A Weapon of Terror
Sexual violence was employed by Nazi forces as a deliberate weapon of terror against the civilian population in the Soviet Union. As the Wehrmacht advanced into Soviet territory, soldiers committed widespread rape against women and girls. These acts were intended not only to degrade and humiliate but also to break the spirit of the local communities and assert dominance.
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Mass Rapes and Brutality
In occupied territories, mass rapes were common. Reports from regions such as Smolensk, Kiev, and Stalingrad document countless instances where women were subjected to brutal assaults, often in front of their families. The chaos and lawlessness that accompanied the Nazi occupation created an environment where such crimes were rampant and unpunished.
Life in Occupied Territories
Forced Labor and Exploitation
Women and girls were also subjected to forced labor under horrendous conditions. Many were taken to Germany to work in factories, farms, and households. These women often faced sexual abuse from their overseers and lived in constant fear for their safety. The exploitation extended beyond physical labor, as many were coerced into sexual servitude.
Ghettos and Camps
In ghettos and concentration camps, Jewish women and girls faced systematic sexual violence. Camps such as Ravensbrück, which housed predominantly female prisoners, became sites of unimaginable suffering. Women were subjected to medical experiments, forced sterilizations, and continuous sexual abuse by guards.