Changes

By mid-1941, the [[Ukrainian SSR]] had the largest population of Jews in Europe. The addition of the eastern provinces of [[Poland]] (''the Kresy'') as a result of the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop pact]] in late 1939 ([[Western Ukraine]] after 1945), as well as the seizure of sections of [[Romanian]] territory in June 1940, led to some 2.7 million Jews living within the borders of the newly enlarged republic. About 85% lived in cities.  

By mid-1941, the [[Ukrainian SSR]] had the largest population of Jews in Europe. The addition of the eastern provinces of [[Poland]] (''the Kresy'') as a result of the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop pact]] in late 1939 ([[Western Ukraine]] after 1945), as well as the seizure of sections of [[Romanian]] territory in June 1940, led to some 2.7 million Jews living within the borders of the newly enlarged republic. About 85% lived in cities.  

Days after [[Operation Barbarossa]] commenced, Einsatzgruppen squads began carrying out mass shootings in the last week of June 1941.<ref>[https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/1939-1941/operation-barbarossa Operation Barbarossa | Holocaust Encyclopedia]</ref> By 1944, 1.6 million of these Jews had died at the hands of the Germans and their allies and auxiliaries. Unlike the majority of the Holocaust's later victims who died in the industrialized mass murder of the death camps, the overwhelming bulk of Ukraine's Jews died in mass shootings during the initial stages of the war.

Days after [[Operation Barbarossa]] commenced, Einsatzgruppen squads began carrying out mass shootings in the last week of June 1941.<ref>[https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/1939-1941/operation-barbarossa Operation Barbarossa | Holocaust Encyclopedia]</ref> By 1944, 1.6 million of these Jews had died at the hands of the Germans and their allies and auxiliaries. Unlike the majority of the [[Holocaust]]'s later victims who died in the industrialized mass murder of the death camps, the overwhelming bulk of Ukraine's Jews died in mass shootings during the initial stages of the war.

Einsatzgruppen squads were recruited from prisons and mental hospitals - [[men]] generally regarded as unfit for regular [[military]] service. Convicted murderers were promised having their convictions reduced to 8 years. Mental patients were given the opportunity to get outside the facility and a feeling of being useful to [[society]]. Married men were not considered fit for Einsatzgruppen because of the [[emotion]]al and [[psychological]] effect of murdering [[women]] and [[children]].

Einsatzgruppen squads were recruited from prisons and mental hospitals - [[men]] generally regarded as unfit for regular [[military]] service. Convicted murderers were promised having their convictions reduced to 8 years. Mental patients were given the opportunity to get outside the facility and a feeling of being useful to [[society]]. Married men were not considered fit for Einsatzgruppen because of the [[emotion]]al and [[psychological]] effect of murdering [[women]] and [[children]].