Several German occupied countries entered World War II as Allies of the United Kingdom[2] or the Soviet Union.[3] Some were forced to surrender before outbreak of the war such as Czechoslovakia;[4] others like Poland (invaded on 1 September 1939)[1] were conquered in battle and then occupied. In some cases, the legitimate governments went into exile, in other cases the governments-in-exile were formed by their citizens in other Allied countries.[5] Some countries occupied by Nazi Germany were officially neutral. Others were former members of the Axis powers that were occupied by German forces at a later stage of the war.[6][7]
Country or territory of occupation | Puppet state(s) or military administration(s) | Timeline of occupation(s) | German annexed or occupied territory | Resistance movement(s) |
---|
Albania|1939}} Albanian Kingdom | Flag of Albania (1943-1944).svg}} Albanian Kingdom | 8 September 1943 – 29 November 1944 | None | Albanian resistance |
Guernsey|1940}} Guernsey Alderney & Sark | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in France | 30 June 1940 – 9 May 1945 | None | Guernseyian resistance |
Jersey|1940}} Jersey | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in France | 1 July 1940 – 9 May 1945 | None | Jerseyian resistance |
Czechoslovakia|1938}} Czechoslovak Republic {{flagicon|Czechoslovakia|1939}} Czecho-Slovak Republic {{flagicon|Czechoslovakia|1945}} Czechoslovak Republic | Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg}} Slovak Republic {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} German Zone of Protection in Slovakia | 1 October 1938 – 11 May 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Gau Bayreuth {{flagicon image|Flag of Bohmen und Mahren.svg}} Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} Reichsgau Niederdonau {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Oberdonau {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Sudetenland | Czechoslovakian resistance |
Austria}} Federal State of Austria | None, see Anschluss | 12 March 1938 – 9 May 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Kärnten {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Niederdonau {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Oberdonau {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Salzburg {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Steiermark {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Tirol-Vorarlberg {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Wien | Austrian resistance |
Danzig}} Free City of Danzig | None | 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia | Danzigian resistance |
France}} French Republic {{flagicon image|Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg}} Free France {{flagicon|France}} Provisional Government of the French Republic | Vichy France}} French State {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in France {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Realm Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France | 10 May 1940 – 9 May 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Gau Baden {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Gau Westmark {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Wallonien | French resistance |
Luxembourg}} Luxembourg | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration of Luxembourg {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Civil Administration Area of Luxembourg | 10 May 1940 – February 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Gau Moselland | Luxembourg resistance |
Kingdom of Italy|1943}} Italian Islands of the Aegean | Italian Social Republic}} Italian Islands of the Aegean | 8 September 1943 – 8 May 1945 | None |
Belgium|1940}} Belgium | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Realm Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France | 10 May 1940 – February 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Gau Cologne-Aachen {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Wallonien | Belgian resistance |
Denmark|1940}} Denmark | protectorate state | 9 April 1940 – 5 May 1945 | None | Danish resistance |
Kingdom of Greece|1941}} Kingdom of Greece | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in Greece
- {{flagicon image|Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg}} Hellenic State
| 6 April 1941 – 8 May 1945 | None | Greek resistance |
Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary | Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary- {{flagicon image|Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} Government of National Unity
| 19 March 1944 – May 1945 | None | Hungarian resistance |
Kingdom of Italy|1943}} Kingdom of Italy | Italian Social Republic}} Italian Social Republic- {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral
- {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Operational Zone of the Alpine Foothills
8 September 1943 – 2 May 1945 | None | Italian resistance | |
Norway}} Norway | Nazi Germany}} Realm Commissariat for the Occupied Norwegian Territories- {{flagicon|Norway}} National Government
| 9 April 1940 – 8 May 1945 | None | Norwegian resistance |
Netherlands}} Netherlands | Nazi Germany}} Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories | 10 May 1940 – 20 May 1945 | None | Dutch resistance |
Kingdom of Yugoslavia}} Kingdom of Yugoslavia | Flag of Albania (1943-1944).svg}} Albanian Kingdom {{flagicon image|Flag of Montenegro (1905-1918 & 1941-1944).svg}} German occupied territory of Montenegro {{flagicon|Independent State of Croatia}} Independent State of Croatia- {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} German zone of influence
{{flagicon image|Flag IMARO.svg}} Independent State of Macedonia {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941)}} Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Government of National Salvation (occupied Yugoslavia).svg}} Commissioner Government
- {{flagicon image|Flag of the Government of National Salvation (occupied Yugoslavia).svg}} Government of National Salvation
| 6 April 1941 – 15 May 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Kärnten {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reichsgau Steiermark | Yugoslav resistance |
Monaco}} Monaco | None | 8 September 1943 – 3 September 1944 | None |
Finland|1944}} Finland | None | 15 September 1944 – 25 April 1945 | None | Finnish resistance |
Lithuania|1939}} Republic of Lithuania Provisional Government of Lithuania | Nazi Germany|1941}} Reich Commissariat East | 22 March 1939 – 21 July 1940
23 June 1941 – 5 August 1941 | Nazi Germany}} Gau East Prussia | Lithuanian resistance |
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg}} Republic of Poland | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in Poland {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} General Government administration {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reich Commissariat East {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reich Commissariat Ukraine | 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1945 | Nazi Germany|1941}} Bezirk Bialystok {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} Gau East Prussia {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} Gau Niederschlesien {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} General Government {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} Reichsgau Wartheland | Polish resistance |
San Marino}} San Marino | None | 17 September 1944 – 20 September 1944 | None |
Nazi Germany|1941}} Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia | Flag of the Government of National Salvation (occupied Yugoslavia).svg}} Commissioner Government {{flagicon image|Flag of the Government of National Salvation (occupied Yugoslavia).svg}} Government of National Salvation | April 30, 1941 – January 1945 | None | Serbian resistance |
Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg}} Slovak Republic | Nazi Germany}} German Zone of Protection in Slovakia | 23 March 1939 – May 1945 | None | Slovakian resistance |
Territory of the Saar Basin | None | 1 March 1935 – April 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Gau Palatinate-Saar {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Gau Saar-Palatinate {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Gau Westmark | Saar Basinian resistance |
Ukraine|1941}} Ukrainian National Government | Nazi Germany}} Reich Commissariat Ukraine | 30 June 1941 – September 1941 | Nazi Germany}} General Government | Ukrainian resistance |
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936-1955).svg}} Union of Soviet Socialist Republics | Nazi Germany}} Military Administration in the Soviet Union {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reich Commissariat East {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Reich Commissariat Ukraine | 22 June 1941 – 10 May 1945 | Nazi Germany}} Bezirk Bialystok {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} General Government | Soviet resistance |
|
Government in exile | Capital in exile | Timeline of exile | Occupier(s) |
---|
Austria|1941}} Austrian Democratic Union | UK|1940}} London | 1941 – 1945 | Nazi Germany|1939}} German Reich/Greater German Reich |
Free France}} Free France | UK|1940}} London (1940 – 1941) {{flagicon image|Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg}} Algiers, Algeria (1942 – August 31, 1944) | 1940 – August 31, 1944 | France|1940}} French State {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1940}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1940}} Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1944}} Reich Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France |
Poland|1928}} Government of the Republic of Poland in exile | France|1939}} Paris (September 29/30, 1939 – 1940) {{flagicon|France|1940}} Angers, French Republic (1940 – June 12, 1940) {{flagicon|UK|1940}} London (June 12, 1940 – 1990) | September 29/30, 1939 – December 22, 1990 | Nazi Germany|1939}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} Reich Commissariat East {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} Reich Commissariat Ukraine {{flagicon image|Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg}} Slovak Republic {{flagicon|Soviet Union|1936}} Union of Soviet Socialist Republics {{flagicon|Poland}} People's Republic of Poland |
Belgium|1940}} Belgium | UK|1940}} London (October 22, 1940 – September 8, 1944) | October 22, 1940 – September 8, 1944 | Nazi Germany|1940}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1940}} Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1944}} Reich Commissariat of Belgium and Northern France |
Denmark|1943}} Denmark | 1943 – 1945 | Nazi Germany|1940}} German Reich/Greater German Reich |
Luxembourg|1940}} Luxembourg | UK|1940}} London | 1940 – 1944 | Nazi Germany|1940}} German Reich/Greater German Reich |
Greece|royal}} Kingdom of Greece | Egypt|1922}} Cairo, Egypt | April 29, 1941 – October 12, 1944 | Nazi Germany|1940}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy|1943}} Kingdom of Italy {{flagicon|Bulgaria|1941}} Kingdom of Bulgaria |
Norway|1940}} Norway | UK|1940}} London | June 7, 1940 – May 31, 1945 | Nazi Germany|1940}} Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Norwegian Territories |
Kingdom of Yugoslavia}} Kingdom of Yugoslavia | UK|1941}} London | June 7, 1941 – March 7, 1945 | Albanian Kingdom Commissioner Government {{flagcon image|Flag of Montenegro (1905-1918 & 1941-1944).svg}} German occupied territory of Montenegro {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon image|Flag of the Government of National Salvation (occupied Yugoslavia).svg}} Government of National Salvation Independent State of Croatia Independent Macedonia {{flagicon|Bulgaria|1941}} Kingdom of Bulgaria {{flagicon image|Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941)}} Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia
|
Netherlands|1940}} Netherlands | UK|1940}} London | 1940 – 1945 | Nazi Germany|1940)}} Reich Commissariat for the Occupied Dutch Territories |
Czechoslovakia|1938}} Provisional Government of Czechoslovakia | France|1939}} Paris (October 2, 1939 – 1940) {{flagicon|UK|1940}} London (1940 – 1941) {{flagicon|UK|1941}} Aston Abbotts, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1941 – 1945) | October 2, 1939 – April 2, 1945 | Nazi Germany|1939)}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon image|Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary {{flagicon image|Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg}} Slovak Republic |
|
Government in exile | Capital in exile | Timeline of exile | Occupier(s) |
---|
Flag of Bulgaria.svg}} Kingdom of Bulgaria | Nazi Germany|1944}} Vienna, Greater German Reich | September 16, 1944 – May 10, 1945 | Flag of Bulgaria.svg}} Kingdom of Bulgaria{{flagicon image|State Flag of Greece (1863-1924 and 1935-1973).svg}} Kingdom of Greece {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg}} Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
France|1940}} French State | Nazi Germany|1944}} Sigmaringen, Greater German Reich | 1944 – April 22, 1945 | France|1944}} Provisional Government of the French Republic |
Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary | Nazi Germany|1944}} Vienna, Greater German Reich {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1944}} Munich, Greater German Reich | March 28, 1945 – May 7, 1945 | Flag of the Czech Republic.svg}} Czechoslovak Republic {{flagicon image|Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary {{flagicon|Romania}} Kingdom of Romania {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg}} Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
Romania}} Kingdom of Romania | Nazi Germany|1944}} Vienna, Greater German Reich | 1944 – 1945 | Romania}} Kingdom of Romania |
Montenegrin State Council | Independent State of Croatia}} Zagreb, Independent State of Croatia | 1944 – May 8, 1945 | Flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.svg}} Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
Flag of First Slovak Republic 1939-1945.svg}} Slovak Republic | Nazi Germany|1944}} Kremsmünster, Great-German Reich | April 4, 1945 – 8 May 1945 | Flag of the Czech Republic.svg}} Czechoslovak Republic |
|
Government in exile | Capital in exile | Timeline of exile | Occupier(s) |
---|
Belarus|1991}} Belarusian Democratic Republic | Czechoslovakia|1919}} Prague, Czechoslovak Republic (1923 – 1938) {{flagicon|Czechoslovakia|1938}} Prague, Czecho-Slovak Republic (1938 – 1939) {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} Prague, German Reich/Greater German Reich (1939 – 1945) | 1919 – present | Nazi Germany|1941}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} Realm Commissariat East {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} Realm Commissariat Ukraine {{flagicon|Poland|1918}} Republic of Poland {{flagicon|Soviet Union}} Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
Estonia|1940}} Republic of Estonia | Sweden|1944}} Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden (1944 – August 20, 1991) {{flagicon|USA}} New York City, United States of America | June 17, 1940 – August 20, 1991 | Nazi Germany|1941}} Realm Commissariat East {{flagicon|Soviet Union|1940}} Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
Flag of Ukraine.svg}} Ukrainian People's Republic | Poland|1920}} Warsaw, Republic of Poland (1920 – 1939) {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1939}} Prague, German Reich/Greater German Reich (1939 – 1944) | 1920 – August 22, 1992 | Nazi Germany|1939}} German Reich/Greater German Reich {{flagicon image|Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg}} Kingdom of Hungary {{flagicon|Romania|1941}} Kingdom of Romania {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|1941}} Realm Commissariat Ukraine {{flagicon|Soviet Union|1936}} Union of Soviet Socialist Republics |
1. ^1 Encyclopædia Britannica, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130330193920/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/648813/World-War-II/53572/German-occupied-Europe German occupied Europe.] World War II. Retrieved 1 September 2015 from the Internet Archive.
2. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=Z4J2c4jEhjYC&dq=allies+in+1939#v=onepage&q=allies%20in%201939&f=false|title=Britain and Poland 1939-1943: The Betrayed Ally|last=Prazmowska|first=Anita|date=1995-03-23|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521483858|language=en}}
3. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=Nz_RAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=soviet+german+alliance+ww2#v=onepage&q=soviet%20german%20alliance%20ww2&f=false|title=The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941|last=Moorhouse|first=Roger|date=2014-10-14|publisher=Basic Books|isbn=9780465054923|language=en}}
4. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=C0UsBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA13&dq=czechoslovakia+1938#v=onepage&q=czechoslovakia%201938&f=false|title=The Munich Crisis, 1938: Prelude to World War II|last=Goldstein|first=Erik|last2=Lukes|first2=Igor|date=2012-10-12|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136328329|language=en}}
5. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=2xTdCwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Governments+in+exile+second+world+war#v=onepage&q=Governments%20in%20exile%20second%20world%20war&f=false|title=Europe in Exile: European Exile Communities in Britain 1940-45|last=Conway|first=Martin|last2=Gotovitch|first2=José|date=2001-08-30|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=9781782389910|language=en}}
6. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=042YDgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Axis+countries+occupied+by+Nazi+Germany#v=onepage&q=Axis%20countries%20occupied%20by%20Nazi%20Germany&f=false|title=The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won|last=Hanson|first=Victor Davis|date=2017-10-17|publisher=Basic Books|isbn=9780465093199|language=en}}
7. ^{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=CInVseCvW-wC&printsec=frontcover&dq=hungary+during+the+war+world+2#v=onepage&q=hungary%20during%20the%20war%20world%202&f=false|title=Hungary in World War II: Caught in the Cauldron|last=Cornelius|first=Deborah S.|date=2011|publisher=Fordham Univ Press|isbn=9780823233434|language=en}}