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Sonderkommandos of Einsatzgruppen
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Sonderkommandos ("special units" in German) are sub-units of Einsatzgruppen composed of Schutzstaffel (SS) that were responsible for mass killings, primarily by shooting, during World War II (1939-1945) in German-occupied Europe. Sonderkommandos, along with Einsatzkommandos, were responsible for the systematic killing of Jews during the invasion of the Soviet Union. Sonderkommandos of Einsatzgruppen should not be confused with other Sonderkommandos, special task units of Third Reich (see Sonderkommandos).
Each of the Einsatzgruppen consisted of two or three Sonderkommandos (SK) and Einsatzkommandos (EK). Einsatzgruppe A was subdivided into Sonderkommandos 1a and 1b and Einsatzkommandos 2 and 3. Einsatzgruppe B consisted of Sonderkommandos 7a and 7b and Einsatzkommandos 8 and 9. Einsatzgruppe C was subdivided into Sonderkommandos 4a and 4b and Einsatzkommandos 5 and 6. Einsatzgruppe D made up of Sonderkommandos 10a and 10b and Einsatzkommandos 11a, 11b, and 12. In theory, the Sonderkommandos operated in the army operational areas whilst the Einsatzkommandos were to function in the rear army areas. The Sonderkommandos were intended to advance quickly and to operate directly behind the front, while the Einsatzkommandos were active in the rear, farther behind the lines. Each of the Einsatzgruppen was divided into two or three Sonderkommandos (SK) and Einsatzkommandos (EK). In theory, the Sonderkommandos operated in the army operational areas whilst the Einsatzkommandos were to function in the rear army areas. However in practice, the difference between the units was difficult to distinguish. The distinction between Sonderkommandos and Einsatzkommandos during the war disappeared. Einsatzkommandos and Sonderkommandos were again subdivided in Teilkommandos (sections) of 10 to 15 men. Sonderkommando 4a as the sub-unit of Einsatzgruppe C, along with the aid of the Order Police battalions carried out the mass massacre in Babi Yar on 29-30 September 1941, killing approximately 33,771 Jews. After the close of World War II, commanders of the Sonderkommandos were prosecuted in the Einsatzgruppen Trial in 1947-48.
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