What is reichskommissariat?

Reichskommissariat was the official term used by the Nazis during World War II to refer to the territories occupied by Nazi Germany in Eastern Europe. These territories were not directly incorporated into the Greater German Reich, but instead were governed by a Reichskommissar, or Reich Commissioner appointed by the German government.

The Reichskommissariats were established in territories that were considered as part of the future "Lebensraum" (living space) for the German people. There were several Reichskommissariats established during the war, including Reichskommissariat Ostland (covering the Baltic States and parts of Belarus), Reichskommissariat Ukraine, and Reichskommissariat Moskowien (an intended temporary administration for Moscow and its surroundings).

The Reichskommissariats were run by ruthless Nazi officials who implemented policies of genocide, forced labor, and economic exploitation. Millions of people, including Jews, Poles, Ukrainians, and others, were killed or forced into slave labor under the brutal regime of the Reichskommissariats.

Ultimately, the Reichskommissariat system was a key part of the Nazi's plan for domination and expansion in Eastern Europe during World War II. It was a symbol of the brutal and oppressive nature of Nazi occupation and a dark chapter in European history.