German-occupied Europe

Europe at the height of German control in 1942

German–occupied Europe or Nazi Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were occupied by the military forces of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 and 1945 and administered by the Nazi regime.[1]

Background

Several German-occupied countries entered World War II as Allies of the United Kingdom or the Soviet Union. Some were forced to surrender such as Czechoslovakia; 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. Some countries occupied by Nazi Germany were officially neutral. Others were former members of the Axis powers that were occupied by German forces at a later stage of the war.

Occupied countries

The countries occupied included all, or most of the following:

Country or territory of occupation Puppet state(s) or military administration(s) Timeline of occupation(s) German annexed territory Resistance movement(s)
Albania Albanian Kingdom Albanian Kingdom 8 September 1943  – December 1944 None Albanian resistance
Guernsey Bailiwick of Guernsey Nazi Germany Military Administration in France 30 June 1940  – 9 May 1945 None Guernsey people's resistance
Jersey Bailiwick of Jersey Nazi Germany Military Administration in France 30 June 1940  – 9 May 1945 None Jersey people's resistance
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Republic

Czechoslovakia Czecho-Slovak Republic


Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Republic

Slovak Republic

Nazi Germany German Zone of Protection in Slovakia

1 October 1938  – 11 May 1945 Nazi Germany Gau Bayreuth
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Niederdonau
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Oberdonau
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Sudetenland
Czechoslovakian resistance
Federal State of Austria Federal State of Austria None 12 March 1938  – 9 May 1945 Nazi Germany Reichsgau Kärnten
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Niederdonau
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Oberdonau
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Salzburg
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Steiermark
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Tirol-Vorarlberg
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Wien
Austrian resistance
Free City of Danzig Free City of Danzig None 1 September 1939  – 9 May 1945 Nazi Germany Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia Danzig people's resistance
France French Republic

Free France


France Provisional Government of the French Republic

French State

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 Western March
Reichsgau Wallonien
French resistance
Governorate of Montenegro German occupied territory of Montenegro 26 September 1943  – February 1945 None Yugoslav resistance
Luxembourg Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Military Administration of Luxembourg

Nazi Germany Civil Administration Area of Luxembourg

10 May 1940  – February 1945 Nazi Germany Gau Moselland Luxembourg resistance
Independent State of Macedonia None 8 September 1944  – December 1944 None Yugoslav resistance
Independent State of Croatia Independent State of Croatia German zone of influence 10 April 1941  – 9 May 1945 None Yugoslav resistance
Kingdom of Italy Italian Islands of the Aegean Italian Social Republic Italian Islands of the Aegean 8 September 1943  – 8 May 1945 None
Belgium Kingdom of Belgium Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France

Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France

10 May 1940  – February 1945 Nazi Germany Gau Cologne-Aachen

Nazi Germany Reichsgau Wallonien

Belgian resistance
Denmark Kingdom of Denmark None 9 April 1940  – 5 May 1945 None Danish resistance
Kingdom of Greece Kingdom of Greece Nazi Germany 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 Kingdom of Italy Italian Social Republic Italian Social Republic


Nazi Germany Military Administration in Kotor

8 September 1943  – 2 May 1945 None Italian resistance
Norway Kingdom of Norway Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat for the Occupied Norwegian Territories 9 April 1940  – 8 May 1945 None Norwegian resistance
Netherlands Kingdom of the Netherlands Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories 10 May 1940  – 20 May 1945 None Dutch resistance
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Republic of Užice


Bihać Republic

Albanian Kingdom

German occupied territory of Montenegro


Independent State of Croatia Independent State of Croatia


Independent State of Macedonia


Nazi Germany Military Administration in Kotor


Nazi Germany Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia

6 April 1941  – 15 May 1945 Nazi Germany Reichsgau Kärnten
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Steiermark
Yugoslav resistance
Monaco Principality of Monaco None 8 September 1943  – 3 September 1944 None
Finland Republic of Finland None 15 September 1944  – 25 April 1945 None Finnish resistance
Lithuania Republic of Lithuania

Provisional Government of Lithuania

Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat East 22 March 1939  – 21 July 1940

23 June 1941  – 5 August 1941

Nazi Germany Gau East Prussia Lithuanian resistance
Republic of Poland Nazi Germany Military Administration in Poland

Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat East


Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat Ukraine

1 September 1939  – 9 May 1945 Nazi Germany Bezirk Bialystok
Nazi Germany Gau East Prussia
Nazi Germany Gau Niederschlesien
Nazi Germany General Government
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Wartheland
Polish resistance
San Marino Republic of San Marino None 17 September 1944  – 20 September 1944 None
Nazi Germany Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia Commissioner Government

Government of National Salvation

April 30, 1941  – January 1945 None Serbian resistance
Slovak Republic Nazi Germany German Zone of Protection in Slovakia 23 March 1939  – May 1945 None Slovakian resistance
Territory of the Saar Basin None 1 March 1935  – April 1945 Nazi Germany Gau Palatinate-Saar

Nazi Germany Gau Saar-Palatinate
Nazi Germany Gau Westmark

Saar Basin people's resistance
Ukraine Ukrainian National Government Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat Ukraine 30 June 1941  – September 1941 Nazi Germany General Government Ukrainian resistance
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Nazi Germany Military Administration in the Soviet Union

Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat East


Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat Ukraine

22 June 1941  – 10 May 1945 Nazi Germany Bezirk Bialystok
Nazi Germany General Government
Soviet resistance

Governments in exile

Allied governments in exile

Government in exile Capital in exile Timeline of exile Occupier(s)
Austria Austrian Democratic Union United Kingdom London 1941 – 1945 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Free France Free France United Kingdom London
(1940 – 1941)

Algiers, Algeria
(1942 – August 31, 1944)

1940 – August 31, 1944 France French State

Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Nazi Germany Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France
Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France

Poland Government of the Republic of Poland in exile France Paris
(September 29/30, 1939 – 1940)
France Angers, French Republic
(1940 – June 12, 1940)

United Kingdom London
(June 12, 1940 – 1990)

September 29/30, 1939 – December 22, 1990 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich

Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat East
Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat Ukraine
Slovak Republic
Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Poland People's Republic of Poland

Belgium Kingdom of Belgium United Kingdom London
(October 22, 1940 – September 8, 1944)
October 22, 1940 – September 8, 1944 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich

Nazi Germany Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France
Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France

Denmark Kingdom of Denmark 1943 – 1945 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Luxembourg Kingdom of Luxembourg United Kingdom London 1940 – 1944 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Greece Kingdom of Greece Egypt Cairo, Egypt April 29, 1941 – October 12, 1944 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich

Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Italy
Bulgaria Kingdom of Bulgaria

Norway Kingdom of Norway United Kingdom London June 7, 1940 – May 31, 1945 Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat for the Occupied Norwegian Territories
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of Yugoslavia United Kingdom London June 7, 1941 – March 7, 1945 Albanian Kingdom

Commissioner Government
German occupied territory of Montenegro
Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Government of National Salvation
Independent State of Croatia
Independent Macedonia
Bulgaria Kingdom of Bulgaria
Kingdom of Hungary
Nazi Germany Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia

Netherlands Kingdom of the Netherlands United Kingdom London 1940 – 1945 Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories
Czechoslovakia Provisional Government of Czechoslovakia France Paris
(October 2, 1939 – 1940)

United Kingdom London
(1940 – 1941)
United Kingdom Aston Abbotts, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(1941 – 1945)

October 2, 1939 – May 8, 1945 Nazi Germany 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)
Bulgarian government-in-exile Nazi Germany Vienna, Greater German Reich September 16, 1944 – May 10, 1945 Bulgaria Kingdom of Bulgaria
France French State Nazi Germany Sigmaringen, Greater German Reich 1944 – April 22, 1945 France Provisional Government of the French Republic
Montenegrin State Council Independent State of Croatia Zagreb, Independent State of Croatia 1944 – May 8, 1945 Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Neutral governments in exile

Government in exile Capital in exile Timeline of exile Occupier(s)
Belarus Belarusian Democratic Republic Czechoslovakia Prague, Czechoslovak Republic
(1923 – 1938)

Czechoslovakia Prague, Czecho-Slovak Republic
(1938 – 1939)


Nazi Germany Prague, German Reich/Greater German Reich
(1939 – 1945)

1919 – present Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich

Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat East
Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat Ukraine
Poland Republic of Poland
Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Estonia Republic of Estonia Sweden Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden
(1944 – August 20, 1991)

United States New York City, United States of America

June 17, 1940 – August 20, 1991 Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat East

Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Lithuania Republic of Lithuania Switzerland Bern, Swiss Confederation

United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


United States Washington, D.C., United States of America


  Vatican City State


Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic

June 15, 1940 – March 11, 1990 Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat East

Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Latvia Republic of Latvia

United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


United States Washington, D.C., United States of America

June 17, 1940 – August 21, 1991 Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat East

Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Ukrainian People's Republic Poland Warsaw, Republic of Poland
(1920 – 1939)

Nazi Germany Prague, German Reich/Greater German Reich
(1939 – 1944)

1920 – August 22, 1992 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich

Kingdom of Hungary
Romania Kingdom of Romania
Nazi Germany Realm Commissariat Ukraine
Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Encyclopædia Britannica, German occupied Europe. World War II. Retrieved 1 September 2015 from the Internet Archive.

Bibliography

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