust. Jewish Populations: Higher Jewish mortality rates in certain regions were due to the large Jewish populations and the strategic importance of these regions to the Nazi plans. Collaboration: Local fascist governments often played a role in facilitating Nazi policies, but the core extermination efforts were executed by the SS.