Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories

The Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories (German: Reichsministerium für die besetzten Ostgebiete (RMfdbO) or Ostministerium) was created by Adolf Hitler on 17 July 1941 and headed by the Nazi theoretical expert, the Baltic German Alfred Rosenberg. Alfred Meyer served as Rosenberg's deputy. The German government formed this ministry to control the vast areas captured and projected for capture by the Wehrmacht in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Ostministerium also played a part in supporting anti-Soviet groups in Central Asia.

Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories
Reichsministerium für die besetzten Ostgebiete
Agency overview
Formed17 July 1941 (1941-07-17)
Dissolved8 May 1945 (1945-05-08)
JurisdictionNazi Germany
Minister responsible

In February 1942, under Rosenberg's plans, the Ministry tried to promulgate a program of land reform in the occupied territories in the USSR that included promises of decollectivization through the abolition of kolkhozes and the re-distribution of land to peasants for individual farming.

Germany established two Reichskommissariats, for Ostland and Ukraine, and planned for two more, for Muscovy and for the Caucasus. The Wehrmacht never established firm possession of the areas designated for the last two Reichskommissariats, so German civilian control never developed there.

In practice, the appointment of Erich Koch to administer the Reichskommissariat Ukraine substantially undermined Rosenberg's authority. Hitler ordered Koch to take a hard and brutal approach; Rosenberg wished to portray the Germans as liberators of Ukraine from Soviet domination, but Koch's brutality helped to push potential Ukrainian allies back into the Soviet camp. Furthermore, Rosenberg's ministry was denied authority over army and other security formations within the occupied territories. The other Reich Commissar, Hinrich Lohse (Ostland) was widely disregarded. The SS filled the resulting power vacuum, acting as they wished.[1]

Rank insignia
Collar insignia RMBO Rank Translation
Reichsminister Reich minister
Vertreter des Reichsministers Deputy Rreich minister
Reichskommissar Reich commissioner
Hauptabteilungsleiter im Ministerium Head of department in the ministry
Generalkommissar, Landesverwaltung Präsident Commissioner-general, Regional administration president
Ministerialdirigent Ministerial director
Vertreter des Generalkommissars Representative of the commissioner general
Ministerialrat, Landesdirektor, Bezirksdirektor, Gebietshauptkommissar Councilor, Country director, District director, Area chief commissioner
Dirigent, Landesdirigent, Bezirksdirigent, Gebietskommissar Conductor, Country conductor, District conductor, Area commissioner
Oberregierungsrat, Landesoberrat, Bezirksoberrat, Gebietsoberrat Senior government councilor, Senior country councilor, Senior district councilor, Senior area councilor
Regierungsrat, Landesrat, Bezirksrat, Gebietsrat Government councilor, Country councilor, District councilor, Area councilor
Regierungsassessor, Landesassessor, Bezirksassessor Government Assessor, State Assessor, District Assessor
Inspektorenanwärter und a.p. Inspektor Inspector candidate and a.p. inspector
Regierungsobersekretar, Landesobersekretar, Bezirksobersekretar, Gebietsobersekretar Senior Government Secretary, State Secretary, District Secretary, Area Secretary
Regierungssekretar, Landessekretar, Bezirkssekretar, Gebietssekretar Government Secretary, State Secretary, District Secretary, Area Secretary
Verwaltungassisstent, Landesassistent, Bezirksassistent, Gebietsassistent Administrative Assistant, State Assistant, District Assistant, Territory Assistant
Assistentenanwärter Assistant candidate
Betriebsassistent, Landesbetriebsassistent, Bezirksbetriebsassistent, Gebietsbetriebsassistent Operations assistant, state operations assistant, district operations assistant, area operations assistant
Betriebsassistent a. Pr. Probationary Operations Assistant

References
  1. Evans, Richard J (2008). The Third Reich at War. London: Penguin Books. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-14-101548-4.

See also
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