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Nazi Occupation on the Western Front

Nazi Occupation on the Western Front. Review. Eastern Europe was occupied due to racial superiority and the need for Germany to bring all of the ethnic Germans (“Volksdeutcha) into the Reich This process needed resources, workers, and protection from the Allies: so we move to the West!.

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Nazi Occupation on the Western Front

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  1. Nazi Occupation on the Western Front

  2. Review • Eastern Europe was occupied due to racial superiority and the need for Germany to bring all of the ethnic Germans (“Volksdeutcha) into the Reich • This process needed resources, workers, and protection from the Allies: so we move to the West!

  3. Denmark: April 1940 • Despite recently signing a nonaggression pact with Germany, the Nazis invaded because they wanted to get to Norway and the North Sea to prevent Allied assistance • The government remained and functioned almost normally; collaborated • Germany was lenient because they had no racial issue – believed the Danes to be Aryan • A lot of civilians caused sabotage and helped much of the Jewish population to escape to Sweden where it was neutral

  4. Norway: April 1940 • A very strategic position for Nazi Germany: blocked help from the Allies from the North • Most heavily occupied country • Legitimate government and king exiled to London, but a pro-German Norwegian government under Vidkun Quisling came into power and collaborated with Nazi Germany • Mixed civilian response, many collaborated and many resisted with a lot of economic suffering

  5. Belgium: May 1940 • Despite having a neutrality agreement, Nazi Germany invaded Belgium in order to outflank the French army • The Belgian King left for London and a German military government took his place • Very mixed civilian response

  6. Netherlands: May 1940 • Although the Dutch declared neutrality, the Germans invaded because they wanted airfields in the North near the North Sea and wanted to prevent Allied assistance from the North; also wanted Dutch resources • Germans liked the Dutch for their Aryan appearances • Dutch government and royal family went into exile in London; German run civilian government remained • Only a minority supported the Germans, but only a minority actively resisted too • The Dutch were very tolerant, liked the Jews, built the Atlantic Wall

  7. France: May 1940, fully occupied in 1942 • France was unique: Italy occupied the South with Germany in the North; invaded for resources and to prevent a French attack in Germany • The Vichy Government took over France under General Petain – replacing the previously democratic government - complete collaboration • Civilians supported the German war effort more than previously believed, started to lose faith though with shortages and forced labor

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