What is ober ost?

Ober Ost was the short name for the military administration of the German Empire in the conquered territories of Eastern Europe during World War I. It was created in 1914 and existed until the end of the war in 1918. The Ober Ost was headed by Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg and his chief of staff, General Erich Ludendorff. Its territory included present-day Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and parts of Russia and Belarus.

The main goals of the Ober Ost were to maintain control over the population, secure the region from attacks by the Russian army, and exploit the resources of the occupied territories to support the German war effort. The administration relied on a combination of military force and civilian governance, with German officers and officials overseeing the local administration.

The policies of the Ober Ost were characterized by a harsh and exploitative approach towards the local population, including forced labor, requisitioning of food and supplies, and the imposition of heavy taxes. These policies created resentment and resistance among the local population and contributed to the emergence of nationalist movements that sought to overthrow German rule.

Overall, the Ober Ost represented the most extensive German attempt to establish a colonial empire in Eastern Europe, but it was relatively short-lived and had little long-term impact on the region's history.