Crime in Belarus under the Nazis (1941-1944)

Jauhien Hrebien
With reference to newly revealed archive documents the author of the article describes basic crime types in Belarus under the Nazi occupation. To study the causes of crime and punishment types the author uses the resolutions of Kommandanturs, the records of local occupational courts and the appeals of the population to the officials, the Polizei correspondence. It can be stated crime at that time progressed. This crime progress was caused by multiple economic reasons including heavy hangover of the communist regime. For certain part of population to breach the law meant to survive in extreme situation. From the first months of the occupation the German officials and the collaborationists had to undertake measures against the growth of crime. However, even threatening punishment strategy gave little or no result.