German-occupied Europe

German-occupied Europe (or Nazi-occupied Europe) refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly militarily occupied and civil-occupied, including puppet governments, by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 and 1945, during World War II, administered by the Nazi regime under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler.

German-occupied Europe
1938–1945
Anthem: 
1938–1945
"Das Lied der Deutschen"
"The song of the Germans"
Europe at the height of German expansion in 1942:
  •   Germany
  •   Civilian-administered occupied territories
  •   Military-administered occupied territories
CapitalBerlin
Common languagesGerman
Demonym(s)German
Reich Commissioner 
• 1938–1945
Fritz Katzmann
Reichsstatthalter 
• 1938–1945
Adolf Eichmann
• 1940–1945
Heinrich Himmler
• 1941–1945
Hermann Göring
Historical eraInterwar period
Area
19423,300,000 km2 (1,300,000 sq mi)
Population
• 1942
238,000,000
CurrencyReichsmark (ℛℳ)
Succeeded by
Allied-occupied Germany

The German Wehrmacht occupied European territory:

  • as far east as the town of Mozdok in the North Caucasus in the Soviet Union (1942–1943)
  • as far north as the settlement of Barentsburg in Svalbard in the Kingdom of Norway
  • as far south as the island of Gavdos in the Kingdom of Greece
  • as far west as the island of Ushant in the French Republic

In 1941, around 280 million people in Europe, more than half the population, were governed by Germany or their allies and puppet states. It comprised an area of 3,300,000 km2 (1,300,000 sq mi).

Outside of Europe, German forces controlled areas of North Africa, including Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia between 1940 and 1945. German military scientists established the Schatzgraber Weather Station as far north as Alexandra Land in Francis Joseph Land. Manned German weather stations also operated in North America included three in Greenland, Holzauge, Bassgeiger, and Edelweiss. German Kriegsmarine ships also operated in all oceans of the world throughout World War II.

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