SS unit targets Belorussian villagers

21 February 1942: The notorious Sonderkommando Dirlewanger begins a campaign of atrocities against men, women and children in rural Belorussia

A pre war map of the area now known as the Republic of Belarus, also known as Belorussia or Byelorussia - the name comes from ‘Belaya Rus', or ‘White Rus', so is sometimes known as White Russia or White Ruthenia.

In 1940 Hitler and Himmler had discussed the employment of convicted poachers to hunt down Partisans and escaped Jews. Rather than let criminal…