Belarusian Auxiliary Police
Encyclopedia
Belarusian Auxiliary Police, later renamed Ordnungsdienst (OD), was established in July 1941. It was staffed by local inhabitants and had similar functions to those of the Ordnungspolizei
- OrPo - German Police. The OD activities were supervised by defense police departments, local commandant
's offices, and garrison
commandants. The OD units consisted of one police officer
for every 100 rural
inhabitants and one police officer for every 300 urban
inhabitants. The OD was in charge of guard duty, and included both stationary & mobile posts plus groups of orderlies. It was subordinate to the defense police leadership. Belarusian Auxiliary Police participated in various massacres of villages inside Belarus. The Germans carried out the first killings by exerting force, using experienced guards and all necessary precautions (in Homel, Mozyrz
, Kalinkowicze, Korma
). The Belarusian police took on a secondary role in the first stage of the killings. The rest of the Jews were crushed and deprived of the will to live- women, children, and the elderly - was killed with the Nazis’ bare hands (in Dobrusz, Czeczersk, Żytkowicze). After a while, police, being locals, and a minimal convoy led these remaining Jews out of the ghetto
to their place of death. Such a tactic was successful (without much exertion of force) in places where the liquidation
of Jews was carried out early September, October-November 1941. In winter 1942, a different tactic of killing was used - raids (in Żłobin
, Petryków
, Streszin, Czeczersk). The role of the Belarusian police in killing the Jews became particularly noticeable during the second wave of destruction, starting in February-March 1942.
Ordnungspolizei
The Ordnungspolizei or Orpo were the uniformed regular police force in Nazi Germany between 1936 and 1945. It was increasingly absorbed into the Nazi police system. Owing to their green uniforms, they were also referred to as Grüne Polizei...
- OrPo - German Police. The OD activities were supervised by defense police departments, local commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
's offices, and garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
commandants. The OD units consisted of one police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
for every 100 rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
inhabitants and one police officer for every 300 urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
inhabitants. The OD was in charge of guard duty, and included both stationary & mobile posts plus groups of orderlies. It was subordinate to the defense police leadership. Belarusian Auxiliary Police participated in various massacres of villages inside Belarus. The Germans carried out the first killings by exerting force, using experienced guards and all necessary precautions (in Homel, Mozyrz
Mazyr
Mazyr, also Mozyr is a city in the Homiel Province of Belarus on the Pripyat River about 210 km east of Pinsk and 100 km northwest of Chernobyl and is located at approximately . The population is 111,770 . The total urban area including Kalinkavičy across the river has a population of...
, Kalinkowicze, Korma
Sozh Floating Bridge
The Sozh Floating Bridge is a pontoon bridge spanning the Sozh River at Korma, Belarus. It was built in 2003-2004, and caries light automobile traffic....
). The Belarusian police took on a secondary role in the first stage of the killings. The rest of the Jews were crushed and deprived of the will to live- women, children, and the elderly - was killed with the Nazis’ bare hands (in Dobrusz, Czeczersk, Żytkowicze). After a while, police, being locals, and a minimal convoy led these remaining Jews out of the ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
to their place of death. Such a tactic was successful (without much exertion of force) in places where the liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
of Jews was carried out early September, October-November 1941. In winter 1942, a different tactic of killing was used - raids (in Żłobin
Zhlobin
Zhlobin is a city in the Homiel Voblast of Belarus, on the Dnieper river. As of 2005, the population is 75.866. The town was first mentioned in writing in 1492....
, Petryków
Petrikov
Petrikov is a town in Belarus, west of Gomel. Its population is over 11,000.Previously part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania after the partition of Poland it became part of the Russian Empire.The town's name is also used by a Dutch brand of vodka....
, Streszin, Czeczersk). The role of the Belarusian police in killing the Jews became particularly noticeable during the second wave of destruction, starting in February-March 1942.