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Deportation
Emigration has now been replaced by evacuation of the Jews to the East, as a further possible solution, with the appropriate prior authorization of the Führer.Beginning in October, 1941, the Nazis started the first "evacuations to the East." These deportations were carefully planned and coordinated by the SS. At first, the deportations were to small ghettos as there were no immediate plans in place for the "Final Solution." Later, Jews were deported to larger ghettos, which served as temporary holding places until the killing centers were ready. Prior to deportation to the killing centers, the Nazis conducted "selections," where certain Jews would be killed immediately. The remainder were loaded onto railcars for the journey to their death. Jews from the western areas of occupied Europe were given slightly better treatment at first, as they were far fewer in number. Plans for the deportation of these Jews were finalized in June of 1942, with arrangements being coordinated by Adolf Eichmann.
However, this operation should be regarded only as a provisional option; but it is already supplying practical experience of great significance in view of the coming final solution of the Jewish question.
In the course of this final solution of the European Jewish question, approximately 11 million Jews may be taken into consideration...
The sites for the killing centers were carefully selected to be in remote areas, yet easily accessible by rail. This would facilitate the transport (and eventual annihilation) of the millions of Jews consumed by the Final Solution. The SS took whatever measures necessary to keep the operation as secret as possible, offering extra rations and even hope of eventual freedom to those who would travel peaceably.
With the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich on May 27, 1942, the Nazi plan for the killing of the Jews in Europe was named Aktion Reinhard in his honor.
Listen to Magda Quittner describe deportations of her loved ones from Hungary:
Sam Gross recalls his family's deportation from the Mukacevo ghetto in Czechoslovakia to Auschwitz:
Jacqueline Albin describes her grandparents’ deportation from Gex, France to the Drancy, France internment camp, from which they were deported to Auschwitz: