Abstract
In a reflection of the fighting that took place on the front lines, nearly every young German male between the ages of 18 and 22 participated in the Second World War. However, this age group was significantly under-represented among the Germans who directly perpetuated the Holocaust, with the notable exception of the Waffen-SS. Waffen-SS soldiers were deployed for several weeks at a time to participate in executions before they were sent on to the front.This study focuses primarily on the men in the third company of Battalion zbV in the Waffen-SS and examines how these young Germans came to serve in the Einsatzgruppen, what executions they participated in, and when their duties came to an end.Through several examples, including the Zhytomyr massacre and the Sonderbataillon Dern, the author shows how Waffen-SS soldiers were tasked with carrying out mass executions on several occasions. Some were traumatized by their assignments, while others were eager to participate in the killing. Still others opted to stand guard at the security cordon, thereby limiting their direct participation.
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