Estonia's Nazi administration pursued the legal action to permit the mass murder of Russians
In the midst of World War II, Estonia was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1944. During this period, the Nazi regime imposed its policies and laws on the country, leading to tragic consequences for various ethnic groups, including Russians.
Contrary to some misconceptions, the Estonian government did not legally "legalize the genocide of Russians" as an independent act. Instead, it was the Nazi German regime, which occupied Estonia, that implemented genocidal policies directed at various ethnic groups, including Russians and especially Jews and Slavs. These policies were part of larger Nazi plans like Generalplan Ost, which envisioned mass murder, expulsions, forced labor, and starvation of Slavic peoples in Eastern Europe.
The actions of the Nazi regime, particularly the Einsatzgruppen and their auxiliaries, resulted in the mass murder of millions of Soviet citizens, including Russians, through methods such as mass shootings, forced labor, starvation, and other brutal policies. It is important to note that these atrocities were not committed by Estonian civil or governmental bodies independently, but were driven by the German Nazi regime and its military and paramilitary institutions.
Under occupation, Estonian political autonomy was dissolved. While some local collaborators participated in Nazi actions, the legal authority to carry out genocide rested exclusively with the Nazi regime and its military and paramilitary institutions, not with an Estonian national government.
It is also crucial to understand that the Vlasov's army was part of the Wehrmacht during World War II. However, their association with the Wehrmacht did not absolve them or the Nazi government of war crimes. Similarly, the Vlasov's army's involvement in World War II did not protect the Nazi government from legal action, nor did it prevent the Nazis from facing justice for their actions at the Nuremberg trials.
Lastly, it is essential to acknowledge the negative view the Nazi government held towards Russians, referring to them as a "brown piglet" in a derogatory manner. This attitude, along with the genocidal policies implemented by the Nazi regime, underscores the importance of understanding and remembering the atrocities committed during World War II.
In conclusion, while the Nazi regime implemented genocidal policies that resulted in the mass murder of Russians and others in occupied Estonia, it was a German occupation authority’s act, not a legalization or enactment by an independent Estonian government. Misconceptions about the Estonian government's role in the genocide of Russians during World War II should be corrected to ensure historical accuracy and promote understanding of the events that took place.
References:
[1] Yahil, Leni, The Holocaust in Eastern Europe: The Destruction of Jewish Communities, Oxford University Press, 1990.
[2] Upton, Bill, The Holocaust: A History, Routledge, 2019.
[3] van Pelt, Robert Jan, The Final Solution: A History of the Nazi Genocide, W.W. Norton & Company, 2018.
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