The Einsatzgruppen were a paramilitary unit established before the invasion of the Soviet Union. Their main goal was to eradicate the Jews, Romany, and political enemies in the Communist Party. During the fights, they were under the control of the military, but as soon as they were required for a job the control shifted away from the army. They almost always took their orders from Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich. There were plans to make more groups similar to this one, however non of those plans pulled through.
The first time they were used was in during the invasion of Poland in 1939, however they were tasked with arresting people rather than killing them. The Einsatzgruppen that took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union were trained immediately before the invasion, and were not connected to the group used in Poland. Their Purpose was to eradicate the Jews, Gypsies, and political enemies. This was confirmed during the Nuremberg Trials when Ohlendorf he stated the purpose of these groups. |