Shannon Still

Still 1

Professor Wertz-Orbaugh
UWRT-1103-007
8 February 2016
The German Mobile Killing Squads
For my inquiry proposal, I have chosen to write about the Mobile Killing Squads
which killed millions of Jews prior to and during the Holocaust. As I research, I will
attempt to learn about: the creation of the Mobile Killing Squads, the full extent of
destruction brought about by the squads, whether any Jews were able to escape and if
any German soldiers, within the killing squads, helped the Jews to survive. I have no
knowledge about the squads and I have never heard about this topic which makes me
curious to research about it.
I am assuming the majority of information will come from secondary research by
historians, though I hope I can find a diary, either by a German soldier or a Jewish
escapee. I will look through books and utilize online sources.
Two initial questions will direct my research. Were Jews the only ones killed by
the squad? I wonder if any other undesirables were killed or if the squads only focused
on Jews. Were Jews able to escape or did they have prior knowledge of the killing
squads? I am curious if, like early concentration camps, the Jews were surprised in the
beginning by the killing squads and if so, did word spread about them?
In order to get different perspectives regarding the topic, I could try see what it
was like to be a soldier in the killing squads. Did all soldiers hate the Jews or were they
just following orders? I also want to know what any surviving Jews experienced or even

Shannon Still

Still 2

Professor Wertz-Orbaugh
UWRT-1103-007
8 February 2016
Jews who were captured. Were the Jews killed immediately or were they held for a few
days?
Though I am interested by various aspects of my topic, my main concern
revolves around other people and nations responses to the killing squads. My main
question would be, How did no one realize that genocide was taking place prior to the
concentration camps? I look forward to answering my questions. I thought I knew the
majority of the Holocaust history, but I have never learned about the Mobile Killing
Squads before.

Peer Response Reflection

I think I was a useful and thoughtful peer responder by pointing out a few missing
pieces in Nailahs draft. I reminded her to include questions, especially the inquiry
question. I asked her to define SS soldier in order for an audience to fully understand
that section of her paper. I also reminded her to find another angle aside from Jewish
women alone.