German–occupied Europe

German–occupied Europe refers to the countries of Europe which were occupied by the military forces of Nazi Germany at various times during World War II between 1939 and 1945.

Some countries started the war as Allies of the United Kingdom or the Soviet Union, and were forced to surrender, or were subdued and then occupied. In some cases, the governments went into exile, or governments-in-exile were formed by some of their citizens, in other Allied countries. Other countries occupied by the Nazis were officially neutral. Some occupied countries were former members of the Axis powers, and were occupied by German forces at a later stage of the war.

Occupied countries

The countries occupied included all or most of:

ee also

*"Drang nach Osten" ("The Drive Eastward")
*"Lebensraum" ("Room to Live")
*European theatre of World War II
*Atlantic Wall
*New Order (political system)
*List of Nazi-German concentration camps