The аttitude of the рopulation of оccupied territories toward the Nazi administration in the interpretation of Alfred Frauenfeld

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the attitudes of the population in the occupied territories of Southern Ukraine toward the Nazi administration, based on the memoirs of Alfred Frauenfeld, General Commissioner of the General District “Crimea.” The study focuses on how a representative of the occupation apparatus interpreted the social sentiments of the local population, as well as on identifying the specific features in the formation of perceptions regarding occupation policy among civilians.

It is demonstrated that Frauenfeld’s memoir narrative contains biased interpretative approaches aimed at downplaying the significance of the Resistance Movement, localizing acts of sabotage, and presenting them as sporadic and limited in scope. Particular attention is paid to his juxtaposition of a “relatively secure periphery” and a “tense administrative center,” which he employs to characterize different models of governance in the occupied territories. It is established that such interpretations reflect the memoirist’s subjective perspective and his attempt to justify the perceived effectiveness of his administrative practices. The article also analyzes Frauenfeld’s attempts to generalize patterns of population behavior through conditional classifications, which indicate an effort to treat public sentiment as a factor in the functioning of the occupation regime.

The study concludes that the memoirs of Alfred Frauenfeld constitute an informative yet distinctly subjective source, where factual evidence is intertwined with apologetic interpretations. Their use requires a critical approach that considers both the content of the events described and the manner of their presentation. The inclusion of such sources contributes to a deeper understanding of the interaction between the population and the occupation administration, as well as to refining interpretations of the functioning of the Nazi regime at the regional level.