AskHistorians

With regard to German-occupied Europe, historians highlight that governments were acutely aware of the implications of their complicity, and that the general population, to varying degrees, were usually not aware of the implications of ghettoization and deportation.[6][7][8] Governments such as the Vichy government in France have been posited to be acutely aware of their complicity with the Nazis' genocidal policies.[8] With regard to general populations, the overall consensus amongst historians appears to be that many were aware of a hatred towards the Jewry, but not insofar that a significant comprehension of the Nazis' genocidal policies was reached.[6][7] - Wikipedia