What Countries were Involved in the Holocaust?
Country | Jewish Population Pre WWII↓ | Jewish Population Post WWII | Change in Population | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Poland | 3,300,000 | 300,000 | 3,000,000 | 91% |
 | Russia | 3,000,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 50% |
 | Hungary | 750,000 | 200,000 | 550,000 | 73% |
 | Romania | 600,000 | 430,000 | 170,000 | 28% |
 | France | 350,000 | 280,000 | 70,000 | 20% |
 | Germany | 300,000 | 27,000 | 273,000 | 91% |
 | Czechia | 253,000 | 25,000 | 228,000 | 90% |
 | Lithuania | 155,000 | 15,000 | 140,000 | 90% |
 | Netherlands | 140,000 | 20,000 | 120,000 | 86% |
 | Latvia | 93,000 | 9,000 | 84,000 | 90% |
 | Belgium | 90,000 | 25,000 | 65,000 | 72% |
 | Greece | 74,000 | 12,000 | 62,000 | 84% |
 | Bulgaria | 64,000 | 50,000 | 14,000 | 22% |
 | Italy | 57,000 | 33,000 | 24,000 | 42% |
 | Denmark | 7,600 | 7,600 | ||
 | Estonia | 4,500 | 2,000 | 2,500 | 56% |
 | Finland | 2,000 | 2,000 | ||
 | Norway | 1,800 | 900 | 900 | 50% |
 | Albania | 500 | 250 | 250 | 50% |
| Total | 9,242,400 | 2,938,750 | 6,303,650 |
- Total death counts are quite difficult to obtain, due to intentionally secretive actions and chaotic wartime record keeping. All data should be viewed as educated estimates.
- Listed totals for Germany include both Germany and Austria, which had been annexed by Germany at the time the Holocaust took place.
- Countries whose names or forms have changed since WWII, such as the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, are listed by their modern names.
- The modern-day countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia were all part of Yugoslavia at the time of the Holocaust. As such, their Jewish population data is included in Yugoslavia’s total.
World War II Axis and Allies
The list of World War II Axis and Allies contains countries involved in the Holocaust that either supported or fought against the Nazi regime. This may not list all the countries or territories involved, but it does give you an idea of who did what during the Second World War.
The Axis
Axis powers include the countries of Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy and Japan. They did experience many deaths among them but not the most related to the Holocaust.
The Allies
Apparently, the Allied WWII powers outnumbered the Axis powers by 2.7 to 1 in 1938, a year before the war started. Note also that Poland, where one of the deadliest concentration camps existed, counts as an ally at this time. Poland probably had no choice after Nazi Germany took over it.
The list of Allies includes these countries: Some European countries include Poland, Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, The Former Soviet Union (USSR, which included Russia), Yugoslavia and Norway.
The United States, Brazil, Canada, China, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia make other places in the world that fought against the Nazi regime and the Holocaust.
Most Affected Countries and Deaths
Germany did not have the most Holocaust deaths, but it’s listed as one of the countries most affected by the Holocaust. You may want to review information about where most of the Jewish deaths occurred right before World War II started up to when WWII ended in 1945.
Germany
Between 1941 and 1945, Hitler’s Nazi dictatorship slaughtered approximately 6 million European Jews. According to one of the Reference.com website’s staff writers, Germany is one of the most affected countries.
Hitler fixated on exterminating Jewish people from Nazi-occupied countries. Many nations across the world, however, became victims of this regime’s oppression.
Poland
When most people think of concentration camps, they usually attribute this horrific memory to Poland. The Auschwitz concentration camp has received the infamous recognition as the deadliest camp of World War II, according to The History Channel Reporter Natasha Frost.
The Nazis took control of Poland in 1941. That’s where many Jewish people from around the world ended up. An uncountable number of victims stayed in Belzec, Auschwitz-Birkenau and Chelmno concentration camps. In Auschwitz alone, about 960,000 of the estimated 1.1 million Jews sent here died.
Austria
Apparently, Austria is considered one of the most affected by the Holocaust. It’s 1938 population only totaled about 185,026 people. Of those, about 65,459 of them lost their lives.
Italy
In 1938, Italy’s population totaled about 58,412. After Germany took over, the number of people living their calculated at 43,000. About 7,858 died here, and that’s considered a terrible thing. However, Italy many have not received a “most affected” title because of those deaths. It’s most likely because of its collaboration with Nazi Germany.
Refuge for Survivors
About 7,000 people survived the Auschwitz Poland camp. Another estimated 250,000-300,000 people at least saw a few days to a few months after Holocaust liberation.
On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation which occurred about three years after the end of World War II. Some reporters attributed this action to one of finding a homeland for Jewish survivors.
Sources
- Axis Powers - World War II coalition - Britannica
- Allies of World War II - Wikipedia
- 6 things you should know about the Holocaust #3 - Holocaust Education UK
- 36 Questions About the Holocaust - Museum of Tolerance LA
- Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy - Wiki
- https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/life-in-nazi-occupied-europe/occupation-case-studies/
- https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/holocaust
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-Holocaust-Memorial-Museum
