and Denmark, a majority of the Jews survived. At the same time, the structure of Nazi rule over Europe before and during World War II was characterized by a wide variety of administrative regimes. So far, research has not systematically linked different degrees of Jewish victimization to different kinds of administrative regimes. Did different forms of administrative regimes result in differing degrees of Jewish victimization during the Holocaust? The present paper presents both evidence and an operationalization for a related general hypothesis.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGIMES AND THE HOLOCAUSTThe structure of Nazi rule over Europe before and during World War II was characterized by a wide variety of administrative regimes. Did different forms of administrative regimes result in differing degrees of Jewish victimization during the Holocaust? The present paper presents both evidence and an operationalization for a related general hypothesis.The administrative structure of Nazi dictatorship has been described as "polycratic" or even as "organized chaos" (Bracher Schulz; for an overview see Thamer). Based on Ernst Fraenkel's concept of the "Dual State" (i.e., the parallel of party rule and public administration) this strand of literature postulates that Nazi rule was relatively ineffective. The occupation administration, in particular, is usually portrayed as an example of disorganized and ineffective governance structure (Benz, Houwink ten Cate, and Otto; Röhr; Umbreit 1985Umbreit , 1988.