Ost-arbeiter

OST-Arbeiter

Ostarbeiter (English: Eastern Worker(s)) was a designation for slave workers gathered from Eastern Europe to do forced labor in Germany during World War II. The Ostarbeiters were mostly from the territory of Reichskommissariat Ukraine (eastern Ukraine). Ukrainians made up the largest portion although many Belarusians, Poles, Russians, and Tatars were also present. Estimates put the number of Ostarbeiters between 3 million and 5.5 million. Some estimates place the number as high as 8.5 million workers.