What was the purpose of the Einsatzgruppen during World War II?

The Einsatzgruppen were special mobile units of the Nazi regime during World War II, tasked primarily with the deportation and mass murder of Jews and other targeted groups in the territories occupied by the Nazis, particularly in Eastern Europe. Their operations were a key component of the Holocaust and involved following the advancing Nazi army into Soviet territory.

These units carried out systematic executions of Jews, Roma, communists, and others deemed undesirable by the Nazi ideology, often conducting mass shootings in secluded areas. Their brutal actions led to the deaths of over a million people, making them one of the primary instruments of the Holocaust. The Einsatzgruppen exemplified the extreme measures taken by the Nazis to eliminate entire populations based on their ethnicity and beliefs. This stark and horrifying purpose underscores the genocidal intent of the regime, as they sought to implement their vision of a racially pure society.