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. Selected 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 of
occupation
Timeline of occupation See for further details
Albania Albanian Kingdom
(German occupation of Albania)
September 8, 1943 – 1944 Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Albanian Kingdom
Guernsey Bailiwick of Guernsey

Jersey Bailiwick of Jersey
(German occupation of the Channel Islands)

June 30, 1940 – May 9, 1945
Commissioner Government

Government of National Salvation
(German occupation of Serbia)

April 30, 1941 – 1941/1942/1943/1944 Occupied territory of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Republic

Czechoslovakia Czecho-Slovak Republic


Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Republic
(German occupation of Czechoslovakia)

October 1, 1938 – 1945
(Sudetenland)
March 15, 1939 – 1945
(Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia)
1939–1945
(German Zone of Protection in Slovakia)
March 12, 1944 – 1944/1945
(Government of National Unity)
August 29, 1944 – 1944/1945
(Slovak Republic)
Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Gau Bayreuth
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Niederdonau
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Oberdonau
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Sudetenland

Occupied territory of Nazi Germany:
Kingdom of Hungary
Slovakia Slovak Republic
Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Slovakia Slovak Republic

 Federal State of Austria
(German occupation of Austria)
March 12, 1938 – 1945 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
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
Free City of Danzig Free City of Danzig
(German occupation of Danzig)
September 1, 1939 – 1945 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
 France

Free France


France Provisional Government of the French Republic
(German occupation of France)

May 10, 1940 – 1944/1945
(Zone interdite)
November 10, 1942 – 1943/1944/1945
(Zone sud)
September 8, 1943 – 1943/1944/1945
(Zone sud)
Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Gau Baden
Gau Westmark

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France


Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France


Military Administration in France
Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
French State

Governorate of Montenegro
(German occupation of Montenegro)
September 8, 1943 – 1943/1944 Occupied territory of Nazi Germany:
German occupied territory of Montenegro
Luxembourg Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
(German occupation of Luxembourg)
May 10, 1940 – 1944/1945 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Gau Koblenz-Trier (renamed in 1942 Gau Moselland)
Independent State of Macedonia
(German occupation of Macedonia)
September 8, 1944 – 1944
 Independent State of Croatia
(German occupation of Croatia)
April 10, 1941 – 1941/1942/1943/1944/1945
September 8, 1943 – 1943/1944/1945
Kingdom of Italy Italian Islands of the Aegean
(German occupation of the Dodecanese)
September 8, 1943 – 1945 Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Italian Social Republic Italian Social Republic
Belgium Kingdom of Belgium
(German occupation of Belgium)
May 10, 1940 – 1944/1945 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Eupen-Malmedy

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France


Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France

Denmark Kingdom of Denmark
(German occupation of Denmark)
April 9, 1940 – May 5, 1945
 Kingdom of Greece
(German occupation of Greece)
April 6, 1941 – 1943/1944/1945 Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Hellenic State
Kingdom of Hungary
(German occupation of Hungary)
March 19, 1944 – 1944/1945 Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Government of National Unity
Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Italy
(German occupation of Italy)
September 8, 1943 – 1943/1944/1945 Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Italian Social Republic Italian Social Republic

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral
Nazi Germany Operational Zone of the Alpine Foothills

Norway Kingdom of Norway
(German occupation of Norway)
April 9, 1940 – May 8, 1945 Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat für die besetzten norwegischen Gebiete
Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Norway National Government
Netherlands Kingdom of the Netherlands
(German occupation of the Netherlands)
May 10, 1940 – 1944/1945 Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Republic of Užice


Bihać Republic


Democratic Federal Yugoslavia
(German occupation of Yugoslavia)

April 6, 1941 – 1941/1942/1943/1944/1945
September 8, 1943 – 1943/1944/1945
Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Kärnten
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Steiermark

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
German occupied territory of Montenegro
Kingdom of Hungary
Nazi Germany Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Commissioner Government


Albanian Kingdom
Government of National Salvation
Independent State of Croatia
Independent Macedonia

Monaco Principality of Monaco
(German occupation of Monaco)
September 8, 1943 – 1945
Finland Republic of Finland
(German occupation of Finland)
September 15, 1944 – 1944/1945
Republic of Poland

Republic of Poland
(German occupation of Poland)
(German annexed territories of Poland)

September 1, 1939 – 1944/1945 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Bezirk Bialystok
Nazi Germany Gau East Prussia
Nazi Germany Gau Niederschlesien
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany General Government
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia
Nazi Germany Reichsgau Wartheland

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Military Administration in Poland


Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ostland
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ukraine

San Marino Republic of San Marino
(German occupation of San Marino)
September 17, 1944 – September 20, 1944
Provisional Government of Lithuania
(German occupation of Lithuania)
June 23, 1941 – August 5, 1941 Occupied territory of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ostland
Slovakia Slovak Republic
(German occupation of Slovakia)
1939–1945
(German Zone of Protection in Slovakia)
August 29, 1944 – 1944/1945
(Slovak Republic)
Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
German Zone of Protection in Slovakia
Puppet government of Nazi Germany:
Slovakia Slovak Republic
Territory of the Saar Basin March 1, 1935 – 1939
1939–1945
Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Gau Westmark
Ukraine Ukrainian National Government
(German occupation of Ukraine)
June 30, 1941–September 1941 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany General Government

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ukraine

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(German occupation of the Soviet Union)

Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Belarus)

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Estonia)

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Latvia)

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Lithuania)

Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Moldova)

Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Russia)

Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
(German occupation of Ukraine)

June 22, 1941 – 1941/1942/1943/1944/1945 Annexed territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Bezirk Bialystok
Nazi Germany General Government

Occupied territories of Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ostland
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ukraine

Governments in exile

Allied governments in exile

Government in exile Capital in exile Timeline of exile Occupier(s) International recognition
Austria Austrian Democratic Union United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1941 – 1945 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Free France Free France United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(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 Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France

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

United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(June 12, 1940 – 1990)

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

Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ostland
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ukraine
Slovakia Slovak Republic
Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Belgium Kingdom of Belgium United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(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 Reichskommissariat 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, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1940 – 1944 Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Greece Kingdom of Greece Egypt Cairo, Kingdom of Egypt April 29, 1941 – January 3, 1945 Hellenic State

Bulgaria Kingdom of Bulgaria

Norway Kingdom of Norway United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland June 7, 1940 – May 31, 1945 Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat für die besetzten norwegischen Gebiete
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Kingdom of Yugoslavia United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1940 – 1945 Nazi Germany Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories
Czechoslovakia Provisional Government of Czechoslovakia France Paris, French Republic
(October 2, 1939 – 1940)

United Kingdom London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
(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
Slovakia Slovak Republic

Axis governments in exile

Government in exile Capital in exile Timeline of exile Occupier(s) International recognition
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

Neutral governments in exile

Government in exile Capital in exile Timeline of exile Occupier(s) International recognition
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 Reichskommissariat Ostland
Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ukraine
Poland Republic of Poland
Soviet Union Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Free City of Danzig Free City of Danzig 1939 – present Nazi Germany German Reich/Greater German Reich
Estonia Republic of Estonia Sweden Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden
(1944 – August 20, 1991)
June 17, 1940 – August 20, 1991 Nazi Germany Reichskommissariat Ostland

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 Reichskommissariat 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.
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