The
Generalplan Ost (German pronunciation:
[ɡenəˈʁaːlˌplaːn ˈɔst]; English: Master Plan for the East), abbreviated
GPO, was the
Nazi German government's plan for the
genocide and
ethnic cleansing on a vast scale, and
colonization of
Central and Eastern Europe by Germans. It was to be undertaken in territories occupied by Germany during World War II. The plan was partially realized during the war, resulting indirectly and directly in millions of deaths of ethnic Slavs by starvation, disease, or
extermination through labor. But its full implementation was not considered practicable during the major military operations, and was prevented by Germany's defeat.
[1][2]
The plan entailed the enslavement, expulsion, and mass murder of most
Slavic peoples (and substantial parts of the
Baltic peoples, especially
Lithuanians and
Latgalians[3]) in Europe along with planned destruction of their nations, whom the 'Aryan' Nazis viewed as
racially inferior.
[4] The program operational guidelines were based on the policy of
Lebensraumdesigned by
Adolf Hitler and the
Nazi Party in fulfilment of the
Drang nach Osten (drive to the East) ideology of German expansionism. As such, it was intended to be a part of
the New Order in Europe.