The Einsatzgruppen (task forces or special action groups) were units of the Security Police and SD. They are sometimes referred to as "mobile killing squads." The Einsatzgruppen were a consistently brutal perpetrator of Nazi occupation policies. They are best known for their role in the massacres of Jews following the German attack on the Soviet Union.
![Soldiers from unidentified units of Einsatzgruppe (mobile killing squad) C look through the possessions of Jews massacred at Babi ... [LCID: 5057]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/b4eb7224-6110-40f3-a084-bae19b562c37.jpg "Soldiers from unidentified units of Einsatzgruppe (mobile killing squad) C look through the possessions of Jews massacred at Babi ... [LCID: 5057]")
Soldiers from unidentified units of Einsatzgruppe C look through the possessions of Jews massacred at Babi Yar, a ravine near Kiev. Soviet Union, September 29–October 1, 1941.
Item View![Over one thousand Jews from the Ukrainian town of Lubny, ordered to assemble for "resettlement," in an open field before they were ... [LCID: 83568]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/1514b44c-7abc-4aa5-9d74-898df85c1261.jpg "Over one thousand Jews from the Ukrainian town of Lubny, ordered to assemble for \"resettlement,\" in an open field before they were ... [LCID: 83568]")
Over one thousand Jews from the Ukrainian town of Lubny, ordered to assemble for "resettlement," in an open field before they were massacred by Einsatzgruppen. Lubny, Soviet Union, October 16, 1941.
Item View![Roundup of the Jews of Lubny, shortly before they were massacred by Einsatzgruppe detachments. [LCID: 83575]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/1c9fb73e-fb15-4967-8287-0eb45eb7b27d.jpg "Roundup of the Jews of Lubny, shortly before they were massacred by Einsatzgruppe detachments. [LCID: 83575]")
Roundup of the Jews of Lubny, shortly before they were massacred by Einsatzgruppe detachments. This photo, originally in color, was part of a series taken by a German military photographer. Copies from this collection were later used as evidence in war crimes trials. Lubny, Soviet Union, October 16, 1941.
Item View
Ukrainian Jews who were forced to undress before they were massacred by Einsatzgruppe detachments. This photo, originally in color, was part of a series taken by a German military photographer. Copies from this collection were later used as evidence in war crimes trials. Lubny, Soviet Union, October 16, 1941.
Item View![Site where members of Einsatzgruppe A (mobile killing unit A) and Estonian collaborators carried out a mass execution of Jews in ... [LCID: 61466]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/d603e2cb-9b4a-49d3-a507-005bc861ece7.jpg "Site where members of Einsatzgruppe A (mobile killing unit A) and Estonian collaborators carried out a mass execution of Jews in ... [LCID: 61466]")
Site where members of Einsatzgruppe A and Estonian collaborators carried out a mass execution of Jews in September 1941. Kalevi-Liiva, Estonia, after September 1944.
Item View
We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies, Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, the Claims Conference, EVZ, and BMF for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of donor acknowledgement.
