title: Extermination of the Gypsies in Estonia during World War II- popular images and official policies.
abstract: A discussion of Nazi anti-Gypsy policy in Estonia needs to center on local interpretation and implementation of RSHA and RKO orders. Contradictions between various German instructions, which often discriminated among sedentary and itinerating Gypsies, created a state of confusion that increased chances for survival. Since in Estonia Sonderkommando 1a of the German Security Police exercised oversight rather than itself carrying out atrocities, the destruction of the Gypsy community in Estonia proceeded at a pace slower than elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Interested in exploiting slave labor, the German Security Police in Estonia did not consider liquidation of the Gypsies a priority. Acculturated to traditional anti-Gypsy prejudices and burdened by their own wartime travails, the majority of Estonians remained indifferent when Estonian police deported Gypsies.
authors.affiliation: Brandeis University.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weiss-Wendt
mesh_terms: D004957:Estonia / Q000208:ethnology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006708:Homicide / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D028683:National Socialism / Q000266:history; D010781:Photography / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011640:Public Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006178:Romani People / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D011049:Social Control Policies / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D047789:World War II