ABSTRACT
The Volksdeutsche of eastern Europe collaborated with the Nazis during World War II in numerous ways, and therefore played an often significant role in the Holocaust. Their motivations included a growing antisemitism, profound hatred of Stalinist communism, and the promise of material improvements. Through service in the Waffen-SS, the Wehrmacht, the camp guard units, and auxiliary police formations, the ethnic Germans participated in locating, rounding up, guarding, mistreating, and killing Jews and others. As members of the master race they also received preferential treatment, as they took and accepted property and belongings from Nazi victims. Often the Nazis did not allow them a choice, as with their military or guard service, but some Volksdeutsche went beyond what was expected of them and engaged in utmost brutality towards their victims.
