What factors led to the Final Solution?

Answer 1

The main 'step' shortly before the start of the Final Solution was the isolation and ghettoization of the Jews in many areas under Nazi rule.

Almost no documents survive from the planning stage, if there in fact was one. It is quite possible that various subordinates launched the Final Solution themselves and that their decisions were rubber stamped at the top later. In fact, the early stages seem to have been pretty chaotic and that there was little planning. For example, when the Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing untis) first went into action (Kaunas, Lithuania, 25 June 1941) they generally shot only the adult male Jews. Then, later, they started throwing up their hands in horror at the prospect of providing for, or finding a use for the women and children. Gradually, they took to killing all Jews - men, women and children. They found it 'simpler'. It looks as if they 'planned' as they went along.

The Final Solution was not launched with a single order or 'big bang'.

Later the whole process became much more systematic and uniform.

As for broader events, some historians see the German defeat at Moscow as an important event as it meant that the territorial solution being considered earlier in 1941, namely 'resettlement in Siberia after the war', would not be possible. Arno Mayer takes the unusual view that the Final Solution was a personal act of 'revenge' by Hitler (or renewed outburst of hatred) for his defeat at Moscow, since he saw the Jews as Communists.

In July, 1941 Goering, who had previously been responsible for the Final Solution, were forced as a result of high level intrigue in the Nazi regime, to hand over responsibility for the 'Jewish question' to Heydrich and the SS. This meant that from then on the most fanatical and doctrinaire racists in the Nazi regime were in charge of the 'Jewish question'.

Another key decision was the introduction of a total ban on Jews emigrating from Germany or German-controlled territory. Previously, Jews had been allowed, even encouraged to leave Europe ... The ban came into force in August 1941 (though it did not become fully official till October 1941). Obviously, the switch from a policy of emigration to a ban on leaving Germany marks a telling change in policy.

Before the invention of the extermination camp the Germans were dependent on the mobile killing units (Einsatzgruppen).

Answer 2

The early stages could be considered the establishment of the Aktion Reinhard camps and the clearing of the ghettos, though these could be seen as a precursor to the Final Solution (depending on whether you consider them to be part of the Final Solution or not).