The German occupation of Poland was remarkably brutal. The Nazis considered Poles racially inferior. After Poland's military defeat by Germany in September 1939, the Germans launched a promotion of terror. German police units shot thousands of Polish civilians and forced all Polish men to perform forced labor. The Nazis wanted to destroy Polish culture by eliminating the country's political, religious and informed leaders. This was done primarily because of German dislike of Polish culture and partly to prevent resistance against the occupation. The Nazis took disciplinary measures against populations in areas where resistance was encountered. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay In November 1942, the Germans expelled more than 100,000 people from the Zamosc region (in Poland); many were deported to Auschwitz camps similar to those arrested in Germany. Around 50,000 Polish children were torn from their families, transferred to the Reich and subjected to a policy of "Germanization". After Germany invaded western Poland, Hitler ordered the "Germanization" of Polish territory. Which meant he wanted everything to be German. Nazi governors expelled hundreds of thousands of Poles from their homes in Poland's various communities. More than 500,000 ethnic Germans then settled in these regions. Between 1939 and 1945, at least 1.5 million Polish citizens were deported to German territory to be subjected to forced labor. Ultimately, virtually all Jews in Poland suffered the brunt of ghettoization, forced labor, and extermination. (6 Niewik). Hundreds of thousands of people were also imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. It is estimated that the Germans killed at least 1.9 million non-Jewish Polish civilians during World War II. Additionally, the Germans murdered at least 3 million Jewish citizens of Poland. The murder of the Jews is discussed only in the context of Poland's fate during the war. (Atlas 22) This is significant because Polish Jews had the highest mortality rate of any race. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay According to Kristallnacht by James M. It is estimated that around three million Polish citizens perished during World War II, approximately one-fifth of the pre-war population. (10) With evidence from both perspectives, it can be inferred that Polish Jews had the most effect on the Holocaust, to a moderate extent. Although they both suffered the same type of treatment, more Polish Jews were killed due to their and the Jews' geographic location. Although Jews were important in Germany, they were also important in Poland and contributed greatly to the Holocaust..