Germany 's war in the East was based on Hitler 's long-standing view that Jews were the great enemy of the German people and that '' Lebensraum '' was needed for Germany 's expansion . Hitler focused his attention on Eastern Europe , aiming to conquer Poland and the Soviet Union . After the occupation of Poland in 1939 , all Jews living in the General Government were confined to ghettos , and those who were physically fit were required to perform compulsory labour . In 1941 Hitler decided to destroy the Polish nation completely ; within 15 to 20 years the General Government was to be cleared of ethnic Poles and resettled by German colonists . About 3.8 to 4 million Poles would remain as slaves , part of a slave labour force of 14 million the Nazis intended to create using citizens of conquered nations
cleared of ethnic Poles
Expulsion of Poles by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany