elm pol batl 45

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he actions of Police Battalion 45 quickly escalated to genocide while in the occupied Soviet Union. The regiment began executing Jewish women and children in July 1941. Police Battalion 45 murdered the entire Jewish population of Shepetovka while stationed there between 26 July and 1 August. The orders came down from the regimental commander, who had referred to an order from Heinrich Himmler.[5]

During the summer months, the battalion took part in joint actions with the 1st SS Infantry Brigade of the Waffen-SS, both providing support and undertaking independent killings. The brigade's report of 19 August to the Command Staff Reichsführer-SS (SS operational staff set up for the invasion) noted that Police Battalions 45 and 303 and the brigade jointly participated in "combat of gangs". The 22 August report noted that the battalion shot three "partisan women", 19 "bandits", and 537 Jews.[6]

In September, Police Battalion 45 participated in the murder of Jews in Berdichev, cordoning off the execution site and leading the victims to the pits where they were shot by Jeckeln's staff company.[7] About 16,000 Jews were killed.[8] During the massacre at Babi Yar, the battalion cordoned off the area, while Sondercommando 4a and a platoon of Waffen-SS troops did the shooting.[7] Police Battalions 303 and 314 participated in the massacre, as well.[8]

The killing activities of both the Einsatzgruppen detachments and the Police Regiment South slowed down the farther the Wehrmacht advanced, as more Jews were able to escape east and the density of the pre-war Jewish population was lower in Eastern Ukraine. Nonetheless, the murder operations continued, targeting Jews, communists, and "suspicious elements".[9] In July 1942, the regiment was redesignated as the 10th Police Regiment.[10]

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